EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
of tt)r fe. rrctarp
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HUG-6  
P3 2 2
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA
AN ACT
REMOVING HEIGHT AS QUALIFICATION FOR PERSONNEL, OFFICERS OR 
MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, BUREAU OF FIRE 
PROTECTION, BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY, AND 
BUREAU OF CORRECTION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 6975, AS AMENDED, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8551, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263 
AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10575
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Filipinos are known for being hospitable, friendly, industrious and hard working. 
However, Filipinos are also known to be vertically-challenged; the second shortest 
race in Southeast Asia. Despite our height, we are known to accomplish many 
remarkable things.
Unfortunately, applicants of PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor are being required to 
be of certain height before being appointed as members, officers or personnel of the 
Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail 
Management 
and 
Penology 
(BJMP), 
and 
Bureau 
of 
Correction 
(BuCor). 
Notwithstanding having passed the qualification examinations for applicants, one 
cannot be a member of the aforementioned bureaus if he stands below 1.62 meters 
for male and 1.57 meters for female. This rigid height requirement remains to be an 
unavoidable hindrance for Filipinos who wants to join the force because of our inherent


physiological built. Regardless of the wit and high intelligent quotient of an applicant, 
he/she cannot be accepted without the required height. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces 
of the Philippines has relaxed their height requirement since 2010 to allow the 
admission of intellectually and physically qualified applicant to join their force.
This proposed bill seeks to ensure that every Filipinos, regardless of height, will 
be given opportunity to be a member of the PNP, BFP, BJMP, and BuCor and have the 
chance to serve and protect our country and its citizens.
In view of the foregoing, I earnestly sought the passage of this bill.
RONALD ’^ B ^ ^ D E L A  ROSA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 871
Senate
<?ff!cr of tlj; fe.'crrtarj>
’19 
AUG “ 6 P 3 2 2
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA r55SS/; D3,/ -
AN ACT
REMOVING HEIGHT AS QUALIFICATION FOR PERSONNEL, OFFICERS OR 
MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, BUREAU OF FIRE 
PROTECTION, BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY, AND 
BUREAU OF CORRECTION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 6975, AS AMENDED, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8551, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263 
AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10575
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor Height 
Equality Act."
Sec. 2. No height requirement shall be imposed to applicants for officers or 
members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), 
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and Bureau of Correction (BuCor).
Sec. 3. Pursuant to Section 2 of this Act, Section 30 of Republic Act No. 6875, 
as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 30. General qualifications for appointment. -  No person 
shall be appointed as officer or member of the PNP unless he 
or she possesses the following minimum qualifications:
a) 
XXX 
XXX 
XXX
XXX
XXX
XXX
h) [Must be—at- ■ least ■ one—meter and sixty-two


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centimeters (1.62 -m.) in height for male ond one 
meter and fifty-seven centimeters <1.57 m.) for 
female;]
XXX
XXX
XXX.
Sec. 4. Pursuant to Section 2 of this Act, Section 15 of Republic Act No. 8551 
is hereby amended as follows:
"Sec. 15. Waivers for initial appointment to the PNP. -  The 
age, [height,] weight, and educational requirements for initial 
appointment to the PNP may be waived only when the 
number of qualified applicants fall below the minimum annual 
quota: Provided, That an applicant shall not be below twenty 
(20) nor over thirty-five (35) years of age: Provided, 
further. That any 
applicant 
not 
meeting 
the 
weight 
requirement shall be given reasonable time but not exceeding 
six (6) months within which to comply with the said 
requirement: Provided, furthermore, That only applicants who 
have finished second year college or have earned at least 
seventy-two (72) collegiate units leading to a bachelor's 
decree 
shall 
be 
eligible 
for 
appointment: 
Provided,
furthermore. That anybody who will enter the service without 
a baccalaureate degree shall be given a maximum of four (4) 
years 
to 
obtain 
the 
required 
educational 
qualification[: ■ Provided, finally, That o waiver for height 
requirement shall be outomotically granted to applicants 
belonging to the cultural communities]."
Sec. 5. Pursuant to Section 2 of this Act, Section 16 of Republic Act No. 8551 
is hereby amended as follows:
"Sec. 16. Selection criteria under the waiver program. -  The 
selection of applicants under the Waiver Program shall be


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subject to the following minimum criteria:
a) 
XXX 
XXX 
XXX
b) The requirements shall be waived in the following order: (a) 
age, [(b) height,] (c) weight, and (d) education.
The Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to 
address other situations arising from the waiver of the entry 
requirements."
Sec. 6. Pursuant to Section 2 of this Act, Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9263 is 
hereby amended as follows:
"Sec. 4. Professionalization and Upgrading o f Qualification 
Standards in the Appointment o f Uniformed Personnel to the 
BFP and the BJMP. -  No person shall be appointed as 
uniformed personnel of the BFP and BJMP unless he or she 
possesses the following minimum qualifications:
a) 
XXX 
XXX 
XXX
XXX 
XXX 
XXX
h) [Mest—be—at—least one—motor—aed—sixty-two 
eentimotors (1.62 m.) in height for male and one 
moter- and fifty-seven—centimotors (1.57 m.) for 
fematet]
XXX
XXX
XXX.
Sec. 7. Pursuant to Section 2 of this Act, Section 11 of Republic Act No. 10575 
is hereby amended as follows:
"Sec. 11. Professionalization and Upgrading o f Qualification 
Standards in the Appointment o f the BuCor Personnel. -  No 
person shall be appointed as personnel of the Bucor unless 
one possesses the following minimum qualifications:
(1) 
XXX 
XXX 
XXX
XXX
XXX
XXX


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(8) 
[Must bo-ot iGOGt one-fnotOf-afKj- sixty-two
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ccntimotors (1.62 m.) in height for mole, ond one
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motor ond fifty seven centimetors (1.57 m.) for
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fomolo: Provided, That a waiver for height ond ogo
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requirement/s moy bo granted to applicants-belonging
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to the culturol comunitfes Provided, further, Thot a
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new applicant must not be less than twenty-one (21)
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or more than forty (40) years of age. Except for this
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particular 
provision, 
the 
above-enumerated
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qualifications shall be continuing in character and an
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absence of any one of them at any given time shall be
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ground for separation 
or 
retirement from the
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service: Provided, furthermore. That those who are
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already in the service upon the effectivity of this Act
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shall be given five (5) years from the date of such
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effectivity 
to 
obtain 
the 
minimum 
educational
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qualification and eligibility with subsidiary assistance
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as provided for in this Act."
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Sec. 8. Automatic Compliance. -  Applicants to the PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor
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who were conditionally appointed as uniformed personnel, officers or members and
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were required but have not submitted their corresponding waiver for the height
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requirement, and whose appointments have been pending with the Civil Service
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Commission, upon the effectivity of this Act, are hereby deemed to have complied
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with such requirement.
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
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remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, regulations and policies
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed and/or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,