Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

7342

Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proposed bill seeks to amend Section 33 of Republic Act 6975, or otherwise
known as “The Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990" to include
other baccalaureate degrees to the Lateral Entry Program of the Philippine National Police
(PNP) for Line and Technical Officers.

Section 33 of Republic Act No. 6975 concerns the “Lateral Entry of Officers into
the PNP.” The contemplated amendment expands the list of professionals with highly
technical qualifications who may apply for the PNP technical services. From the original
six (6) enumeration, the amendment now provides twenty-seven (27) with the rider “Other
Technical Professions.” It also changes the designation of the entry ranks. Whereas, under
the original Section 33 of RA 6975, the entry rank is “Inspector” or “Senior Inspector”, in
the amendment, it is now called “Police Lieutenant” or “Police Captain.”

Moreover, the amendment includes a new provision pertaining to the “Lateral Entry
for Line Officers” of the PNP; and those who may qualify to be line officers include not
only criminologists, but also other professionals duly licensed by the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) as well as Career Service Professionals. Thus, the
inclusion of many baccalaureate degrees to the Lateral Entry Program of the PNP for Line
and Technical Officers will be greatly beneficial to the PNP, as this will enrich and
strengthen its personnel and will enable it to administer various technical services as may
be required in its day-to-day operations.

The avowed objective of the contemplated amendments is declared in Section 3 of
the bill which reads:

“SECTION 3. Objective. - This amendment of Section 33 of Republic Act
6975 intends to include other baccalaureate degrees in the lateral entry
program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for technical and line
officers to fill up vacancies and to expand the opportunities to Police Non-


Commissioned Officers (PNCOs) and Non-Uniformed Personnel (NUP)
who are already in the service and are qualified to the position of Police
Lieutenants based on their eli ity as Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) licensed professionals and CSC Career Service Professional (CSP).”

And the goal is “to establish a highly efficient, effective and competent police force, which
is national in scope, civilian in character, and administered and controlled by the Philippine
National Police (PNP).”

With these noble aims and intentions, the proponent earnestly seeks the approval of

the proposed bill.
MARL’ pil. 1 ssacanas
" District, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,7342

Introduced

AN ACT AMENDING SEC 33 OF REPUBLIC ACT 6975, OR “THE DEPARTMENT
OFTHE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1990" TO INCLUDE
OTHER BACCALAUREATE DEGREES TO THE LATERAL ENTRY PROGRAM
FOR LINE AND TECHNICAL OFFICERS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Amended Provision of the
Lateral Entry Program for Line and Technical Officers (Sec 33 of RA 6975) to the Rank of
Police Lieutenant.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to establish a highly
efficient, effective and competent police force, which is national in scope, civilian in
character, and administered and controlled by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

SECTION 3. Objective. - This amendment of Section 33 of Republic Act 6975 intends
to include other baccalaureate degrees in the lateral entry program of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) for technical and line officers to fill up vacancies and to expand the
opportunities to Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs) and Non-Uniformed
Personnel (NUP) who are already in the service and are qualified to the position of Police
Lieutenants based on their eligibility as Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
licensed professionals and CSC Career Service Professional (CSP).

SECTION 4. Lateral Entry for Technical Officers.

Section 33 of Republic Act No. 6975 is amended to read as follows: “Section 33.
Lateral Entry of Officers into the PNP. In general, all original appointments of
commissioned officers in the PNP shall commence with the rank of Police Lieutenant, to


Aeronautical Engineers
‘Computer Engineers
Chemical Engineers
Chemists

Civil Engineers
Criminologists

Dentists

Electrical Engineers
Electronics Engineers
Guidance and Counseling

include all those with highly technical qualifications applying for the PNP technical
services, such as:

Naval Architects

Nuclear Physicists

Nurses

Nutritionists and Dieticians
Optometrists

Physical Therapists
Psychologists
Psychometricians
Sports Medicine

Social Workers

Mechanical Engineers
Medical Technologists
Metallurgical Engineers

Veterinary Medicines
Graduates of Forensic Sciences
Information Technology
Professionals

Molecular Biologists Other Technical Professions

Abovementioned professionals shall be accommodated to the PNP service to fill up
vacancies in any of the PNP offices/units for technical services, provided, they possess an
appropriate PRC license or CSP eligibility.

Doctors of Medicine, Members of the Bar, Priests/Pastors/Imams, and Licensed
Aircraft Pilots shall be appointed to the rank of Police Captain in their particular technical
service. Provided, that the Police Commissioned Officers who are recruited via the Lateral
Entry Technical Officers Program shall exclusively serve the office/unit where he/she was
accepted and must acquire or pursue training related to his/her field of expertise in
pursuit of excellence.”

SECTION 5. Lateral Entry for Line Officers. - Section 33 of RA No. 6975 shall further
be amended to read as follows:

Graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) shall be automatically
appointed to the initial rank of Police Lieutenant.

“In the Lateral Entry for Line Officers Program, licensed criminologists, other
professionals who have licenses issued by the Professional Regulation Commission and
those who are Career Service Professionals may be appointed to the rank of Police
Lieutenant to fill up vacancies in the PNP Line Units.


Provided, that Licensed Criminologists and other PRC licensed professionals, to
include Career Service Professionals who are applying for lateral entry line officer ship, are
already members of the PNP with a rank of at least Police Staff Sergeant for Uniformed
Personnel or at least Salary Grade 14 for NUP and have served the organization for at least
5 years.

Provided further, that these Police Lieutenants in the line services shall serve at
least 5 years in the line offices/units they opted to join before they can seek reassignment
to other line offices/units.”

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All other provisions of Republic Act 6975, as
amended by Republic Act 8551, otherwise known as the "Philippine National Police
Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998,” and all other laws, executive orders, rules, and
regulations, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act shall be deemed modified or
repealed accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application of
such provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,