Senate OKs bill removing height requirement for police, firefighters

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to remove the height requirement for applicants to the police force, fire protection, and the jail management and penology bureaus.

 

With 18 affirmative votes, the Senate approved Senate Bill 3217 which seeks to repeal the height requirement imposed by Section 30 (h) of Republic Act 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Act of 1990, as amended by RA 8551.

 

“Heightism” or discrimination based on height is a reality today that has been practice among law enforcement agencies in the country,” said Sen. Gregorio Honasan, who introduced SB 3217.

 

Under RA 8551, or the Philippine National Police (PNP) Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, no person shall be appointed as officer or member of the PNP unless he or she is at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) for males and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) for females.

 

Honasan, however, said such height discrimination limits the the state's choices and at the same time promotes social injustice.

 

"Height may be a consideration in tasks requiring certain physical activities but not all who are short are physically, much less intellectually, impaired,” said the senator, a former Amry colonel.

 

He likewise said the 1987 Constitution affirms the principles of employment and non-discrimination in the workplace.

 

"While it is right for hiring institutions to employ people for their intellect, for their drive and for what they can bring to the organization, it is wrong to deny them for reasons of creed, color, culture, gender identity or height,” he said. — Kim Tan/RSJ, GMA News