Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3102
HOUSE BILL NO. _ _

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is an agency of the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) responsible for implementing national policies
related to Firefighting and fire prevention as well as implementation of the
Philippine Fire Code (PD 1185), which has been repealed and replaced by the
New Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514).

The Bureau now is in charge of management, administration, and the
implementation of fire and emergency services and programs all over the
country.

This House Bill seeks to promote the holistic development for all the operational
and maintenance programs to foster fire security and fire prevention services,
therefor a comprehensive Fire Protection Modernization Program shall be
created and provided with additional funding.

Earnest approval of this bill is hereby requested.

MICH. . ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
3102

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

AN ACT
TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE FIRE PROTECTION
MODERNIZATION PROGRAM, TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR FIRE SAFETY, TO FOSTER FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE
PREVENTION SERVICES, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title — This Act shall be known as the "Fire Protection
Modernization Act of 2019."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to create
a comprehensive Fire Protection Modernization Program to ensure public safety
and promote economic development through the prevention and suppression of
all kinds of destructive fires and promote the professionalization of the fire
service as a profession. Towards this end,

The State shall hereby provide a separate authorize funding of Five
hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) to evolve and implement a


comprehensive national program to meet the fire security and fire safety related
needs and to maintain the continuity of its mandate.

SECTION 3. Appropriations — The amount of Five hundred million pesos
(P500,000,000.00) necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be
included in the annual budget of the implementing agency in the General
Appropriations Act (GAA) of the year following its enactment into law and every
year thereafter.

The state shall hereby authorize the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to re-
align its appropriations, in the current year of the date of the effectivity of this
Act to conform with its mandate and requirements.

SECTION 4. Other Funding and Sources of Income:

(a) To support the manpower, infrastructure and equipment needs of the
fire service of the BFP, such amount as may be necessary to attain the
objectives of the Fire Code shall be appropriated and included in the
annual appropriation of the BFP.

(b) To partially provide for the funding of the fire service the following taxes
and fees which shall accrue to the General Fund of the National
Government, are hereby imposed:

(1) Fees to be charged for the issuance of certificates, permits
and licenses as provided for in Section 7 of RA9514 (a) hereof;

(2) One-tenth of one per centum (0.1%) of the verified
estimated value of buildings or structures to be erected, from
the owner thereof, but not to exceed fifty thousand
(P50,000.00) pesos, one half to be paid prior to the issuance
of the building permit, and the balance, after final inspection
and prior to the issuance of the use and occupancy permit;

(3) One-hundredth of one per centum (0.10%) of the assessed
value of buildings or structures annually payable upon


payment of the real estate tax, except on structures used as
single family dwellings;

(4) Two per centum (2%) of all premiums, excluding re-
insurance premiums for the sale of fire, earthquake and
explosion hazard insurance collected by companies, persons
or agents licensed to sell such insurances in the Philippines;

(5) Two per centum (2%) of gross sales of companies, persons
or agents selling firefighting equipment, appliances or devices,
including hazard detection and warning systems; and

(6) Two per centum (2%) of the service fees received from fire,
earthquake, and explosion hazard reinsurance surveys and
post loss service of insurance adjustment companies doing
business in the Philippines directly through agents.

SECTION 5. Collection of Taxes, Fees and Fines - All taxes, fees and
fines provided in this Code, shall be collected by the BFP.

Provided, That twenty percent (20%) of such collection shall be set aside
and retained for use by the city or municipal government concerned, which shall
appropriate the same exclusive for the use of the operation and maintenance of
its local fire station, including the construction and repair of fire station:

Provided, further, That the remaining eighty (80%) shall be remitted to the
National Treasury under a trust fund assigned for the modernization of the BFP.

SECTION 6. Assessment of Fire Code Taxes, Fees and Fines - The
assessment of fire code taxes, fees and fines is vested upon the BFP. The BFP
shall, subject to the approval of the DILG, prescribe the précedural rules for such
purpose.

SECTION 7. Collection and Assessment of Local Taxes, Fees and
Fines - The collection and assessment of taxes, fees and fines as prescribed in


the Local Government Code, except those contained in this Act, shall be function
of the concerned local government units.

SECTION 8. Use of Income Generated from the Enforcement of the
Fire Code - The Chief, BFP is authorized, subject to the approval of the Secretary
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), to use the income generated under
the Fire Code for procurement of fire protection and fire fighting investigation,
rescue, paramedics, supplies and materials, and related technical services
necessary for the fire service and the improvement of facilities of the Bureau of
Fire Protection and abatement of fire hazards.

The BFP shall determine the optimal number of equipment, including, but not
limited to, fire trucks and fire hydrants, required by every‘local government unit

for the proper delivery of fire protection services in its jurisdiction.

In the procurement of fire fighting and investigation supplies and materials, the
Bureau of Product Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall
evaluate, determine and certify if the supply to procured conforms to the product
standards fixed by the BFP.

For this purpose, the BFP shall submit to the Bureau of Product Standards a
detailed set of product standards that must be complied with in the procurement

of fire fighting and investigation supplies and materials within three (3) months
from the effectivity of this act.

SECTION 9. Monitoring the Implementation of the Fire Code and the
Amount of the Fees Collected. - The Chief, BFP shall, within three (3) months
from the effectivity of this Code, submit to the Secretary of the Interior and Local
Government for his/her approval, a management tool or mechanism that would
ensure effective monitoring of the enforcement of the Fire Code to include the
amount of Fire Code fees collected.


SECTION 10. Periodic Reports - The BFP shall submit periodic reports
on its findings and make recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress
and Senate and the appropriate department, and in order to carry out the
objectives and mandates of this Act.

SECTION 11. Automatic Review - Every three’ (3) years after the
effectivity of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to be
appointed by the President shall review the policies and programs in the BFP
and shall make recommendations, based on its findings, to the President and to
both Houses of Congress.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances,
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed
or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any
Portion or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the
remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect. .

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,