Republic of the Philippines​
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES​
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session​
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by REP. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE RANK CLASSIFICATION AND 
ORGANIZATION OF KEY POSITIONS IN THE BUREAU OF FIRE 
PROTECTION (BFP) AND THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY (BJMP), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
9263, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION AND 
BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY PROFESSIONALIZATION 
ACT OF 2004”, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9592 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act 6975, also known as the DILG Act of 1990, marks a significant 
milestone in Philippine governance by establishing three critical entities: the 
Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau 
of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Established in accordance with Article 2, 
Section 5 of the Philippine Constitution, these agencies are entrusted with the vital 
mission of maintaining peace and order and advancing the general welfare of the 
people.    
In 2018, RA 11200 was introduced to streamline command structures and 
clarify responsibilities within the Philippine National Police (PNP) and to eliminate 
confusion in their respective ranks. Likewise, this measure aims to update the 
classification of ranks in the BFP and BJMP with the purpose of enhancing 
organizational efficiency by resolving rank ambiguities. This initiative is pivotal in 
recognizing and fairly compensating the dedicated professionals within these 
institutions, in accordance to their roles and responsibilities. 
1 
August 18, 2025
4:13 pm
3818


In consonance with the aforementioned constitutional and statutory 
mandates, this proposed legislation mandates higher educational qualifications for 
specific positions within the BFP and BJMP. By setting stricter criteria for these roles, 
the bill aims to foster better management and supervision of the uniformed 
personnel, ensuring that they are adequately prepared for the challenges of their 
duties. This legislation signifies a comprehensive approach to reforming and 
strengthening the capacity of these critical public safety entities. The following 
measures will not only streamline administrative processes and command but also 
contribute significantly to the professional development and welfare of the uniformed 
personnel serving these key agencies, ultimately leading to improved public safety 
and welfare. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
HON. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
Representative 
1st District, Sorsogon 
2 


Republic of the Philippines​
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES​
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session​
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by REP. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE RANK CLASSIFICATION AND 
ORGANIZATION OF KEY POSITIONS IN THE BUREAU OF FIRE 
PROTECTION (BFP) AND THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY (BJMP), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
9263, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION AND 
BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY PROFESSIONALIZATION 
ACT OF 2004”, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9592 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 3. Organization and Key Positions of the BFP and the BJMP. - 
The BFP and the BJMP shall be respectively headed by a Chief who shall be assisted 
by two (2) Deputy Chiefs, one (1) for Administration and one (1) for Operations, all 
of whom shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary 
of the DILG from among the qualified officers with at least the rank of senior 
superintendent FIRE/JAIL BRIGADIER GENERAL in the service: Provided, That 
in no case shall any officer who has retired or is retirable within six (6) months from 
his/her compulsory retirement age be appointed as Chief of the Fire Bureau or Chief 
of the Jail Bureau, as the case may be: Provided, further, That the Chief of the 
Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau shall serve a tour of duty not to exceed four (4) 
years: Provided, however, that in times of war or other national emergency declared 
by Congress, the President may extend such tour of duty. 
1 
3818


  
The Heads of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of director FIRE/JAIL 
GENERAL shall have the position title of Chief of the Fire Bureau and the Chief of 
the Jail Bureau, respectively. The second officers in command of the BFP and the 
BJMP with the rank of chief superintendent FIRE/JAIL LIEUTENANT GENERAL 
shall have the position title of Deputy Chief for Administration of the Fire Bureau and 
Deputy Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The third officers in 
command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of chief superintendent 
FIRE/JAIL LIEUTENANT GENERAL shall have the position title of Deputy Chief 
for Operations of the Bureau and Deputy Chief for Operations of the Jail Bureau, 
respectively. The fourth officers in command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank 
of chief superintendent FIRE/JAIL LIEUTENANT GENERAL shall have the 
respective position title of Chief of Directorial Staff of the Fire Bureau and Chief of 
Directorial Staff of the Jail Bureau, who shall be assisted by the Directors of the 
Directorates in the respective National Headquarters Office with at least the rank of 
chief superintendent FIRE/JAIL MAJOR GENERAL. 
The BFP and the BJMP shall CONSTRUCT, establish, operate and maintain 
their respective regional offices in each of the administrative regions of the country 
which shall be respectively headed by a Regional Director for Fire Protection and a 
Regional Director of Jail Management and Penology with the rank of chief 
superintendent  FIRE/JAIL BRIGADIER GENERAL. He/she shall be assisted by 
the following officers with the rank of FIRE/JAIL COLONEL: Assistant Regional 
Director for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, and Regional 
Chief of Directorial Staff: PROVIDED, THAT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL 
REGION, THE AFOREMENTIONED OFFICERS SHALL HAVE THE RANK OF 
FIRE/JAIL BRIGADIER GENERAL. 
SEC. 2. Section 5, paragraph d) of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is 
hereby 2 amended to read as follows: 
2 
 


 "SEC. 5. Appointment of Uniformed Personnel to the BFP and the 
BJMP. - The appointment of the uniformed personnel to the BFP and the BJMP shall 
be effected in the following manner: 
XXX​ XXX​ XXX 
d) Fire/ Jail chief superintendent  BRIGADIER GENERAL to Fire/Jail 
GENERAL - Appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of 
the DILG, with the proper endorsement by the Chairman of the Civil Service 
Commission (CSC)." 
SEC. 3. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby amended 
to read 14 as follows: 
"SEC. 7. Professionalization and Upgrading of Qualification Standards in the 
Designation of Uniformed Personnel of the BFP and the BJMP to Key Positions. – 
a)​
No person shall be designated to the following key positions of the BFP 
unless he/she has met the qualifications provided therein: 
1)​
Municipal Fire Marshal. - Should have the rank of senior inspector 
FIRE LIEUTENANT COLONEL, who must have finished at least second year 
Bachelor of Laws or earned at least twelve (12) units in a Master's Degree Program 
in Public Administration, Management, Engineering, Public Safety, Criminology or 
other related disciplines from a recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career courses for such position as 
may be established by the Fire Bureau; 
2)​
City Fire Marshal. - Should have the rank of senior inspector  FIRE 
COLONEL, who must have finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws or earned 
at least twenty-four (24) units in a Master's Degree Program in Public Administration, 
Management, Engineering, Public Safety, Criminology or other related disciplines 
from a recognized institution of learning, and must have satisfactorily passed the 
necessary training or career courses for such position as may be established by the 
Fire Bureau; 
3 
 


3)​
DISTRICT FIRE MARSHAL- DISTRICT FIRE MARSHAL FOR THE 
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, PROVINCIAL FIRE MARSHAL, ASSISTANT 
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION, ASSISTANT REGIONAL 
DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS AND REGIONAL CHIEF OF DIRECTORIAL 
STAFF. - SHOULD HAVE THE RANK OF FIRE COLONEL, WHO MUST BE A 
GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS OR A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE 
IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC 
SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY OR OTHER RELATED DISCIPLINES FROM A 
RECOGNIZED 
INSTITUTION 
OF 
LEARNING, 
AND 
MUST 
HAVE 
SATISFACTORILY PASSED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR CAREER 
COURSES FOR SUCH POSITION AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE 
BUREAU; 
4)​
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR FIRE PROTECTION, ASSISTANT 
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION (NCR) AND ASSISTANT 
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (NCR) - SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 
THE RANK OF FIRE BRIGADIER GENERAL, WHO MUST BE A GRADUATE OF 
BACHELOR OF LAWS OR A HOLDER OF MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC 
ADMINISTRATION, 
MANAGEMENT, 
ENGINEERING, 
PUBLIC 
SAFETY, 
CRIMINOLOGY OR OTHER RELATED DISCIPLINES FROM A RECOGNIZED 
INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, AND MUST HAVE SATISFACTORILY PASSED 
THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR CAREER COURSE FOR SUCH POSITION AS 
MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU; 
5)​
DIRECTOR 
OF 
THE 
DIRECTORATE 
OF 
THE 
NATIONAL 
HEADQUARTERS OFFICE AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL 
CAPITAL REGION. - SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST THE RANK OF FIRE MAJOR 
GENERAL, WHO MUST BE A GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS OR A 
HOLDER 
OF 
MASTER'S 
DEGREE 
IN 
PUBLIC 
ADMINISTRATION, 
MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY OR OTHER 
RELATED 
DISCIPLINES 
FROM 
A 
RECOGNIZED 
INSTITUTION 
OF 
LEARNING, AND MUST HAVE SATISFACTORILY PASSED THE NECESSARY 
4 
 


