Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3498

HOUSE BILL Ni

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT STRENGTHENING AND MODERNIZING THE BUREAU OF FIRE
PROTECTION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) was created by virtue of RA 6975 and is responsible
for implementing national policies related to Firefighting and fire prevention as well as
implementation and enforcement of the Philippine Fire Code (PD 1185), which has been repealed
and replaced by the New Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514). BFP is in charge of the
administration and management of municipal and city fire and emergency services all over the
country. They shall establish at least one (1) fire station with adequate personnel, firefighting
facilities and equipment in every provincial capital, city and municipality subject to standard rules
and regulations as maybe promulgated by.

But last December 2018, a total of 14,316 fire incidents were recorded for that year,
according to the statement of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The figure is 84 percent higher
compared to the same period last 2017.!

And in the first two months of this year, the number of fires might have dropped compared
to the same period last year, but the number of fire-related deaths had gone up significantly.

As of 2017, the BFP only has 2,350 serviceable fire trucks nationwide, 1,258 units below
the standards set by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). There are a total of
351 towns in the country that do not have their own firetrucks.

The Commission on Audit (COA) also note that BFP lacks almost 27,460 firefighters
Aside from the insufficient manpower, only half of the current 23,030 firefighters have basic
protective gear. The bureau, according to the COA report, only has: 7,133 fire coats; 6,760 fire
trousers; 12,718 fire helmets; 12,357 pairs of fire-resistant gloves; 11,456 pairs of fireman's boots.
1,756 firetrucks out of 2,350 firetrucks are without self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
devices which is a crucial equipment for rescuers going into burning structures. Only 25% is
equipped of the said devices.

‘The State must not let the mandates and functions of the Bureau of Fiyé Protection be
hampered by the scarce of resources.

‘Thus, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

“KUYA” JOSEANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADOY

Representative
First District of Bulacan

‘ (Tupas, 2018)Tupas, E. (2018). Fire incidents increased by .84 ent in 2018. PhilStar Global.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3498

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT STRENGTHENING AND MODERNIZING THE BUREAU OF FIRE
PROTECTION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Fire Protection Modernization Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to develop the Bureau of
Fire Protection (BFP), ensure public safety through the prevention of and suppression of all
kinds of destructive fires with the active support of the community. Towards this end, the
State shall implement a Fire Protection Modernization Program.

SECTION 3. Additional Functions of the BFP. — Aside from its existing functions under
Republic Act No. 9514 and Republic Act No. 6975, the BFP shall be have the following
functions:

a.

Be responsible for the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on buildings,
houses and other structures, including those found in economic zones including agro-
industrial economic zones, free ports and special economic zones, IT parks/centers,
manufacturing economic zones, medical tourism parks/ centers, tourism economic
zone, and other similar entities;

Establish and maintain regional arson laboratories and research and testing facilities
and complete equipment;

. Respond to disasters, whether man-made or natural, and respond to other

emergencies, including rescue, emergency medical, hazardous materials (hazmat),
chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) materials, and
other emergencies;

| Conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drive in all local

government units, particularly in informal settler areas and economically-depressed
areas, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),
and

Require the building owner to submit plans and specifications of the said building and
other pertinent documents as may be determined by BFP and evaluate the same to
ensure compliance with the Fire Code and other applicable codes and standards. For
this purpose, a fire safety evaluation clearance shall be issued as pre-requisite for the
issuance of the building permit.

SECTION 4. Fire Protection Modernization Program - The Bureau of Fire Protection, in
coordination with the DILG, shall establish and implement a Fire Protection Modernization
Program which shall consist of the following components:

a) Fire Protection Service — The modernization program shall include the establishments

of Fire Protection Service (FPS) in all local government units with no existing fire


protection services, and the establishment of rescue hotlines in all local government
units:
Force restructuring and organizational development. — The modernization program shall
develop the BFP into a compact, efficient, responsive and modern with the capability to
implement Republic Act No. 9514 otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines.
The BFP, within ninety days from the promulgation of the implementing rules and
regulation (IRR) of this Act, shall recommend and submit to the Secretaries of DILG
and Department of Budget and Management the revised organizational structure and
staffing pattern for officers and personnel of the BFP. The revised organizational
structure shall include all the offices of the BFP, the Fire Training Service, and the BFP
Central and Regional Hospitals. The BFP shall design and establish a qualification
upgrading program for the BFP officers and personnel in accordance with the Civil
Service Commission rules and regulations;
Capability, material, and technology development — The modernization program shall
upgrade existing fire protection equipment and services and acquire new equipment for
the fire protection: Provided, that the acquisition of new equipment shall be
synchronized with the phase-out of uneconomical and obsolete major equipment and
weapons systems in the BFP inventory;
Specialized services development — The modernization program shall establish
specialized fire protection services within the BFP such as but not limited to; high-rise
building fires, forest fires, aircraf¥ airport fires, ship fires, chemical fires, disaster rescue
services, emergency medical services, and the like; and
) Human resource development — The modernization program shall include trainings for
BFP personnel, and establish training facilities, hire internationally accredited training
consultants and advisers if experts of equal qualification cannot be secured locally, to
accelerate the personnel development program. All newly appointed uniformed
personnel of the BFP shall undergo a Mandatory Training Program.

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Within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DILG
and the head of the BFP shall submit the details of the Fire Protections Modernization
Program to Congress.

SECTION 5. Multi-Year Contracts or Other Contractual Arrangement — The Secretary of
Interior and Local Government may, subject to the approval of the President, under provisions of
existing laws and regulations including those of the Commission on Audit and under such terms
and conditions favorable to the government, enter into multi-year contracts or other contractual
agreements with local or foreign suppliers/ contractors in the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. Annual Report. — The BFP shall submit to the Office of the President and Congress,
through the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, an annual report containing the process
and status of the implementation of the Fire Protection Modernization Program.

SECTION 7. Period of Implementation. — The Fire Protection Modernization Program under this
Act, shall be implemented over a period of three (3) years effective upon the date of the approval
of this Act; Provided, that payments for amortization of outstanding multi-year contract, obligations
incurred under the modernization program may extend beyond this period.

SECTION 8. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act
shall be sourced from the BFP modernization trust funds as provided for in Republic Act No. 9514.
An additional amount of Five Billion Pesos (Php 5,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to be
included in the General Appropriations Act of the year immediately following the effectivity of this,
Act.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from the approval
of this Act, the BFP and DILG shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement
the provisions of this Act.


SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — Any portion or provision of this Act that is declared
unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long
as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. —
parts thereof, which are inconsist

laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other issuances or
ith this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity.
Official Gazette or in

his Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the
) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,