The Senate ratified the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the proposed measure lowering the minimum height limits for applicants of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
The report, a reconciled version of Senate Bill No. 1563 authored and principally sponsored by Senator Bato Dela Rosa and House Bill No. 8261, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9263, Republic Act No. 10575, and Republic Act No. 6975, as amended.
“I would like to inform the Body that the Senate version of the bill was adopted as the working draft. The version agreed upon by the Bicameral Conference Committee remains true to the objective of the bill passed in this chamber,” Dela Rosa said in his motion for ratification.
The minimum height limit for males shall be 5 feet 2 inches, and 5 feet for females.
The reconciled bill provides that the minimum height limit for males to be appointed as officers or members of the PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor shall be 1.57 meters or 5 feet 2 inches and 1.52 meters or 5 feet for females.
Currently, in order to be appointed as uniformed personnel of the PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor, a male person must be at least 5 feet 4 inches, and a female person must be at least 5 feet 2 inches.
“Gaya po ng aking naunang deklarasyon, hindi po natin binababa ang standard na kailangan para makapagsilbi bilang pulis, firefighter, jail at correction officers. Ninanais po natin mabigyan ng pagkakataon makapagsilbi ang mga hindi nabiyayaan ng katangkaran,” the legislator said.
The former PNP chief said the reconciled bill adopted the retention of the automatic waiver for members of the cultural minorities and Indigenous Peoples, as provided for in the Senate version.
It also adopted the higher chamber’s provision lowering the height requirement for PNPA cadets.
“We retained the uniform height requirement for the PNP applicants including PNPA Cadets as stated in the Senate version of the bill,” the lawmaker said.
“We have chosen to become a key in opening the gates of public service.”
“This Chamber (Senate) can be a vehicle to limit or prohibit many things. But today, we have chosen to become a key in opening the gates of public service,” the senator said.
“We welcome those who may be less in height but possess the biggest of hearts for the service of the country,” he stressed, adding that height and physical characteristics do not measure the courage and dedication of a person.