MAY 27, 2012 DATE

NR # 2752
REF. NO.

Solon wants height requirement for police, fire and jail officers removed
Stressing that all citizens are equal before the law, a lawmaker has asked Congress to remove the height requirement for police, fire, and jail officers under his proposed Police, Fire and Jail Height Equality Act of 2012. Height should not be a restriction for people who want to serve the country as police, fire and jail officers provided they possess other qualifications required in the effective performance of their duties, Rep. Pablo John Garcia (3rd District, Cebu) said in filing House Bill 6203. The bill seeks to amend Republic Act 6975 or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 and R.A. 9263, as amended, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004. Garcia cited Section 1, Article XII of Social Justice and Human Rights in the Philippine Constitution, which mandates Congress to give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity, reduce social, economic and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities Garcia also cited Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that All are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and any indictment of such discrimination. Garcia sought the immediate passage of the bill given the crucial coverage of responsibilities in law enforcement. He said fire protection and jail management, the PNP, the BFP and the BJMP need more comptent members to better serve the growing demands of the public. However, this noble intent is impeded by the height requirement that prevents potential candidates from entering the service, Garcia lamented. Under the current law, a male PNP, fire and jail officer has to be at least 1.62 meters (5'3") tall while a female police, fire and jail officer must be at least 1.57 meters (5'1") tall. Garcia said because of the required height for police, fire and jail officers, a good number of possible candidates, mostly women, are being denied the opportunity to serve the country. Removing this height requirement will effectively address this concern, Garcia said. HB 6203 was referred to the House Committee on Public Order and Security chaired by Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. (Lone District, City of Dasmarinas). (30) dpt