EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REI ‘ATIVES
Hn. Bea!

Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas

AN ACT REPEALING THE MINIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS TO
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION
(BFP), AND THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BUMP)

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that:

“All are equal before the law and are entitled without ‘any discrimination to equal
Protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any
discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such
discrimination.”

For the same purpose, Section 1, Article 13 of our Constitution on Social Justice and
Human Rights states that:

“The Congress shalll give highest priority to the enactment of measures that
protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce
Social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by
equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.”

Moreover, Section 3 Article 13 thereof states that:

“The State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized
and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment
Opportunities for all.”

Even though the Philippine Constitution affirms the Principles of employment
nondiscrimination, heightism or discrimination based on height is a reality today that has been
practiced among law enforcement agencies in the country.

The bill seeks the repeal of the minimum height requirement for applicants to the
Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BUMP), and 7
the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) provided they possess other qualifications required in the
effective performance of their duties. This is based on the principle that all people have equal
rights to be employed unhindered by biases that have nothing to do with their merit or
competence to carry out their duties.


Today more than ever, our country needs efficient and competent members of the
PNP, BUMP, and BFP to better serve the public.

Hence, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ah



EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF RE! ITATIVES
H. No woes a

Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas

AN ACT REPEALING THE MINIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS
TO THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), THE BUREAU OF FIRE
PROTECTION (BFP), AND THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND

PENOLOGY (BJMP)

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "PNP, BFP AND BUMP Height Equality
Act of 2019".

SECTION 2. The height requirement for application to the Philippine National Police
(PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BUMP) is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. Pursuant to the immediately preceding section, Section 30 (h) of Republic
Act No. 6975 or the "Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990," as
amended by Republic Act No. 8551 or the "Philippine National Police Reform and
Reorganization Act of 1998,” is hereby repealed.

SECTION 4. Pursuant to Section 2 of this Act, Sections 15 and 16 of Republic Act No.
8551, and Section 4 (h) of Republic Act No. 9263 or the "Bureau of Fire Protection and
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004," as
amended by Republic Act No. 9592 are hereby amended, insofar as these provisions
refer to any height requirement, to give effect to the mandated repeal of the height
Tequirement for applicants to the PNP, BFP and BUMP.

SECTION 5. Applicants to the PNP, BFP and BJMP who were conditionally appointed
by the PNP, BFP and BJMP as uniformed personnel and were required but have not
submitted their corresponding waiver for the height requirement, and whose
appointments have been pending with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), upon the
effectivity of this Act, are hereby deemed to have complied with such requirement.

SECTION 6. The National Police Commission, upon the recommendation of the PNP
and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); and the DILG in
coordination with the BFP, the BUMP, and the CSC shall, within ninety (90) days from


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the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the PNP,
and the BFP and BUMP, respectively, for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which
are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and tegulations, and
other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
are hereby deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved,