THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution supporting the passage of Senate Bill No. 1023 passed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri amending Republic Act (RA) No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
The resolution was authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the City Council Committee on police matters.
Espino said Senate Bill No. 1023 seeks to amend RA 10591 and extend the validity of a Philippine Firearms and Ammunition License from two years to five years and the firearm registration from four to five years.
He said the bill seeks to streamline the process of renewing both license and registration by extending its validity to five years.
“This will help curtail the number of unregistered firearms, considering the period it would be extended,” he added.
Espino noted that it is the policy of the State to maintain peace and order and protect the people against violence. The State also recognizes the right of its qualified citizens to self-defense through, when it is the reasonable means to repel the unlawful aggression under the circumstances, the use of firearms.
He said towards this end, the State shall provide for a comprehensive law regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, manufacture, dealing in and importation of firearms, ammunition, or parts thereof, in order to provide legal support to law enforcement agencies in their campaign against crime, stop the proliferation of illegal firearms or weapons and the illegal manufacture of firearms or weapons, ammunition and parts thereof.
“This amendment is beneficial to those who already have a license and registration as they would not have to reregister and renew their registration and license, respectively, as frequently,” he said.
He added this is in line with establishing an effective and efficient license renewal and registration.
Espino stressed that it would be for public convenience as it would reduce the number of loose firearms in the country since gun owners will be encouraged to register their firearms.
Zubiri earlier said that in order to achieve efficiency in license and registration, contacts with the government must be drastically lessened.
“I believe the validity of firearms registration and license is a sure-fire measure. Varying periods of validity of such license, permit and registration had contributed to red tape, and discouraged gun owners to register and secure licenses,” Zubiri said.