Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9263)
Republic Act No. 9263 shall be known as the "Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004."
The State is to maintain peace and order, protect life, liberty, property, and promote general welfare by strengthening basic services through professionalizing the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
Both bureaus are headed by a Chief with two deputy chiefs (one for administration and one for operations) appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The minimum qualifications include being a Filipino citizen, of good moral character, passing psychiatric/psychological, drug, and physical tests, possessing a baccalaureate degree and civil service eligibility, no dishonorable dismissal or conviction for crimes involving moral turpitude, and meeting height and weight requirements with some waivers applicable.
They have five years to obtain the minimum educational qualification and one year to satisfy the weight requirement.
Key positions have specific rank requirements and educational qualifications ranging from senior inspector to director including Bachelor of Laws, master's degrees in related fields, Philippine Bar membership where applicable, and necessary training courses.
Fire/Jail Inspector to Superintendent are appointed by the respective bureau Chief; Senior Superintendent by the Secretary of DILG upon Chief's recommendation with CSC attestation; Chief Superintendent to Director by the President upon DILG recommendation and CSC endorsement.
Lateral entry is allowed for applicants with specialized and technical qualifications (e.g., engineers, nurses, criminologists) who may be appointed starting at certain ranks with graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy appointed as fire/jail inspectors.
Attrition includes separation or retirement due to demotion without reassignment, non-promotion for ten years, inefficiency based on performance, physical/moral incapacity, failure to complete courses, with retirement or separation depending on years served.
It standardizes base pay to be equivalent to counterparts in the PNP and AFP, prescribing a salary grade scale for each rank and ensuring existing benefits continue, with retirement pay adjusted according to prevailing scales.