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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _4887

Introduced by Representative ALYSSA SHEENA TAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) was established by virtue of Republic Act
No. 6975, otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government
Act of 1990. Its role and functions were further reinforced by the passage of Republic
Act No. 9514, also known as the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008. In 2010,
the BFP launched its Modernization Program pursuant to R.A. No. 9514 which aimed
to upgrade the government's firefighting capability with adequate personnel and
equipment in order to safeguard the public from the hazards of destructive fire.
However, according to the Performance Audit Report conducted by the Commission
on Audit (COA), there is still shortage in equipage and personnel in the BFP. As of
June 30, 2018, there are 1, 584 units or 44% shortage in fire trucks; 11, 593 firemen or
36% short based on ideal number; 11,119 or 64% firemen without complete set of
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); and 308 municipalities that still do not have
their own fire stations. Based on the same report, it was revealed that the leading cause
of fire incidence is problems on electrical connections with an average occurrence of
66% while structural type of occupancy was the most affected which are mostly
residential with 56% share of the total incidents.

This bill seeks to strengthen the Bureau of Fire Protection and uphold its
mandate by addressing the three (3) major reasons for the increasing fire incidence
namely: lack of fire suppression capability; lack of public awareness on fire
suppression; and absence of signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the
BFP and the major stakeholders. These recurring problems are what the
modernization program is for in order to resolve the gaps hindering the efficient and
economical provision of fire protection services. More importantly, it aims to conduct
the employment of more trained personnel as well as the procurement of modern fire
equipment in order to maximize the services for public safety. In addition, the bill
aims to establish an efficient and reliable monitoring scheme to keep track of the
projects implemented by the modernization program and ensure their timely


accomplishment. Lastly, this bill intends to encourage BFP’s continued partnership
with key stakeholders for a coordinated effort in safeguarding the public from the
hazards of destructive fires.

In view of the foregoing the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Atty. Alyssa Sheena Tan
Representative, 4th\District of Isabela


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4887
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative ALYSSA SHEENA TAN

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 the "Fire Protection
Modernization Act of 2019."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to uphold public
safety through the prevention and suppression of all kinds of destructive fires
as well as the promotion of the professionalization of the fire service.
Moreover, the State shall enforce all laws, rules and regulations in order to
guarantee compliance to the standard of fire prevention and safety measures
and ensure accountability in fire protection and prevention service. Towards
this end, the State shall implement a Fire Protection Modernization Program.

SEC. 3. Additional Functions of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BSP). - Aside
from its existing functions under Republic Act No. 9514 and Republic Act No.
6975, the BFP shall 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;

1)

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


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©) Respond to disasters, whether manmade 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;

d) 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

e) 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 a prerequisite for the
issuance of the building permit.

SEC 4. Fire Protection Modernization Program. - The Bureau of Fire
Protection, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local
Government. (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
establishment 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;

b) Force Restructuring and Organizational Development. — The
modernization program shall develop the Bureau of Fire Protection
into an efficient, responsive and modern agency of the Department of
the Interior and Local Government with the capability to implement
Republic Act No. 9514 otherwise known as the Fire Code of the
Philippines. The Bureau of Fire Protection, within ninety (90) days
from the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations
(IRR) of this Act, shall recommend and submit to the Secretaries of
Department of the Interior and Local Government 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 qualifications upgrading, program for the
BFP officers and personnel in accordance with the Civil Service
Commission rules and regulations;


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c) Monitoring and Evaluation Services. - The modernization program shall
put in place a monitoring and evaluation scheme to be supervised by
the Regional Offices in order to track the individual progress of each of
its component to be able to strengthen its monitoring on the projects
implemented and ensure their timely completion. The BFP shall
likewise further develop its partnership with key stakeholders for a
coordinated effort in safeguarding the populace from the hazards of
destructive fires.

d) Material and Technology Development. - The modernization program
shall upgrade existing fire protection equipment and services and
acquire new equipment for fire protection: Provided, 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;

tS)

Specialized Services Development. - The modernization program shall
establish specialized fire protection services within the BEP such as but
not limited to; high-rise building fires, forest fires, aircraft/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 BEP 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.

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

SEC. 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 or contractors in the
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 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.


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SEC 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.

SEC 8. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of
this Act shall be sourced from the BFP Modernization Trust Fund as provided
for in Republic Act No. 9514. An additional amount of Five Billion Pesos
(P5,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to be included in the General
Appropriations Act of the year immediately following the effectivity of this
Act.

SEC 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,