FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 3203 
Introduced by SENATOR GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "All are equal before 
the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are 
entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and 
against any incitement to such discrimination." 
Section 1, Article 23 of the UDHR further states "Everyone has the right to work, to free 
choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against 
unemployment. " 
Section 1, Article XIII of Social Justice and Human Rights in the Philippine Constitution 
mandates Congress "to give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect 
and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and 
political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities . .. " 
Heightism or discrimination based on height is a reality today that has been widely 
practiced among law enforcement agencies and armed forces worldwide even if 
Napoleon's "altitude problem" was not a hindrance to his performance as a general or to 
Asians who have proven their worth in war and peace though they may be shorter than 
their Western counterparts. Still, we unwittingly practice discrimination against our own. 
Although measures are being taken to correct the situation, heightism is still practiced in 
the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to the 
disadvantage particularly of minority or indigenous persons seeking employment who 
may have genetic make-ups different from other Filipinos. 
Height discrimination 
unnecessarily limits quality choice while promoting social prejudice. 
Sociological 
studies point to the conclusion that this institutional prejudice falls under ethnic or racial 
prejudice. 
Physical impairment may be a consideration in tasks requiring rugged 
physical activity but not all who are short are physically, much less intellectually, 
impaired. 
This Act seeks the REPEAL OF THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS TO 
THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT 
AND PENOLOGY (BJMP) 
based on the principle that all people have equal rights to 
be employed unhampered by prejudices that have nothing to do with one's merit or 
competence to do the work. 
In view of the foregoing, the enactment of this bill into law is ar estly sought. 
ORIO B. HONASAN II 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
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SENATE 
S.B, No. 3203 
Introduced by SENATOR GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
AN ACT 
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REPEALING THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS TO THE BUREAU 
OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY (BJMP) 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "BFP and BJMP Height 
Equality Act of 2012" 
SEC. 
2. 
Section 4, subparagraph (h) of Republic Act No. 9263, otherwise 
known as the "Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 
Professionalization Act of 2004, as amended by Republic Act No. 9592 which reads: 
"SEC. 
4. Professionalization 
and 
Upgrading 
of Qualification 
Standards in the Appointment of Uniformed Personnel to the BFP 
and the BJMP.- xxx xxx 
Xxx xxx xx 
h) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) in height 
for male, and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) for 
female: Provided, That a waiver for height and age requirement/s shall be 
automatically granted to applicants belonging to the cultural communities; 
is hereby repealed. 
SEC. 
3. 
All 
laws, 
decrees, 
rules 
and 
regulations 
or 
parts 
thereof 
inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved,