A senior lawmaker is pushing for the passage of a bill that will repeal the existing minimum height requirement for applicants to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
In House Bill 7520, or the proposed “PNP, BJMP, BFP and BuCor Height Equality Act,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte wants to set the minimum height requirement for male applicants from 1.62 meters (5’3) to 1.57 meters (5’1).
For female applicants, the bill said the requirement of 1.57 meters (5’1) will be lowered to 1.52 meters (4’9).
“The intention of this bill is to simply repeal the minimum height requirements for applicants to the PNP, BFP and BJMP with the belief that each person has the right to equal employment opportunity,” Villafuerte said.
The lawmaker said the height waiver for applicants belonging to indigenous groups and cultural communities will be retained.
Villafuerte said the current height requirements enforced for those who want to serve in the PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor are “discriminatory.”
“Height has no relation nor relevance to competence, drive and passion for positions. In 2018, the National Police Commission [Napolcom] removed the height requirement for those who want to take the PNP entrance exam but not for police recruitment in these institutions,” he said.
Villafuerte said HB 7520 “seeks to ensure that every Filipino, regardless of height, will be given the 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.”
The Senate has already approved on third and final reading a counterpart bill authored by Senator and former PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa and backed by Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go that seeks to also adjust the height requirements for applicants to the PNP, BJMP, BFP and BuCor.
Under Senate Bill 1563, the minimum height requirement for male applicants was lowered to 1.57 meters and female applicants to 1.52 meters, which are the same as those in Villafuerte’s proposal.
3 comments
Kailan ba yan má implement nga sir…. Sana naman po má implement na po
Sir please approved the HB 7520 “PNP, BJMP, BFP and BuCor Height Equality Act,”
Sir gusto ko po mag apply bjmp paanu po mag appl sa napolcom exam salamat po