PNP Search and Rescue (SAR) Uniform: Official Specifications and Custom Fabrication
The SAR Shirt is the long sleeve athletic uniform of the Philippine National Police, worn during search and rescue operations, disaster response, and public safety operations. This guide sets out the official specifications under PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2021-053, the distinction between the PCO and PNCO variants, the exact PULIS marking placement, the fabric and construction standards, and how we fabricate the uniform for PNP units across the Philippines.
- Designation
- Long sleeve athletic shirt
- Colorway
- Delia Robbia Blue and Navy Blazer
- Neckline
- Round, no collar
- Marking
- PULIS, Yellow Gold
Reference swatches. Production fabric and ink are matched to the authorized uniform standard before a unit order is cut.
What the PNP SAR Uniform Is
The SAR Shirt is the long sleeve version of the PNP athletic shirt. It was adopted so that uniformed personnel have a single moisture friendly, quick drying garment for rescue work, disaster operations, and public safety deployments in the field.
An operational uniform for rescue and disaster work
The SAR Shirt is worn when personnel perform search and rescue operations, respond to disasters such as volcanic eruption, flash flood, and earthquake, and carry out public safety operations during a pandemic or community quarantine, or any similar operation as the situation demands or as directed by the Chief of the PNP.
- Worn by both Police Commissioned Officers (PCO) and Police Non Commissioned Officers (PNCO).
- Distinct from the General Office Attire and the Patrol Uniform, which serve administrative and beat patrol duties.
- Built for movement, fast drying, and comfort under sustained field conditions.
Validated across frontline units
The specification for the SAR Shirt was developed from the PNP modified athletic shirt and a field test held from May 1 to June 15, 2020, and again from August 1 to October 1, 2020. Participating units included the Maritime Group, the Logistics Support Service, the Health Service, the Headquarters Support Service, and the National Capital Region Police Office.
- Result of the 2020 command conference study on the athletic long sleeve shirt.
- Standardized so every unit receives the same color, cut, and marking.
- Enforced under the PNP Tamang Bihis uniform discipline program.
PCO and PNCO Variants
The SAR Shirt uses one shared body pattern. The rank group is distinguished by a deliberate accent, and field units may specify reinforced padding for durability.
PCO SAR Shirt
The PCO version carries a navy blazer (dark blue) accent along the shoulder. This shoulder accent is the official visual distinction between commissioned officers and non commissioned officers.
- Navy Blazer accent along the shoulder for rank distinction.
- Long sleeve with garterized cuff.
- Round neckline with no collar.
- Yellow Gold PULIS marking on the center front and the upper back.
PNCO SAR Shirt
The PNCO version follows the same body, cuff, and marking specification without the navy blazer shoulder accent. Field variants are commonly supplied with shoulder and elbow padding for impact resistance.
- Same round neckline, long sleeve, and garterized cuff.
- Shoulder and elbow padding available on field variants.
- Reinforced stress points for active rescue work.
- Yellow Gold PULIS marking on the center front and the upper back.
Official Technical Specifications
These values are set by PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2021-053, which establishes the minimum technical specifications for the PNP SAR Shirt. Tolerances follow the circular unless a unit order states otherwise.
- Garment type
- Long sleeve athletic shirt
- Design and style
- Long sleeve with garterized cuff, round neckline, no collar
- PCO distinction
- Navy Blazer accent along the shoulder
- Color combination
- Delia Robbia Blue and Navy Blazer
- Main fabric
- 100 percent polyester, interlock knit
- Yarn number
- 70 denier minimum
- Bursting strength
- 500 kPa minimum
- Dimensional change
- Plus or minus 3 percent, length and width
- Pilling resistance
- Rating 3 minimum
- Colorfastness to laundering
- Change in color 4 minimum, staining 3 minimum
- Colorfastness to perspiration
- Change in color 4 minimum, staining 3 minimum
- Colorfastness to rubbing
- Dry 4 minimum, wet 3 minimum
- Absorbency
- 0 seconds
- Sleeve fabric
- Navy Blazer, 100 percent polyester
- Color difference
- 0 to 1
PULIS Marking Placement
The word PULIS is printed in textile paint on the center front and the upper back of the shirt. The circular fixes the color, font, size, and the distance from the neckline so that every unit matches.
When the SAR Shirt Is Worn
The circular authorizes the SAR Shirt for the following operations and situations.
Search and rescue operations
Primary use for locating, assisting, and recovering survivors of accidents, incidents, and missing person cases in the field.
Volcanic eruption response
Deployment during eruption events for evacuation support, perimeter control, and relief distribution in affected areas.
Flash flood response
Use during flooding for water rescue support, traffic rerouting, and assistance to displaced communities.
Earthquake response
Worn during earthquake operations for collapsed structure response, search work, and public order in the affected zone.
Pandemic and quarantine operations
Public safety operations during a pandemic or community quarantine, where frontline personnel require a fast drying and easy to launder garment.
Other operations as directed
Other similar activities and operations as the situation demands, or as determined by the Chief of the PNP.
Where SAR Fits in the Tamang Bihis Uniform Family
The PNP maintains several authorized uniforms, each with a defined purpose. The SAR Shirt is the disaster and rescue uniform, not the office or patrol uniform. This overview is drawn from the PNP Tamang Bihis guide.
General Office Attire (GOA) Type A
Daily office uniform for administrative duties, station operations, and command headquarters.
General Office Attire (GOA) Type B
Formal office attire for court appearances, conferences, and official functions.
Mess Jacket
Formal evening uniform for the New Year's Ball, the PNP Recognition Day Ball, the Christmas Ball, and other formal occasions.
Full Dress White (White Duck)
Ceremonial dress for courtesy calls, weddings, police burials, oath taking, turnover of command, honor parades, and international conferences.
Patrol Uniform
Field uniform for beat patrol, field investigation, inspection of deployed patrol elements, and PNP contingents to international missions.
Tourist Police Uniform
Assigned to the Tourist Police Unit for urban and commercial centers and high traffic destinations.
Field Service Uniform
Operational uniform for field deployment, mobile patrol, and sustained outdoor duty.
Search and Rescue (SAR) UniformThis page
Disaster response and rescue uniform for search and rescue operations, calamity response, and public safety deployments.
Athletic Physical Training (PT) Uniform
Physical conditioning uniform for exercise, training, and sports activities.
Compliance and Rank Inspection
Uniform standards are enforced through regular command inspection. Regional, provincial, city, and municipal offices hold flag raising ceremonies and monthly rank inspections where Tamang Bihis compliance is checked, including the correct color, cut, and marking of each authorized uniform.
For example, the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO CALABARZON) at Camp BGen Vicente P Lim in Calamba City runs flag raising ceremonies, recognition of personnel, and monthly rank inspection of its units. Inspection is where a faded fabric, an incorrect shoulder accent, or a misplaced PULIS marking is caught, so units order to the specification rather than to an approximation.
Custom Fabrication by PHShirt
We fabricate the SAR Shirt for PNP units and personnel to the Memorandum Circular 2021-053 specification, from the PULIS marking down to the garterized cuff, and deliver nationwide.
PULIS marking to specification
The PULIS wordmark is applied in Yellow Gold on the center front and the upper back, matched to the Arial style, the 10 cm by 5 cm size, the 2 cm stroke, the letter spacing, and the neckline drop required by the circular.
- Front drop of 9 to 11 cm from the neckline.
- Back drop of 17 to 20 cm from the neckline.
- Crisp edges that hold after repeated laundering.
Fabric and build matched to spec
We cut from polyester interlock knit to the required hand and weight, set the round neckline with no collar, and finish the long sleeve with a garterized cuff that keeps the sleeve in place during movement.
- Navy Blazer shoulder accent for PCO units on request.
- Shoulder and elbow padding available for field variants.
- Colorfast and fast drying finish for tropical duty.
Unit and station bulk orders
We handle unit level orders for stations, companies, battalions, and regional offices, with sizing runs that cover mixed batches of PCO and PNCO personnel.
- Official BIR invoice for government procurement records.
- Nationwide delivery, with direct cargo to Mindanao and Luzon hubs.
- Orders are for bona fide PNP personnel and units, with credentials verified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from PNP personnel and units about the SAR Shirt specification and ordering.
What is the PNP SAR uniform used for?
The SAR Shirt is worn during search and rescue operations, disaster response such as volcanic eruption, flash flood, and earthquake, public safety operations during a pandemic or community quarantine, and other similar operations as the situation demands or as determined by the Chief of the PNP. It is the long sleeve athletic uniform of the PNP, not the office or patrol uniform.
What are the official colors of the PNP SAR shirt?
The approved color combination is Delia Robbia Blue for the main body and Navy Blazer (dark blue) for the sleeves. Police Commissioned Officers carry an additional Navy Blazer accent along the shoulder to distinguish them from Police Non Commissioned Officers.
How is the PULIS marking placed on the SAR shirt?
PULIS is printed in textile paint in Yellow Gold, in Arial, on the center front and the upper back. Each letter is 10 cm high, 5 cm wide, and 2 cm thick, with 5 to 8 mm between letters. On the front, the marking sits 9 to 11 cm below the neckline. On the back, it sits 17 to 20 cm below the neckline. A plus or minus 5 percent tolerance applies to the dimensions.
What is the difference between the PCO and PNCO SAR shirt?
Both variants share the same long sleeve body, round neckline with no collar, garterized cuff, and PULIS marking. The PCO version adds a Navy Blazer accent along the shoulder for rank distinction. Field variants for PNCO personnel are commonly supplied with shoulder and elbow padding for impact resistance.
What fabric and construction does the specification require?
The main fabric is 100 percent polyester in an interlock knit, with a yarn number of 70 denier minimum and a bursting strength of 500 kPa minimum. Dimensional change is limited to plus or minus 3 percent, pilling resistance must reach rating 3 minimum, and colorfastness to laundering, perspiration, and rubbing must meet the ratings set in the circular. Absorbency is 0 seconds. The sleeve fabric is Navy Blazer in 100 percent polyester.
Can a company or a civilian order a PNP SAR uniform?
No. PNP uniforms are controlled items. Orders are accepted from bona fide PNP personnel and units, and we verify credentials before fabrication. Unauthorized manufacture, sale, or public wearing of PNP uniforms and insignia is regulated under Executive Order No. 297 and the Revised Penal Code.
Request a SAR Uniform Unit Quote
Send us your unit name, rank mix, and quantity. We will confirm the specification, fabric, and delivery lead time, then prepare the order with an official BIR invoice.