Davao City – The Davao Region Police Office today inaugurated its one-stop-shop for the registration and licensing of firearms.
Brigadier General Filmore Escobal graced the occasion and called the event a milestone in bringing its services closer to the people.
He said the one stop shop for license to own and possess firearm complies with the ease of doing business with the police based on the Anti-Red Tape Act, by relaxing the processes in firearm registration and processing.
“Through building this facility, we are able to accomplish a requirement based on the ARTA Law, by easing the processes, and we now have a place where we conduct the neuro-examination and thirdly, we now have a facility that is first in Mindanao.  With just one facility, we accomplish many things,” Escobal said.
He hopes that through this facility, their services will improve especially to clients who apply or renew firearm registration and licensing.
The one-stop shop facility of the Regional Office offers neuro-psychological test, drug test, firearm registration, crime lab, financial processes and police clearance.
Escobal said the facility will limit the movement of people within the camp because all transactions are confined in one building while the public still needs to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This endeavor is vital in our fight against criminality especially in curving gun-related cases,” he said.
Escobal recognized that the Philippine National Police has to intensify its campaign against loose firearms by ensuring that only qualified and responsible gun holders must be given license to own firearms.
He also stressed that with the downtrend of COVID-19 infection in Davao Region, the public must remain vigilant and not complacent by always adhering to the basic health protocols.
“It is safer now in Davao Region where some of the protocols have been relaxed. Even then, we still maintain the basic health protocols including in this facility,” Escobal pointed out.
(Joey Sem G. Dalumpines, PIA XI | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)