A bill that lowers the minimum height requirement to enter the Philippine National Police has been approved on third and final reading by the Senate on Monday.
Twenty-three senators voted in favor of Senate Bill No. 1563, which reduces the height requirement to 5 feet and 2 inches for males, and to 5 feet for females who wish to enter the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), as well as the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Correction (BuCor).
“We give more in law to those who have less in height,” said Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, who sponsored said bill.
Dela Rosa said what they lacked in height will be made up for by the spirit of public service.
“The limitation in height will always be compensated by the abundance…in spirit,” he said.
The Senate earlier rejected proposals to remove the height requirement for police, firemen, and jail guards, saying officers must reach certain physical requirements to handle some equipment and perform some tasks.
The House of Representative’s version of the bill is still pending at the committee level, according to Dela Rosa, noting that they will liaise with the lower chamber for its passage.
