SE9F REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

REGISTRATION UNIT
| BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Republic of the Philippines _ |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1059

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE MAGNOLIA ROSA C. ANTONINO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

From the 19 Century, the United Kingdom imposed a height
requirement for applicants in the police force. However, in the late
1990's, the height requirement was removed on the ground that height
restriction was seen to possibly discriminate against those of ethnic
backgrounds who may be genetically predisposed to be shorter.

In a move widely seen to copy the worldwide trend, House Bill No.
6203 which sought to remove the height requirement for applicants to
the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
and the Bureau of Management and Penology (BUMP) was approved by
both the Senate and the House of Representatives during the 15"!
Congress. ‘The positive action was anchored on the ground that existing
laws impose undue restriction to those qualified people who may desire
to serve in the said agencies but lacks the necessary height requirement.
However, the bill was vetoed by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III
citing among others the following:

“As raised by the BUMP, jail officers, by the nature of their work in
guarding detainees or escorting criminals, must possess the necessary
physical attributes to perform their functions effectively. Likewise, public
safety is paramount in law enforcement by the PNP, as well as in fire-
fighting by the BFP”.

Then Chief of the Philippine National Police Alan Purisima also
expressed his apprehension that the removal of the height requirement
may encourage even the midgets to apply in the PNP. However, he
expressed no objection to future bill that may set a new reasonable
height requirement for the members and officers of the PNP.



While we may disagree with the findings of our higher authorities
primarily for the reason that even the United Kingdom and other
countries, which obviously have genetically bigger size than Filipinos,
have already removed the height requirement due to some scientific
findings in response to accusations of discrimination, it will still be a
wise move to follow the concerns of our authorities on the matter.

This bill therefore secks to reduce the height requirement for
applicants in the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire
Protection (BFP) and Bureau of Jail management and Penology (BUMP)
from one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 M) or 5’4” inches for
male and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) or 5'2” inches
for female to one meter and fifty-two centimeters (1.52 M) or 5” inches
and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.42 m.) or 4’8" inches for
male and female respectively .

‘The foregoing reasons warrant the immediate approval of this bill.

Ln
MAGNOLIA. ISA C. ANTONINO

Representative
Fourth District, Nueva Ecija



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Si

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE MAGNOLIA ROSA C. ANTONINO

AN ACT

REDUCING THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OR
OFFICERS OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), BUREAU
OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT
AND PENOLOGY (BJMP), FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT No.
6975, AS AMENDED OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “DEPARTMENT
OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1990” AND
REPUBLIC ACT No. 9263 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “BUREAU OF
FIRE PROTECTION AND BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND
PENOLOGY PROFESSIONALIZATION ACT OF 2004”

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

SECTION 1. Height Requirement for Members and Officers of
the PNP.- Section 30 of Republic Act No. 6975, as amended otherwise
known as the “Department of Interior and Local Government Act of
1990” is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 30. General Qualifications for Appointment. — No
person shall be appointed as officer or member of the PNP
unless he possesses the following minimum qualifications:

XXX XXX Xxx”

(h) Must be at least one meter and [sixty] FIFTY-two
centimeters {(1.62 m.)] (1.52 m,) in height for male and one
meter and [fifty-seven] FORTY-TWO centimeters [(1.57 m.)]
(1.42 m,) for female;”

Xxx XXX Xxx


SEC. 2. Height Requirement for Uniformed Personnel of the
BFP and BUMP. - Scction 4 (h) of Republic Act No. 9263 otherwise
known as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of
Management and Penology (BUMP) Professionalization Act of 2004 is
hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 4. Professionalization and Upgrading of
Qualification Standards in the Appointment of
Uniformed Personnel to the BFP and the BUMP. ~ No
person shall be appointed as uniformed personnel of the BFP
and the BJMP unless he/she possesses the following
minimum qualifications:

XXX XXX XXX

(h) Must be at least one meter and [sixty] FIFTY-two
centimeters [(1.62 m.)] (1.52 m.) in height for male and one
meter and [fifty-seven] FORTY-TWO centimeters [(1.57 m.}]
(1.42 m.) for female;”

XXX XXX xxx"

SEC. 3. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) in consultation with the National Police
Commission (NAPOLCOM), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BUMP) shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to
implement this Act.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
and rules an regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,