Press Release - Dela Rosa: Opening statement

SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND DANGEROUS DRUGS
Senate Bill No. 2773
Amending R.A. No. 10591 Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act
August 19, 2024

Last Congress, we were successful in amending certain provisions of Republic Act No. 10591. Through Republic Act No. 11766, the validity of the License to Own and Possess Firearms may now be five (5) or ten (10) years, at the option of the licensee. While the validity of the Permit to Carry was extended to two (2) years.

Today, with Senate Bill No 2773, we are once again given the opportunity to improve the provisions of Republic Act No. 10591. Our discussion will focus on the following proposals:

1. First, expressly authorize the Chief PNP to designate a representative to guarantee an efficient processing of firearm license applications;

2. Second, increase the allowable ammunition per firearm from fifty (50) rounds to five hundred (500) rounds, while licensed sports shooters may be allowed 5,000 rounds per firearm at any given time;

3. Third, the License to Manufacture and the License to Deal Firearms shall be valid for a period of five (5) years, the same with our amendments to the validity of the License to Own and Possess Firearms last Congress; and

4. Lastly, in promoting our local firearm industry, the bill proposes to exempt from COMELEC authority the transport of firearms during the election period if such transport is being made solely to export firearms.

Sa ating diskusyon ngayong araw na ito, alalahanin po natin na ang pag-aari ng baril ay isang pribilehiyo na hindi basta-basta ipinagkakaloob ng ating pamahalaan. Layon natin na matiyak na kung sino man ang mabigyan ng nasabing pagkakataon ay maging karapat-dapat sa lahat ng panahon. Magagawa lamang natin ito sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pagsasaayos sa batas na sumasaklaw sa regulasyon ng pag-aari at paggamit ng baril. Nais natin na manitili itong updated upang makasabay sa kasalukuyang safety standards.

Layon din natin na bigyang-pansin ang aspeto ng industriya ng firearms manufacturing. Paano makatutulong ang pamahalaan upang paunlarin ang kanilang hanapbuhay na hindi isinasakripisyo ang kaligtasan at