Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.__4995

Introduced by HON. AURORA ENERIO-CERILLES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As embodied in the Constitution, it is the declared policy of the State to maintain peace
and order, protect life, liberty and properly, and promote the general welfare essential for
the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy. Moreover, it recognizes
the responsibility of the State to strengthen government capability aimed towards the
strengthening of the delivery of basic services to the citizenry through the
institutionalization of highly efficient and competent fire and jail services.

It is provided for under Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as the “Department of
Interior and Local Government Act of 1990,” that the tasks of fire protection, and jail
management and penology shall be the responsibility of the Bureau of Fire Protection
(BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), respectively.

‘Towards this end, the State shall provide for the professionalization and restructuring of
the BEP and BJMP by upgrading the level of qualifications of their uniformed personnel
and standardizing their base pay, retirement and other benefits, making it at par with
those of the PNP and the AFP.

A strict selection process must be done to ensure that only the best, good and honorable
ones will be part of the force. Through this process, the people are assured that all BFP
and BJMP officers are competent enforcers of the law deserving of the respect and
admiration of the Filipino people. Hence, this bill seeks to modify the recruitment and
selection process by amending certain provisions of RA 9263, An Act Providing for the
Professionalization of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau Of Jail
Management And Penology (BMP), Amending Certain Provisions of Republic Act No,
6975, Providing Funds Thereof and for Other Purposes.

The enactment of this bill is earnestly sought.

AUI -RIO-CERILLES


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Sessi
HOUSE BILL NO. L995

Introduced by HON. AURORA ENERIO-CERILLES

AN ACT
PROFESSIONALIZING THE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS IN
THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND THE BUREAU OF JAIL.
MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP), AMENDING CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF R.A. NO. 9263, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9263 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 BJMP. — No person
shall be appointed as uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP unless he or
she possesses the following minimum qualifications:

“a) A citizen of the Philippines;
“b) A person of good moral character,

“c) MUST BE A GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
CRIMINOLOGY;

“d) MUST HAVE PASSED THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR
CRIMINOLOGY;

“e) Must not have been dishonorably discharged or dismissed for cause from
previous employment;

“f) Must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime
involving moral turpitude;

“g) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) OR FIVE
FEET AND FOUR INCHES (5 ft. dinches) in height for male, and one meter
and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) OR FIVE FEET AND TWO INCHES (5
ft, 2inches) for female: Provided, That a waiver for height and age requirements
shall be automatically granted to applicants belonging to the cultural
communities; and

Provided, That a new applicant, must not be less than EIGHTEEN (18) nor more
than thirty (30) years of age: except for this particular provision, the above-
enumerated qualifications shall be continuing in character and an absence of any
one of them at any given time shall be a ground for separation or retirement from


the service: Provided, further, That the uniformed personnel who are already in
the service upon the effectivity of this Act SHALL BE EXEMPTED FROM
THE EDUCATIONAL AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS.

After the lapse of the time period for the satisfaction of a specific requirement,
current uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BIMP who will fail to satisfy any
of the OTHER requirements enumerated under this Section shall be separated
from the service if they are below fifty (50) years of age and have served in the
Government for less than twenty (20) years, or retired if they are from the age of
fifty (50) and above and have served in the Government for at least twenty (20)
years without prejudice in either case to the payment of benefits they may be
entitled to under existing laws.”

SECTION 2. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any provision of this Act is
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof which
are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations in other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved.