ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

Republic Act No. 6975             December 13, 1990

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE UNDER A REORGANIZED

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

assembled::

Section 1. Title of the Act. – This Act shall be known as the "Department of the Interior and
Local Government Act of 1990."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to promote
peace and order, ensure public safety and further strengthen local government capability aimed
towards the effective delivery of the basic services to the citizenry through the establishment of a
highly efficient and competent police force that is national in scope and civilian in character. Towards
this end, the State shall bolster a system of coordination and cooperation among the citizenry, local
executives and the integrated law enforcement and public safety agencies created under this Act.

The police force shall be organized, trained and equipped primarily for the performance of police
functions. Its national scope and civilian character shall be paramount. No element of the police
force shall be military nor shall any position thereof be occupied by active members of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines.

Section 3. Promulgation of Comprehensive Policies by Congress. – Subject to the limitations

provided in the Constitution, the President shall recommend to Congress the promulgation of
policies on public order and safety to protect the citizenry from all forms of lawlessness, criminality
and other threats to peace and order.

CHAPTER I
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Section 4. The Department of the Interior and Local Government. – To carry out the policies and
purposes of this Act, the Department of Local Government is hereby reorganized into the
Department of the Interior and Local Government, hereinafter referred to as the Department, in
accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Section 5. Powers and Functions of the Department. – In furtherance of the objectives of this Act,
the Department shall continue to exercise the powers and functions of the Department of Local
Government in addition to the powers and functions as herein provided.

Section 6. Organization. – The Department shall consist of the Department Proper, the existing
bureaus and offices of the Department of Local Government, the National Police Commission, the
Philippine Public Safety College, and the following bureaus: the Philippine National Police, the
Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Section 7. Department Proper. – The Department Proper shall consist of the existing staff services
as provided for under Executive Order No. 262 and the following offices:

(a) Office of the Secretary. – The office of the Secretary shall consist of the Secretary and his
immediate staff; and

(b) Office of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries. – The Secretary shall be
 assisted by two (2) Undersecretaries, one (1) for local government and the other for peace
and order, at least one (1) of whom must belong to the career executive service, and three
(3) career Assistant Secretaries.

Section 8. Head of Department. – The head of the Department. – The head of the Department,
hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, shall also be the ex-officio Chairman of the National Police
Commission and shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the Commission on
Appointments. No retired or resigned military officer or police official may be appointed as Secretary
within one (1) year from the date of his retirement or resignation.

Section 9. General Powers, Term of Office and Compensation of the Secretary. – The authority
and responsibility for the exercise of the Department's powers and functions shall be vested in the
Secretary, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the President and shall receive the compensation,
allowances and other emoluments to which heads of departments are entitled.

Section 10. Specific Powers and Functions of the Secretary. – In addition to his powers and
functions as provided in Executive Order No. 262, the Secretary as Department head shall have the
following powers and functions:

(a) Prepare and submit periodic reports, including a Quarterly Anti-Crime Operations Report
and such other reports as the President and Congress may require;

(b) Act as Chairman and Presiding Officer of the National Police Commission; and

(c) Delegate authority to exercise any substantive or administrative function to the members
of the National Police Commission or other officers of rank within the Department.

Section 11. Regional Offices. – The Department shall establish, operate and maintain a regional
office in each of the administrative regions of the country to implement the policies and programs of
the Department. Each regional office shall be headed by a regional director to be assisted by two (2)
assistant regional directors: one (1) for jail management and penology and another for fire protection
in addition to the present assistant regional directors of the Department of Local Government.

Section 12. Relationship of the Department with the Department of National Defense. – During
a period of twenty-four (24) months from the effectivity of this Act, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) shall continue its present role of preserving the internal and external security of the
State: Provided, That said period may be extended by the President, if he finds it justifiable, for
another period not exceeding twenty-four (24) months, after which, the Department shall
automatically take over from the AFP the primary role of preserving internal security, leaving to the
AFP its primary role of preserving external security. However, even after the Department has
assumed primary responsibility on matters affecting internal security, including the suppression of
insurgency, and there are serious threats to national security and public order, such as where
insurgents have gained considerable foothold in the community thereby necessitating the
employment of bigger tactical forces and the utilization of higher caliber armaments and better
armored vehicles, the President may, upon recommendation of the peace and order council, call
upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines to assume the primary role and the Philippine National
Police (PNP) to play the supportive role in the area concerned.

In times of national emergency, all elements of the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology shall, upon direction of the President, assist the Armed
Forces of the Philippines in meeting the national emergency.

The complementary relationship between the Department of the Interior and Local Government and
the Department of National Defense in any of the preceding eventualities shall be jointly prescribed
by their respective Secretaries in a memorandum of agreement that shall thereafter be published
and implemented.

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CHAPTER IV
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION

Section 53. Composition. – The Bureau of Fire Protection, hereinafter referred to as the Fire
Bureau, is hereby created initially consisting of the existing officers and uniformed members of the
fire service of the Integrated National Police as constituted under Presidential Decree No. 765.

Section 54. Powers and Functions. – The Fire Bureau shall be responsible for the prevention and
suppression of all destructive fires on buildings, houses and other structures, forest, land
transportation vehicles and equipment, ships or vessels docked at piers or wharves or anchored in
major seaports, petroleum industry installations, plane crashes and other similar incidents, as well as
the enforcement of the Fire Code and other related laws.

The Fire Bureau shall have the power to investigate all causes of fires and, if necessary, file the
proper complaints with the city or provincial prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case.

Section 55. Organization. – The Fire Bureau shall be headed by a chief who shall be assisted by a
deputy chief. It shall be composed of provincial offices, district offices and city or municipal stations.

At the provincial level, there shall be an office of the provincial fire marshall which shall implement
the policies, plans and programs of the Department; and monitor, evaluate and coordinate the
operations and activities of the fire service operating units at the city and municipal levels. In the
case of large provinces, district offices may be established, to be headed by a district fire marshall.

At the city or municipal level, there shall be a fire station, each headed by a city or municipal fire
marshall: Provided, That, in the case of large cities and municipalities, a district office with
subordinate fire stations headed by a district fire marshall may be organized as necessary.

The Fire Chief shall recommended to the Secretary the organizational structure and staffing pattern,
as well as the disciplinary machinery for officers and men of the Bureau, in accordance with the
guidelines set forth herein and as provided in Section 85 of this Act.

The local government units at the city and municipal levels shall be responsible for the fire protection
and various emergency services such as rescue and evacuation of injured people at fire-related
incidents and, in general, all fire prevention and suppression measures to secure the safety of life
and property of the citizenry.

Section 56. Establishment of Fire Station. – There shall be established at least one (1) fire station
with adequate personnel, firefighting facilities and equipment in every provincial capital, city and
municipality subject to the standards, rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the
Department. The local government unit shall, however, provide the necessary and or site of the
station.

Section 57. Qualification Standards. – The qualification standards of the members of the Fire
Bureau shall be as prescribed by the Department based on the requirement of the service.

Section 58. Rank Classification. – For purposes of efficient administration, supervision and control,
the rank classification of the members of the Fire Bureau shall be as follows:

Director
 Chief Superintendent

Senior Superintendent

Superintendent

Chief Inspector

Senior Inspector

Inspector

Senior Fire Officer IV

Senior Fire Officer III

Senior Fire Officer II

Senior Fire Officer I

Fire Officer III

Fire Officer II

Fire Officer I

Section 59. Key Positions. – The head of the Fire Bureau with the rank of director shall have the
position title of Chief of the Fire Bureau. He shall be assisted by a deputy chief with the rank of chief
superintendent.

The assistant heads of the Department's regional offices with the rank of senior superintendent shall
assume the position title of Assistant Regional Director for Fire Protection as provided in Section 11
of this Act; the heads of the NCR district offices with the rank of senior superintendent shall have the
position title of District Fire Marshall; the heads of the provincial offices with the rank of
superintendent shall be known as Provincial Fire Marshall; the heads of the district offices with the
rank of chief inspector shall have the position title of District Fire Marshall; and the heads of the
municipal or city stations with the rank of senior inspector shall be known as Chief of Municipal/City
Fire Station.

Approved: December 13, 1990

 Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila

Twelfth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eight day of July, two thousand three.

Republic Act No. 9263             March 10, 2004

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE

PROTECTION (BFP) AND THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP),
AMENDING CERTAIN, PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004."

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy and Principles. – It is declared policy of the state to maintain peace
and order, protect life, liberty and property, and promote the general welfare essential for the
enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy (Article II, Section 5 of the Philippine
Constitution) Moreover it recognizes the responsibility of the state to strengthen government
capability aimed towards the strengthening of the delivery of basic services to the citizenry though
the institutionalization of highly efficient and competent fire and jail services.

It is provided for under Republic Act No. 6975, other wise known as the "Department of the Interior
and Local Government Act 1990", that the task of fire protection, and jail management and penology
shall be the responsibility of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology (BJMP), respectively.

Moreover, Section 3 of the Republic Act No. 8551, otherwise known as the "Philippine National
Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998", provides that in times of national emergency, BFP
and the BJMP along with the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall, upon the direction of the
President, assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in meeting the national emergency, in
addition to the performance of their inherent functions as mandated by law.

It is therefore recognized that the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP, as member of the
uniformed service of the government under the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), are required the same amount of sacrifice, service and dedication like their counterparts in
the4 PNP and the AFP to carry out their respective duties to the extent of risking their lives and
limbs.

Towards this end, the State shall provide for the Professionalization and restructuring of the BFP and
the BJMP by upgrading the level of qualifications of their uniformed personnel and standardizing
their base pay, retirement and other benefits, making it at par with those of the PNP and the AFP.

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 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
Fire 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.

The Heads of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of director 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 shall have the position title of Deputy
Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The third officer in command of the BFP and
the BJMP with the rank of chief superintendent shall have the position title of Deputy Chief for
Operation of Fire Bureau and Deputy Chief for Operation of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The fourth
officers in command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of chief superintendent 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 senior superintendent.

The BFP and the shall 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 senior
superintendent. He/She shall be respectively assisted by the following officers with the rank of
superintendent: Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for
Operations, and Regional Chief of Directorial Staff.

SEC. 4. Professionalization and Upgrading of Qualification Standards in the Appointment of

Uniformed Personnel to the BFP and the BJMP. – No person shall be appointed as uniformed
personnel of the BFP and the BJMP unless he/she possesses the following minimum qualifications:

a) A citizen of the Republic of the Philippines;

b) A person of good moral character;

c) Must have passed the psychiatric/psychological, drug and physical test for the
purpose of determining his/her physical and mental health;

d) Must possess a baccalaureate degree from recognized institution of learning;

e) Must possess the appropriate civil service eligibility;

f) Must not have been dishonorably discharged of dismissal for cause from previous
employment;

g) Must not have been convicted by final judgement of an offense or crime involving
moral turpitude;

h) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) in height for male,
and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) for female: Provided, That a
waiver for height and age requirement \s shall be automatically granted to applicants
belonging to the cultural communities; and

i) Must weight not more or less than five kilograms (5 kgs.) from the standard weight
corresponding to his/her height, age and sex;

Provided, That a new applicants must be less than twenty one (21) nor more than thirty (30 years of
age: except for this particular provision, the above–enumerated qualifications shall be continuing in
character and an absence of any one of them at any given time shall be ground for separation or
retirement from the service: Provided,further, That the uniformed personnel who are already in the
service upon the effectivity of this Act shall be given five (5) years to obtain the minimum educational
qualification and one (1) year to satisfy the weight requirement.

After the lapse of the time of period for the satisfaction of a specific requirement, current uniformed
personnel of the BFP and the BJMP who will fail to satisfy any of the requirements enumerated
under this Section shall be separated from the service if they are below fifty (50) years of age and
have served in the government for less than twenty (20) years, or retired if they are age fifty (50) and
above and have served in the government for at least twenty (20) years without prejudice in either
case to the payment of benefits they may be entitled to under existing laws.

SEC. 5. Appointment of Uniformed Personnel to the BFP and the BJMP. – The appointment of
the BFP and the BJMP shall be effected in the following manners:

a) Fire/Jail Officer I to Senior Fire/Jail Officer IV. – Appointed by the respective

Regional Director for Fire Protection and Regional Director for Jail Management and
Penology for the regional office uniformed personnel or by the respective Chief of the
Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau for the national headquarters office
uniformed personnel, and attested by the Civil Service Commission (CSC);

b) "Fire/Jail Inspector to Fire/Jail Superintendent. – Appointed by the respective Chief

of the Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau, as recommended by their immediate
superiors, and attested by the CSC;

c) Fire/Jail Senior Superintendent. – Appointed by the Secretary of the DILG upon

recommendation of the respective Chief of the Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail
 Bureau, with the proper attestation of the CSC; and

d) Fire/ Jail Chief Superintendent. To Fire/Jail Director.- Appointed by the President

upon recommendation of the Secretary of the DILG, with the proper endorsement by
the Chairman of the CSC.

SEC. 6. Lateral Entry of Officer into the BFP and the BJMP. – In general, all original
appointments of officers in the Fire Bureau and Jail Bureau shall commence the rank of fire/jail
inspector wherein applicants for lateral entry into the BFP shall include all those with highly
specialized and technical qualifications such as, but not limited to, civil engineers, mechanical
engineers, electrical engineers, chemical engineers, chemist, architects, criminologists, certified
public accountants, nurses, physical therapists, and dentists, while applicants for lateral entry into
the BJMP shall include all those with highly specialized and technical qualifications such as, but not
limited to, social workers, psychologists, teachers, nurses, dentists and engineers. Doctor of
Medicine, members of the Philippine Bar and chaplains shall be appointed to the rank of fire/jail
senior inspector in their particular technical service. Graduate of the Philippine National Police
Academy (PNPA) shall be automatically appointed to the initial rank of fire/jail inspector.

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 and the
BJMP unless he/she has met the qualifications provided therein:

1) Municipal Fire Marshal. – Should have the rank of senior inspector, 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
discipline from recognized institution of learning, and must have satisfactory
passed the necessary training of career courses for such position as may be
established by the Fire Bureau;

2) City Fire Marshal. - Should the rank of chief of senior inspector, 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 recognized institution of learning, and must have satisfactory
passed the necessary training or career courses for such position as may be
established by the Fire Bureau;

3) District Fire Marshal, Provincial Fire Marshal, Assistant Regional Director

for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations and Regional
Chief of Directorial Staff. – Should have the rank of superintendent, who must
be a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a mater's degree in public
administration, management, engineering, public safety, criminology or other
related disciplines from recognized institution of learning, and must have
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career courses for such position
as may be established by the Fire Bureau;

4) District Fire Marshal for the National Capital Region, Regional Director for
Fire Protection and Director of the Directorate of the National Headquarters
Office. – Should have at least the rank of senior superintendent, 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
 satisfactory passed the necessary training or career course for such position
as may be established by the Fire Bureau;

5) 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, 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 recognized institution of learning, and must have satisfactory
passed the necessary training or career courses for such as may be
established by the Fire Bureau; and

6) Chief of the Fire Bureau. – Should have the rank of director, 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
satisfactory 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, 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 satisfactory 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, 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 learning and must satisfactory 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, 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 satisfactory passed the necessary training or career courses for
such position as may be established by the Jail bureau;

4) Regional Director for Jail Management and Penology and Director of the
Directorate of the National Headquarters Office. – Should have the rank of
senior superintendent, 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 satisfactory passed the necessary training or career
courses for such position as may be established by the Jail bureau;

5) 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 senior superintendent, 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 satisfactory passed the
necessary training or career courses for such position as may be established
by the Jail bureau; and

6) Chief of the Jail Bureau. – Should have the rank of director, 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 satisfactory
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 position but
lacks any of the qualifications mentioned therein shall be given three(3) years upon the effectivity of
this Act to comply with the requirements, otherwise he/she shall be relieved from the position.

SEC. 8. Professionalization and Qualifications Upgrading Program. – The DILG shall design
and establish a professionalization and qualifications upgrading program for uniformed personnel of
the BFP and the BJMP in coordination with the CSC and the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) though an off-campus education program or other similar programs within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 9. Attrition System for the Uniformed Personnel of the BFP and the BJMP. - There shall
be established a system of attrition for the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP within one
(1) year from the effectivty of this Act to be submitted by said bureaus to the DILG for approval. Such
attrition system shall include, but is not limited to, the provision of the following principles:

a) Attrition by Demotion in Position or Rank. – Any uniformed personnel of the BFP

and the BJMP who is relieved and assigned to a position lower than that is
established for his/her grade in the respective staffing pattern of the Fire Bureau and
the Jail Bureau, and who shall not be assigned to a position commensurate to his/her
grade within two (2) years after such demotion in position shall be separated or
retired from the service;

b) Attrition by Non-Promotion. – Any uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP
who has not been promoted for a continuous period of ten (10) years shall be
separated or retired from the service, except for those who are occupying a third-
level position;

c) Attrition by Other Means. – Any uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP
with at least five (5) years of accumulated active service shall be separated from the
service based on any of the following factors:
 1) Inefficiency based on poor performance during the last two (2) successive
semestral ratings period;

2) Inefficiency based on poor performance for three (3) cumulative semestral

rating period;

3) Physical and/or mental incapacity to perform his/her duties and functions;

or

4) Failure to complete the required career courses and/or appropriate civil

service eligibility for his/her position except for justifiable; and

d) Separation or Retirement from the Fire Bureau and the Jail Bureau under this
Section. – Any personnel who is dismissed from the BFP and the BJMP pursuant to
the above-enumerated principles in this Section shall be separated if he/she has
rendered less than twenty (20) years of service, and be retired if he/she has
rendered at least twenty (20) years of service unless the concerned personnel is
disqualified by law to receive such benefits.

SEC. 10. Promotion System for the Uniformed Personnel of the BFP and BJMP. – Within six (6)
months after the effectivity of this Act, the DILG shall establish a system of promotion for the
uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP though the following principles:

a) Rationalized Promotion System. – The system of promotion shall be based on

merits and on the availability of vacant ranks in the BFP and the BJMP staffing
pattern. Such system shall be gender-fair so as to ensure that women personnel of
the Fire Bureau and the Jail Bureau shall enjoy equal opportunity for promotion as to
men;

b) Requirement for Promotion. -

1) Any personnel of the BFP and the BJMP shall not eligible for promotion to
a higher rank unless he/she has met the minimum qualification standards or
the appropriate civil service eligibility set by the CSC, and has the
satisfactorily passed the required psychiatric/psychological, drug and
physical test;

2) Any personnel of the BFP and the BJMP who has exhibited act of
conspicuous courage and gallantry at the risk his/her life above and beyond
the call of duty, or selected as such in a nationwide search conducted by any
accredited civic organization, shall be promoted to the next higher
rank,Provided, That these shall be validated by the DILG and the CSC based
on established criteria.

SEC. 11. Performance Evaluation System. - There shall be established a performance evaluation

system which shall be administered with accordance with the rules, regulations and standards, and a
code of conduct for the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP to be promulgated by the Fire
Bureau and the Jail Bureau through the DILG. Such performance evaluation system shall be
administered in such a way as to foster the improvement of the individual efficiency and behavioral
discipline as well as the promotion of organizational effectiveness and commitment to service.

