House OKs on 2nd reading bill lowering height limit for PNP, BFP, BuCor applicants

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Monday approved on second reading the bill seeking to lower the height requirement for applicants to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Via voice voting, the lower chamber approved House Bill No. 8261 which seeks to lower the height requirement for the said government offices to 1 meter and 57 centimeters (approximately 5 feet and 2 inches) for men, and 1 meter and 52 centimeters (approximately 5 feet) for women.

However, Philippine National Police Academy applicants are excluded from the measure as the bill mandates that the current height requirement for its cadets be retained at 1.62 meters for men and 1.57 meters for women.

The waiver for height requirement for indigenous peoples shall also be removed, the bill states.

Instead, the minimum height requirement for appointment as an officer or employee of the PNP, BFP, BJMP, or BuCor of a person who belongs to cultural communities or indigenous peoples is lowered at 1.52 meters for men and 1.47 meters for women.

Masbate 1st District Rep. Narciso Bravo Jr., who chairs the House committee on public order and safety, said that intelligence, fitness, and character are better indicators of job performance among uniformed personnel.

“The proposed measure provides persons of short stature an equal opportunity to join the uniformed services and enable them to pursue their aspirations to serve their country as public safety officers,” Bravo said in his sponsorship speech.

Meanwhile, Magdalo Rep. Manuel Cabochan III, who is one of the authors of the measure, hopes that the lowering of the height requirement “would grant equal opportunity for applicants to encourage more Filipinos to join the uniformed sector.”

The bill still needs to be approved on third and final reading for it to pass the House.

JPV