More applicants are expected to apply for thousands of vacancies in the uniformed services as President Duterte had signed a law lowering the height requirement especially for policemen, jailguard and firemen, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Wednesday, June 2.
“We thank President Duterte for signing Republic Act (RA) 11549 into law as this would allow disqualified individuals and members of cultural communities/indigenous peoples (IPs) who previously fell short of the height requirement to enter the department’s police, fire and jail bureaus,” Año said.
Año noted that the enactment of RA 11549 or the Height Equality Act will encourage more civilians to serve the country through the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
Amending RA 6975, President Duterte signed the RA 11549 lowering the minimum height requirement in the PNP, BFP, BJMP, and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) from 1.62 meters (5 feet, 4 inches) to 1.57 meters (5 feet 2 inches) for males and from 1.57 meters (5 feet 2 inches) to 1.52 meters (5 feet) for females.
“The Height Equality Act encourages patriotic civilians to enter into the uniformed service sector. Genuine public service should not be hindered by any physical trait, for as long as your intention is to serve the country, you are most welcome to join the uniformed services of the DILG,” he added.
The DILG chief is confident that the bureaus under the DILG will exercise transparency and impartiality in the recruitment and selection of their applicants, citing PNP Chief Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar's relaunched internal cleansing policy.
It includes the use of QR (quick response) codes for all police officers nationwide to ensure quality in the ranks and weed out “palakasan (patronage)’’ or a backer system.
Based on the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) En Banc Resolution No. 2021-0475, a total of 17,314 patrolmen and patrolwomen were approved for hiring in line with the calendar year 2021 Regular and Attrition Recruitment Program of the PNP that will replace lost personnel, boost police visibility and improve the police-to-population ratio and peace and order situation in their respective areas.