TRAINING OR CAREER COURSE FOR SUCH POSITION AS MAY BE 
ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU; 
6) Deputy Chief for Administration of the Fire Bureau, Deputy Chief for 
Operations of the Fire Bureau and Chief Directorial Staff of the Fire Bureau.- Should 
have the rank of superintendent FIRE LIEUTENANT GENERAL, who must be a 
member of the Philippine Bar or a holder of a Master's Degree in Public 
Administration, Management, Engineering, Public Safety, Criminology or other 
related disciplines from a recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career courses for such as may be 
established by the Fire Bureau; and 
 7) Chief of the Fire Bureau. - Should have the rank of FIRE GENERAL, who 
must be a member of the Philippine Bar or a holder of a Master's Degree in Public 
Administration, Management, Engineering, Public Safety, Criminology or other 
related discipline from a recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career courses for such position as 
may be established by the Fire Bureau. 
b)​
No person shall be designated to the following key positions of the 
BJMP unless he/she has met the qualification provided therein: 
1)​
Municipal Jail Warden. - Should have the rank of chief inspector JAIL 
LIEUTENANT COLONEL, who have finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws 
or earned at least twelve (12) units in a Master' Degree Program in Management, 
Public Administration, Public Safety, Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National 
Security Administration, Defense Studies, or other related disciplines from a 
recognized institution of learning, and must have satisfactorily passed the necessary 
training or career courses for such position as may be established by the Jail Bureau; 
2)​
City Jail Warden. - Should have the rank of chief inspector JAIL 
COLONEL, who must have finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws or earned 
at least twenty four (24) units In Master's Degree Program In Management, Public 
Administration, Public Safety, Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National Security 
Administration, Defense Studies or related disciplines from a recognized Institution of 
5 
 


learning and must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career courses 
for such position as may be established by the Jail Bureau: Provided, that in City 
Jails with a population of one thousand (1,000) or more inmates, the City Jail 
Warden shall the rank and qualification of a District Jail Warden; 
3)​
District Jail Warden, Provincial Jail Administrator, Assistant Regional 
Director for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations and Regional 
Chief of Directorial Staff. - Should have the rank of Senior Superintendent JAIL 
COLONEL, who must be a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of Master’s 
Degree in Management, Public Administration, Public Safety, Criminology, Penology, 
Sociology, National Security Administration, Defense Studies or other related 
discipline from a recognized institution of learning, and must have satisfactorily 
passed the necessary training or career courses for such position as may be 
established by Jail Bureau; 
4)​
Regional Director for Jail Management and Penology, and Assistant 
Regional Director for Operations and Regional Chief of Directorial Staff ASSISTANT 
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION (NCR) AND ASSISTANT REGIONAL 
DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (NCR). - Should have the rank of JAIL BRIGADIER 
GENERAL, who must be a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a Master's 
Degree in Management, Public Administration, Public Safety, Criminology, Penology, 
Sociology, National Security Administration, Defense Studies or other related 
discipline from a recognized institution of learning, and must have satisfactorily 
passed the necessary training or career courses for such position as may be 
established by the Jail Bureau; 
5)​
DIRECTOR 
OF 
THE 
DIRECTORATE 
OF 
THE 
NATIONAL 
HEADQUARTERS OFFICE AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL 
CAPITAL REGION. - SHOULD HAVE THE RANK OF JAIL MAJOR GENERAL, 
WHO MUST BE A GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS OR A HOLDER OF A 
MASTER'S DEGREE IN MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC 
SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY, PENOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, NATIONAL SECURITY 
ADMINISTRATION, DEFENSE STUDIES OR OTHER RELATED DISCIPLINE 
FROM A RECOGNIZED INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, AND MUST HAVE 
6 
 


