MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill that will lower the minimum height requirement for police and other uniformed personnel.
Voting 23-0, senators approved Senate Bill No. 1563, which aims to amend the Philippine National Police (PNP) charter that originally set the minimum height requirement at 1.62 meters for male and 1.57 meters for female applicants to the national police force, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
“With the passage today of the PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor Height Equality Bill, which we hope will soon be enacted into law, we give more in law to those who have less in height,” Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, sponsor of the measure, said in a speech.
PNP, BFP, BJMP AND BUCOR height equality act passed: An elated Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa thanks his colleagues for supporting the passage of Senate Bill No. 1563, which seeks to lower the height requirement for the policemen, firemen and jailguards. “We make an important contribution in addressing the existing social inequality for those who have not been gifted with towering heights,” Dela Rosa said during plenary session Monday, September 7, 2020. PRIB
“We make an important contribution in addressing the existing social inequality for those who have not been gifted with towering height,” he added.
Under Senate Bill No. 1563, the minimum height requirement for male applicants was lowered to 1.57 meters and female applicants to 1.52 meters.
“Legislated requirements restrict our vertically challenged countrymen in their desire to serve as law enforcers, firemen, jail officers, and correctional officers,” Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, went on.
“If we continue to allow physical attributes as the basis of entry into government service, and if as legislators, we have only done so little to change this practice, are we not shortchanging our people, the Filipinos who gave us our legislative mandate.”
“Sa araw na ito, pinatunayan natin na tayong mga senador ay hinalal upang ipagtanggol ang ‘maliliit’– literally and figuratively. Our people expect no shortcomings from us. Indeed, there is no tall order that cannot be conquered,” he further said.