The rating system as contemplated herein shall be based on standard prescribed by the Fire Bureau
and the Jail Bureau through the DILG and shall be consider the result of the annual
psychiatric/psychological and physical test conducted on the uniformed personnel of the BFP and
the BJMP.
SEC. 12. Standardization of the Base Pay, Retirement and other Benefits of the Uniformed
Personnel of the BFP and the 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 Republic Act No.
8551, and in the AFP, as provided under Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9166.

The rate of the base pay of the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP shall be adjusted in
accordance with the following salary grade schedule:

RANK SALARY GRADE

Fire/Jail Director 28

Fire/Jail Chief Superintendent 27

Fire/Jail Senior Superintendent 26

Fire/Jail Superintendent 25

Fire/Jail Chief Inspector 24

Fire/Jail Senior Inspector 23

Fire/ Jail Inspector 22

Senior Fire/Jail Officer IV 19

Senior Fire/Jail Officer III 18

Senior Fire/Jail Officer II 17

Senior Fire/Jail Officer I 16

Fire/ Jail Officer III 14

Fire/Jail Officer II 12

Fire/Jail Officer I 10

Provided, That all benefits currently receive by the uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP
under existing laws shall continue to be received by them: Provided, Further, That their retirement
pay shall be subject to adjustment/s based on the prevailing scale of base pay of the uniformed
personnel in the active service.

SEC. 13. Implementation. – The implementation of this Act shall be undertaken in staggered

phases, but not to exceed three (3) years, taking into consideration the financial position of the
national government: Provided, That any partial implementation shall be uniform and proportionate
for all ranks.

SEC. 14. Implementation Rules and Regulations. – The DILG in coordination with the BFP and
the BJMP, the CSC, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of
Finance (DOF) 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. 15. Annual Report. – The BFP and the BJMP through the DILG and the DBM shall jointly
submit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives an annual
report on the implementation of this Act. This report shall include information on the application of
the budget for the salary and other benefits provided under this Act. The DBM, in consultation with
the BFP and the BJMP though the DILG, shall periodically review and adjust every five (5) years the
rates of base pay, taking into consideration labor productivity, consumer price index, oil price and
other similar economic indicators as may be determined by the National Economic and Development
authority (NEDA).

SEC. 16. 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. 17. Repealing Clause. – 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. 18. 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,

FRANKLIN DRILON JOSE DE VENECIA JR.

President of the Senate Speaker of the House of
Representatives

This Act which is a consolation of Senate Bill No. 2373 and House Bill No. 6557 was finally passed
by the Senate and the House of Representatives on January 29, 2004 and February 2, 2004,
respectively.

