Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 27) – President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the bill adjusting the height requirements for police officers and other uniformed personnel.
Republic Act No. 11549 or the “PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor Height Equality Act,” will repeal the existing height limits for applicants in the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Corrections.
Under the new law, female applicants must be at least 1.52 meters (5’0″) and male applicants should stand at least 1.57 meters (5’2″).
The previous law provides that men and women need to be at least 1.62 meters (5’4″) and 1.57 meters (5’2″) tall, respectively.
Former PNP chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa – one of the proponents of the measure – earlier said this will open the doors for Filipinos who are of short stature to serve the country.
In 2013, former president Benigno Aquino III vetoed bills that seek to adjust the height requirements for uniformed personnel, citing the nature of their job.
