Dela Rosa seeks to provide standard rank classification among DILG line agencies

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa is seeking to provide standard rank classification and organization for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for them to be at par with their counterpart agency, the Philippine National Police, under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Dela Rosa's Senate Bill No. 1833 or the "Rank Classification of BFP and BJMP", which took into consideration his own Senate Bill No. 1101, Senate Bill Nos. 415 of Senators Lacson and Villanueva, and Senate Bill No. 1201 of Senator Revilla, seeks to provide for the rank classification and organization of key positions in the BFP and BJMP to standardize the rank nomenclature and salary grade of the DILG line agencies.

The senator, who also served in the Philippine National Police (PNP), noted the divergence in terms of rank and salary grade of DILG line agencies during his sponsorship of the said measure last Wednesday, September 16, 2020. He said that the BFP and BJMP seem to lag behind its uniformed counterparts, not only in the PNP, but also the AFP.

"Tulad nga ng aking unang pahayag, tila napaghulihan na ng ibang line agencies ng DILG ang BFP at BJMP sa kanilang rank name at salary grade," Dela Rosa said.

"Just like the PNP and the AFP, both the BFP and the BJMP, as members of the uniformed service of the government under the DILG, are required the same amount of sacrifice, service and dedication to carry out their respective duties to the extent of risking their lives and limbs. As they have shown countless times, there is no doubt as to their passion for service which transcends the requirement of law. Mr. President, hindi matatawaran ang sakripisyo at serbisyo sa bayan ng ating mga kasamahan sa BFP at BJMP," he added.

Dela Rosa emphasized the colossal tasks that both agencies are facing, sharing that the BFP responded to 18,612 fire incidents in the last year, while the BJMP is handling overcrowded jails which have a capacity of 30,000 PDLs but in reality are filled with 130,000, even made higher at 150,000 currently due to quarantine violators.

Dela Rosa further noted that the long overdue BFP and BJMP rank classification will not merely contribute to their performance and productivity but will also provide high morale to its personnel.

"Most importantly, when passed into a law, this measure will also result to greater sense of responsibility to our uniformed personnel that comes indispensable with the stars on their shoulders, ultimately, for the benefit of the Filipino people." Dela Rosa said.

During the 17th Congress, a similar measure, Republic Act No. 11200 was enacted into law on February 8, 2019 in response to the appeal of the law enforcement community to standardize their ranks. According to Dela Rosa, RA11200 provided for the new PNP rank classification for the purpose of clarifying the command and responsibility of the PNP, for effective and efficient supervision and control among its uniformed personnel. The said reclassification measure removed public confusion in addressing policemen.