OSCAR G. YABES ROBERTO P. NAZARENO

Secretary of Senate Secretary General
House of Represenatives

Approved: March 10, 2004

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

Republic of the Philippines

 Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Fourteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eighth day of July, two thousand
eight.
Republic Act No. 9592             May 08, 2009
AN ACT EXTENDING FOR FIVE (5) YEARS THE REGLEMENTARY PERIOD FOR COMPLYING
WITH THE MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION AND APPROPRIATE ELIGIBILITY IN THE
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND
PENOLOGY (BJMP), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISION OF REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 9263, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION AND BUREAU
OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY PROFESSIONALIZATION ACT OF 2004" AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled::
Section 1. - Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9263 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 4. Professionalization and Upgrading of Qualification Standards in the Appointment of
Uniformed Personnel to the BFP and the BJMP. - No person shall be appointed as uniformed
personnel of the BFP and the BJMP unless he/she possesses the following minimum qualifications:
"a) A citizen of the Republic of the Philippines;
"b) A person of good moral character;
"c) Must have passed the psychiatric/psychological, drug and physical tests for the purpose of
determining his/her physical and mental health;
"d) Must possess a baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution of learning;
"e) Must possess the appropriate civil service eligibility;
"f) Must not have been dishonorably discharged or dismissed for cause from previous employment;
"g) Must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude;
"h) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) in height for male, and one meter
and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) for female: Provided, That a waiver for height and age
requirements shall be automatically granted to applicants belonging to the cultural communities; and
"i) Must weight not more or less than five kilograms (5 kgs.) from the standard weight corresponding
to his/her height, age and sex;
"Provided, That a new applicant must not be less than twenty-one (21) nor more than thirty (30)
years of age: except for this particular provision, the above-enumerated qualifications shall be
continuing in character and an absence of any one of them at any given time shall be a ground for
separation or retirement from the service: Provided, further, That the uniformed personnel who are
already in the service prior to the effectivity of this Republic Act No. 9263 shall be given another five
(5) years to obtain the minimum educational qualification and appropriate civil service eligibility to be
reckoned from the date of the effectivity of this act: Provided, furthermore, that concerned BFP and
BJMP members who have rendered more than fifteen (15) years of service at the time of the
effectivity of this Act shall no longer be required to comply with the aforementioned educational and
eligibility requirements. Likewise those personnel who have acquired National Police Commission
(NAPOLCOM) eligibility prior to the effectivity of Republic Act No. 9263 shall no longer be required to
 obtain the appropriate civil service eligibility: Provided, finally, That within the five-year extension
period stipulated herein, the issue of whether or not the BFP shall be devolved to local government
units shall be revisited by Congress, and as circumstances demand, be immediately implemented.
"After the lapse of the time period for the satisfaction of a specific requirement, current uniformed
personnel of the BFP and the BJMP who will fail to satisfy any of the requirements enumerated
under this Section shall be separated from the service if they are below fifty (50) years of age and
have served in the government for less than twenty (20) years, or retired if they are from age fifty
(50) and above and have served in the government for at least twenty (20) years without prejudice in
either case to the payment of benefits they may be entitled to under existing laws."
Section 2. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9263 is hereby amended as read as follows:
"SEC. 10. Promotion System for the Uniformed Personnel of the BFP and BJMP. - Within six (6)
months after the effectivity of this Act, the DILG shall establish a system of promotion for the
uniformed personnel of the BFP and the BJMP though the following principles:
"a) Rationalized Promotion System. - The system of promotion shall be based on merits and on the
availability of vacant ranks in the BFP and the BJMP staffing pattern. Such system shall be gender-
fair so as to ensure that women personnel of the Fire Bureau and the Jail Bureau shall enjoy equal
opportunity for promotion as to men;
"b) Requirement for Promotion. -
"1) Any personnel of the BFP and the BJMP shall not eligible for promotion to a higher rank unless
he/she has met the minimum qualification standards or the appropriate civil service eligibility set by
the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and has the satisfactorily passed the required
psychiatric/psychological, drug and physical test: Provided, however, That concerned BFP and the
BJMP personnel who obrained NAPOLCOM eligibility prior to the effectivity of Republic Act No. 9263
shall be considered to have complied with the appropriate civil service eligibility requirement.
"2) Any personnel of the BFP and the BJMP who has exhibited act of conspicuous courage and
gallantry at the risk his/her life above and beyond the call of duty, or selected as such in a nationwide
search conducted by any accredited civic organization, shall be promoted to the next higher
rank,Provided, That these shall be validated by the DILG and the CSC based on established
criteria."
Section 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), in coordination with the BFP, the BJMP, the CSC and the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), shall promulgate within sixty (60) days the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Section 4. 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 thereby
shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Section 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and other issuances
or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.
Section 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two (2)
national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,

(Sgd.) PROSPERO C. NOGRALES (Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE

Speaker of the House of President of the Senate
Representatives
This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3085 and House Bill No. 6000 was finally
passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on March 4, 2009 and March 5,2009,
 respectively.

(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP (Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES

Secretary General Secretary of Senate
House of Represenatives
Approved: MAY 08, 2009
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

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CSC Rules and Regulations and Qualification Standards

BFP Memo Circulars and SOP’s on Administrative Matters