An Act Extending for Five (5) Years the Reglementary Period for Complying with the Minimum Educational Qualification and Appropriate Eligibility in the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Amending for the purpose certain provision of Republic Act No. 9263, otherwise known as the "Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004" and for other purposes

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 9592

Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Uniformed Personnel in BFP and BJMP (Section 1, amending Section 4 of RA 9263):
- Philippine citizen
- Good moral character
- Pass psychiatric/psychological, drug, and physical tests
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution
- Possess appropriate civil service eligibility
- Not dishonorably discharged or dismissed for cause from previous employment
- Not convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude
- Height: 1.62 m for male, 1.57 m for female (waiver for cultural communities)
- Weight within 5 kg of standard for height, age, and sex
- Age between 21 and 30 years for new applicants (continuing requirement)
- Existing personnel given 5 years from effectivity of RA 9263 to obtain educational qualification and eligibility (Section 1)
- Personnel with 15+ years of service exempted from educational and eligibility requirements (Section 1)
- Personnel with NAPOLCOM eligibility exempted from civil service eligibility requirement (Section 1)
- Non-compliant personnel below 50 years old and less than 20 years of service to be separated; 50+ years old and 20+ years of service to be retired with benefits (Section 1)

Promotion System for Uniformed Personnel (Section 2, amending Section 10 of RA 9263):
- Rationalized and gender-fair promotion system based on merits and vacant ranks (Section 2)
- Promotion requirements: minimum qualifications, appropriate civil service eligibility, pass psychiatric/psychological, drug, and physical tests (Section 2)
- Personnel with NAPOLCOM eligibility considered compliant with civil service eligibility requirement (Section 2)
- Personnel exhibiting conspicuous courage and gallantry to be promoted to next higher rank (Section 2)

Other Provisions:
- DILG to promulgate implementing rules and regulations within 60 days, in coordination with BFP, BJMP, CSC, and CHED (Section 3)
- Separability clause (Section 4)
- Repealing clause for inconsistent laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations (Section 5)
- Effectivity upon publication in at least two national newspapers (Section 6)