Dela Rosa seeks to lower height requirement for uniformed personnel

Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chairman Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa pushed for the passage of his proposed measure, which seeks to lower the minimum height requirement for Filipinos who want to join the country's police, fire and penal agencies. 

Senate Bill No. 1563 lowers the height requirements for the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). 

Dela Rosa said the new minimum heights for the said services would be 5 feet and 2 inches for male applicants and 5 feet for female applicants.

“Hindi po natin binababa ang standard na kailangan para makapagsilbi bilang pulis, firefighter, jail at correction officers. Ninanais lamang po nating mabigyan ng pagkakataong makapagsilbi ang mga hindi nabiyayaan ng katangkaran (We are not lowering the standard of service for police, firefighters, jail officers and correction officers. We only want to give a chance to people who are not blessed with height),” he said in his sponsorship speech.

Under the proposed measure, the practice of using a waiver of height requirement for applicants belonging to indigenous groups will be retained.

Dela Rosa, a former police general and chief of the Philippine National Police, said sacrifice, dedication, and service to the country cannot be measured by height or any other physical characteristic.