ATO ning Binisay-on aron makatawa gyud ta. Dunay taga Dalaguete mi-apply pagka-Army:
Recruiter: Okey nang imong body build ug height requirement. Pero dili gihapon ka madawat.
Applicant: Nganong dili man ko madawat, sir?
Recruiter: Dili ka madawat kay pangag ka.
Applicant: (Dalaguetenon ang pagka-pronounce) ‘Aw, unsa man diay ning gubat, sir, kinitkitay?
Those who will not meet the mandated height requirement of 5’4” (for male applicant) and 5’2” (for female applicant) cannot join the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The three bureaus are under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
As far as newly-elected Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia is concerned, he wants to eliminate the height requirement for those who want to join the PNP, BJMP and BFP services, saying these requirements are discriminatory. He termed it as “heightism.” Meaning, a prejudice or discrimination against someone on the basis of their height.
That is why PJ has re-filed a bill to eliminate the height requirement. There was already a measure to this effect approved by the previous Congress during the term of then President Nonoy Aquino, but the latter vetoed it for the reason that the physical attribute, specifically the height and size of the concerned personnel, is very vital to their profession, especially for law enforcers.
There are two school of thoughts on Garcia’s bill. So, if his bill will be approved, any Tom, Dick and Harry can now join the service. Even those small persons? If we allow this to happen, maybe the police, jailers and firefighters will be made as a laughing stock by the public. Imagine seeing small person wearing police uniform running after a robber or snatcher in the middle of the street? Or seeing a “dwarf-sized” traffic policeman manning the traffic. Do you think people will respect him?
The same situation in the penology and fire bureau. You can just imagine a small-sized BJMP personnel escorting an inmate or disciplining a prisoner inside the jail. Mas taas pa ang batuta kay kaniya. Or a midget doing a firefighting activity? Mora lang sila’g mga bata nagduwa-duwa ug tubig-tubig. On the other hand, if we will eliminate the height requirement and just accept anybody, especially with those skills and talents, they can be assigned to other duties like in the administrative and office works. But only very few can be accommodated.
Why is PJ re-filling the bill? Were there massive complaints from those who did not make it to the recruitment because of height requirement? Why not also waive the entrance examination for those who want to join the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)? Why not also scrap the police eligibility or the Civil Service Commission (CSC) examinations before one can join the profession?
In the recruitment, we should set standards and impose them for effective and efficient service. If you set standards, it is not discriminatory. It is just a matter of selecting people that would really fit to a particular position. In the private sector, when there is recruitment, aside from the educational background, it also asks for those “with pleasing personality.” Isn’t the word “pleasing personality” discriminatory? Buot bang ipasabot ang mga bati ug nawong di gyud madawat? Discrimination is defined as the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. Even in choosing a girlfriend or a wife, there is already discrimination. Gusto gyud natong ma-uyab, natural, kadto gyung mamords. Kadtong nga batig nawong, wa gyuy esperansa nga maka-uyab.