#11 Organization and Key Positions of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)

 

Module #11

Lesson Objectives:

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1.  Compare  Bureau  of  Fire  Protection  (BFP)  to  Bureau  of      Jail

Management and Penology (BJMP).

2.   Discuss   the   organizational   structure   of   the   Bureau   of Fire

Protection   (BFP)   to  Bureau   of   Jail   Management   and Penology

(BJMP).

Introduction 

 

How have you been? I hope everyone is doing well. Let’s learn something more! But first, let’s take a look back on the previous lesson. Can you please tell me what our topic was on lesson 5? Great! Thank you. On lesson 5, we discussed about Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG): its historical development, powers and functions, and the tri-bureaus of DILG with their corresponding functions. Since we are done with Philippine National Police (PNP) we will then proceed with the other bureaus of DILG which are the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Can you tell me the law that created the above-mentioned bureaus? The Bureau of Fire Protection was created by virtue of RA 6975 primarily to perform the following functions:

 

1. Be responsible for the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on: Building, houses and other structures; Forest;

Land transportation vehicles and equipment;

Ships and vessels docked at piers or wharves anchored in major sea ports; Petroleum industry installations;

Plane crashes; and Other similar activities

2. Be responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines (PD 1185) and other related laws;

3. Shall have the power to investigate all causes of fires and if necessary, file the proper complaint

with the city or provincial prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case;

4. In the time of national emergency, all elements of the BFP shall upon direction of the President,

assist the AFP in meeting the national emergency; and

5. Shall establish at least one (1) fire station with adequate personnel, firefighting facilities and

equipment in every provincial capital, city and municipality subject to standard rules and

regulations as maybe promulgated.

.

On January 2, 1991, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology was created thru Republic Act 6975 as a line Bureau under the Department of Interior and Local Government. The Jail Bureau is the upgraded version of its forerunner, the Office of Jail Management and Penology of the defunct PC/INP last headed by BRIG GEN Arsenio E. Concepcion. BJMP is mandated to direct, supervise and control the administration and operation of all district, city and municipal jails nationwide with pronged tasks of safekeeping and development of inmates.

Therefore, both bureaus were created by the virtue of RA 6975 and were subjected to series of amendments namely RA 9263 and RA 9592. These laws covered both BFP and BJMP.

For today’s lesson, we will be discussing the organization and key positions of the above-stated bureaus of DILG. Are you ready? Let’s get this started!

 MAIN LESSON

Under RA 6975, Organization and Key Positions of the Bureau of Fire Protection was stated in Sections 55 and Section 59 respectively. While in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology it was stated under Sections 62 and Section 65 respectively. Such law was further amended by RA 9263. SEC. 3 of RA 9263 provides the Organization and Key Positions of the BFP and the BJMP.

 The BFP and the BJMP shall be respectively headed by a Chief who shall be assisted by two (2) deputy chiefs, one (1) for administration and one (1) for operations, all of whom shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of the DILG from among the qualified officers with at least the rank of senior superintendent in the service. The Chief of the Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau shall serve a tour of duty not to exceed four (4) years: Provided, however, That in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress,  the President may extend such tour of duty.

The heads of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of director shall have the position title of Chief of Fire Bureau and Chief of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The second officers in command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of chief superintendent shall have the position title of Deputy Chief for Administration of the Fire Bureau and Deputy Chief for Administration of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The third officers in command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of chief superintendent shall have the position title of Deputy Chief for Operations of the Fire Bureau and Deputy Chief for Operations of the Jail Bureau, respectively. The fourth officers in command of the BFP and the BJMP with the rank of chief superintendent shall have the respective position title of Chief of Directional Staff of the Fire Bureau and Chief of Directorial Staff of the Jail Bureau, who shall be assisted by  the directors of the directorates in the respective national headquarters office with at  least the rank of senior superintendent.

The BFP and the BJMP shall establish, operate and maintain their respective regional offices in each of the administrative regions of the country which shall be respectively headed by a Regional Director for Fire Protection and a Regional Director for Jail Management and Penology with the rank of senior superintendent. He/she shall be respectively assisted by the following officers with the rank of superintendent: Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, and Regional Chief of Directorial Staff.

FAQs

Q1. Are laws covering BFP and BJMP the same?

Answer: Yes. Both bureaus were created thru the enactment of RA 6975. Such law was amended by RA 9263 and further amended by RA 9592 which covers

 

Q2. What specific provisions of RA 6975 BFP and BJMP can be found?

Answer: BFP is stated under Chapter IV of RA 6975 from Section 53 to Section 59 while BJMP is under Chapter V of RA 6975 from Section 60 to Section 65.