SATISFACTORILY PASSED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR CAREER 
COURSES FOR SUCH POSITION AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE JAIL 
BUREAU; 
6) Deputy Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau, Deputy Chief for 
Operations of the Jail Bureau and Chief of Directorial Staff of the Jail Bureau. - 
Should have the rank of JAIL LIEUTENANT GENERAL, who must be a member of 
the Philippine Bar or a holder of a Master's Degree in Management, Public 
Administration, Public Safety, Criminology, Penology, Sociology, National Security 
Administration, Defense Studies or other related discipline from a recognized 
institution of learning, and must have satisfactorily passed the necessary training or 
career courses for such position as may be established by the Jail Bureau; and 
7) Chief of the Jail Bureau. - Should have the rank of senior superintendent 
JAIL GENERAL, who must be a member of the Philippine Bar or a holder of a 
Master's Degree in Management, Public Administration, Public Safety, Criminology, 
Penology, Sociology, National Security Administration, Defense Studies or other 
related discipline from a recognized institution of learning, and must have 
satisfactorily passed the necessary training or career courses for such position as 
may be established by the Jail Bureau. 
ANY UNIFORMED PERSONNEL OF THE BFP AND THE BJMP WHO IS 
CURRENTLY OCCUPYING SUCH DESIGNATION FOR MORE THAN FIVE (5) 
YEARS SHALL BE RECLASSIFIED OF THEIR RANKS BY OPERATION OF 
LAW." 
SEC. 4. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9263, as amended, is hereby amended 
to read as follows: 
"SEC. 12. RANK CLASSIFICATION, Standardization of the Base Pay, 
Retirement and other Benefits of the Uniformed Personnel of the BFP and BJMP. - In 
order to enhance the general welfare, commitment to service and professionalism of 
the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP, they shall receive the minimum 
starting salary equivalent to the salary grade level of the corresponding rank 
classification of their counterparts in the PNP, as provided under Section 36 of 
7 
 


Republic Act No. 8551, and in the AFP, as provided under Section 2 of Republic Act 
No. 9166. 
FOR PURPOSES OF EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION, SUPERVISION 
AND CONTROL, THE RANK CLASSIFICATION AND THE CORRESPONDING 
RATE OF THE BASE PAY OF THE UNIFORMED PERSONNEL OF THE BFP AND 
BJMP SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS: 
RANK CLASSIFICATION​​
​
​
​
SALARY GRADE 
Fire/Jail GENERAL ​
​
​
​
​
      30 [28] 
Fire/Jail LIEUTENANT GENERAL ​
​
​
      29 [22] 
Fire/Jail MAJOR GENERAL ​
​
​
                28 [26] 
Fire/Jail BRIGADIER GENERAL​
​
​
      27 [25] 
Fire/Jail COLONEL​
​
​
                          26 [24] 
Fire/Jail LIEUTENANT COLONEL​
​
​
      25 [23] 
Fire/Jail MAJOR​ ​
​
​
  ​
        ​ ​
24 
Fire/Jail CAPTAIN​
​
​
​
   ​
        ​ 23 
Fire/Jail LIEUTENANT​ ​
​
​
        ​ ​
22 
Fire/Jail EXECUTIVE MASTER SERGEANT​ ​
        ​ 19 
Fire/Jail CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT​​
        ​ ​
18 
Fire/Jail SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT​
​
        ​ 17 
Fire/Jail MASTER SERGEANT​ ​
                  ​ ​
16 
Fire/Jail STAFF SERGEANT​
​
​
​
        ​ 14 
Fire/Jail CORPORAL ​
​
​
​
    ​
        ​ 12 
Fire/Jail Officer​
​
​
​
    ​
        ​ ​
10 
8 
 


Provided, That all benefits currently received by the uniformed personnel of 
the BFP and the BJMP under other existing laws shall continue to be received by 
them: Provided, further, That their retirement pay shall be subject to the 
adjustment/s based on the prevailing scale of base pay of the uniformed personnel 
in the active service. 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DILG in coordination with 
the BFP and the BJMP, the CSC, the Department of Budget and Management, and 
the Department of Finance, shall within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this 
Act, promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provision of 
this Act. 
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the 
other provisions not affected thereby. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - The renaming provisions of Republic Act No. 
6975, as amended by Republic Act No. 9263 that have reference to the rank and 
classification of the uniformed personnel of the BFP and BJMP, and all laws, decrees, 
orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby deemed repealed, amended 
or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication In the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
 
Approved, 
9