TRADE and Commerce committee chair City Councilor George Goking on Tuesday hailed Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri after his bill, an extension of the validity of gun licenses from two years to five years was signed into law.

“It's laudable, specially for business sectors. Many thanks to Sen. Zubiri, for prolonging the validity of gun licenses,” said Goking adding it will streamline renewal processes for the license and registration of firearms.

In effect, Goking said will reduce the number of loose firearms in the country since gun owners will be encouraged to register.

“This would be 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,” said Goking.

A firearms and ammunition license is a document authorizing a civilian to own and possess or carry firearms outside of the residence, according to Goking.

It is issued by the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which also handles firearms registration.

Firearms should be duly registered and recorded at the Firearms Information Management System (FIMS) of the FEO.

Citing PNP-FEO data, said that there were around 200,000 private individuals who hold firearm and ammunition licenses as of 2018.

Furthermore, there are about 600,000 firearms registered in the FEO.

Approximately there are one million loose or unregistered firearms nationwide, the FEO estimated.

Meanwhile, in order to achieve efficiency in license, Zubiri said, renewals and registration, contacts with government must be drastically lessened.

Like Zubiri, Goking said he believes providing for a standard period of validity of firearms registration and license is a sure-fire measure.

Goking added that varying periods of validity of such license, permit and registration had contributed to red tape.

“It discouraged gun owners to register and secure licenses,” Goking added

He said the Republic Act (RA) No. 11766, was signed by President Duterte on May 6, extends the validity of the license to possess firearms and ammunition from two years to five or 10 years., amending RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. (Ben Balce)