Height Equality Act – Legislation for New Law Enforcers
Dubbed as the PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor Height Equality Act, Republic Act No. 11549 does more than lower the prevailing height requirements for would be law enforcement officers in the Philippines. It broadens the career options of Filipinos, particularly the vertically challenged.
As a race, Filipinos are not know really for their height. Certainly, there are individuals who have risen from the ranks of normal citizens to heroes, not by their frame or height, but by their dedication, skill, bravery, and patriotism.
To be sure, the ranks of our policemen, firemen and other law enforcers need citizens who are heroes, or with a similar mindset, regardless of frame and height.
With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11549, this has become a reality. The vertically challenged can now join the ranks of the country’s brave and heroic law enforcement agents, at the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Corrections.
Republic Act No. 11549 reduced the height requirement found under Republic Act No. 6975, which governs the different law enforcement agencies in the Philippines, for aspiring law enforcers by 10 centimeters for males, and by 5 centimeters for females.
As it stands (in the literal sense of the term), Filipino males aspiring to be members of law enforcement and who are at least one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (a little under 5’2’’) are now eligible to join the ranks of our uniformed servicemen. Filipino females aspiring to be uniformed personnel or officers, can now apply provided they are at least one meter and fifty-two centimeters (a little under 5’).
Moreover, exemptions from the height requirements are “automatically granted to applicants belonging to the cultural communities/indigenous peoples.”
The thrust of the new law is clearly felt. It is not how tall you stand, but how you can stand tall, regardless of height, on the face of adversity.
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