IRR of EO 256 on Firearms and Explosives Fees

Purpose and policy objectives

The IRR prescribe and promulgate Executive Order No. 256 for the rationalization of fees and charges related to firearms, firearm spare parts, firearm accessories, ammunition and ammunition components, explosives, explosive ingredients, pyrotechnics, firecrackers, and other related fees and charges.
The IRR establish the rules on charges and fees, exemptions, procedures of payment, and administrative fines for regulated transactions with the Firearms and Explosives Division.

Core definitions for licensing and permits

A “Firearms License” includes the following licensing categories:
- Regular License (RL) issued to private individuals for personally-owned firearms and to security agencies/company guard forces for the sole use of their security guards.
- Long Regular License (LRL) issued to private firms, establishments, or corporations for firearms used by employees who are not security guards.
- Short Regular License (SRL) issued to private employees by their employers for firearms covered by LRL.
- Special Permit (SP) issued to government officials and employees for privately owned firearms.
- Long Certificate of Registration (LCR) issued to government agencies/offices and government-owned or controlled corporations for firearms used by their officials and employees.
- Short Certificate of Registration (SCR) granted to government officials or employees for firearms covered by LCR.
A “Permit to Import” covers firearms, firearm spare parts, firearm accessories, ammunition and ammunition components, reloading machines, bullet proof vests/vestments, and any other products controlled by the Firearms and Explosives Division of the PNP.
A “Storage Fee” is charged to licensed firearms and ammunition dealers utilizing and occupying the FED bodega in the course of business.
A “Registration Fee for Reloading Machines and Bullet Proof Vest/Vestments” is paid by manufacturers, importers and dealers for processing and registration of reloading machines and bullet proof vests/vestments.
A “Permit to Transport Firearms and Ammunition” is issued to authorized persons by law for transport to and from specified places, including purposes and categories enumerated under the permit definition.
A “Records Authentication Fee” is charged to persons who request authenticated copies of documents/papers under FED custody or filed with FED.
A “Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence” (PTCFOR) is issued to individuals under actual threat or whose lives are in imminent danger due to position, occupation, or calling to enable carrying licensed firearms outside residence.
A “Permit to Hold Competition” is granted to recognized gun clubs and other duly authorized organizations to conduct/hold competitions.
“Authority to Display Firearms” is an authorization granted to authorized dealers to display firearms, ammunition, major parts, and ammunition components at business establishments.
“Permit to Hold an Armshow” is issued to an applicant to organize and hold an armshow.
“Administrative Fines for the Loss of Firearms Covered by SP and CR” are fines for loss of firearms covered by Special Permit and Certificate of Registration.
A “Firearm Bond” is a security amount against loss of licensed firearms and payment of the administrative fine, and it functions as a commitment bond to follow all existing laws and regulations; for RL firearms it is a cash bond equivalent to the administrative fine deposited with designated banks with network nationwide, with bond certificate surrendered to FED and forfeitable to the Philippine National Police upon loss reporting and/or revocation.
A “Firearm Dealer’s License,” “Firearm Manufacturer’s License,” and related licenses” are defined as licenses authorizing specified business activities for firearms, ammunition, major spare parts, and ammunition components.
Definitions also establish licensing/permits for:
- Firearm Indentor’s License
- License to Repair Firearms and Repairman’s License (Gunsmith)
- Gun Club Recognition Fee
- Air Gun Dealer’s License and Air Gun Manufacturer’s License
- License to Deal in Spare Parts, Accessories and Ammunition Components
- Accreditation of Firing Ranges
- Seminar Fee for Gun Safety and Responsible Gun Ownership
- Explosives and explosive ingredient licenses/permits, including Dealer’s License, Manufacturer’s License, Purchaser’s License, Foreman’s/Blaster’s License, and import/unload/purchase/transport permits
- Pyrotechnics and firecrackers licenses, including Pyrotechnics and Firecrackers Manufacturer’s License and Pyrotechnics and Firecrackers Dealers License

Coverage and covered transactions

The IRR cover charges and fees, exemptions, procedures of payment, and administrative fines for Firearm Licensees, Manufacturers, Dealers, Indentors, Repairmen, and Importers of firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories, spare parts, and ammunition components.
The IRR also cover charges and fees, exemptions, procedures of payment, and administrative fines for Explosives and Explosive Ingredients, Firecrackers and Pyrotechnics, bullet proof vests and vestments, and reloading machines, and for dealings with the FED.
The IRR cover Gun Clubs, Hunting Clubs, Firing Ranges, and all other transacting business with the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) and Civil Security Command (CIVISCOM).
The Firearms and Explosives Division imposes and implements the revised rates of license/registration/permit fees, other charges, and administrative fines relating to the covered regulated items.
All fees are collected by the PNP Finance Service through issuance of a separate official receipt.

Fee payment procedures and official receipts

Applicants in Metro Manila submit documentary requirements to concerned FED branches including the Firearms Licensing Branch, Operations Branch, Storage Branch, Records Branch, and PTCFOR Secretariat of FED at Camp Crame.
Applicants in the provinces file with Provincial Police Commands or CIVISCOM Districts for evaluation, inspection, and verification of documents to determine validity and completeness.
An Order of Payment is issued by the concerned branch chiefs (Firearms Licensing Branch, Explosives Branch, Operations Branch, Storage Branch, Records Branch, and PTCFOR Secretariat) when applications are filed directly with FED.
For provincial filings, the PNP Provincial Director issues the Order of Payment; for applications filed at Regional Headquarters, the District Director of the Regional CIVISCOM District Command issues the Order of Payment.
An Order of Payment states the data pertinent to payment, including payee name, years covered, firearms data, and other required details.
All payments are made to the Collection Officer of the PNP Finance Service or the authorized representative, who renders report to the Director, PNP FS, copy furnished to Office, FED (Attention: Operations Branch).
Payments are covered by a separately marked Official Receipt (OR) reflecting pertinent data, and the original OR or an authenticated photocopy is required for all other transactions before and after approval of the license/permit/registration.

Fee schedule and administrative charges

Annual Firearms License Fees are assessed based on firearm type/caliber as follows:
- Rifle Cal .22 or lower: PHP 150.00
- Shotgun (all gauges): PHP 175.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .22 (Ordinary): PHP 200.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .25, .32, .38, .380, 9mm, 7.65 mm, 6.35 mm and Magnum .22 Rimfire: PHP 300.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .357, .40, .41, .44, .45 and Magnum Cal .22 Centerfire: PHP 350.00
- High Powered Rifle/Sub-Machine Gun: PHP 500.00
- Any extra slide/barrel or conversion kit is assessed a license fee equal to fifty percent (50%) of the rate of the corresponding caliber.
Air Pistol/Rifle Registration Fee is a one-time fee of PHP 100.00.
Costs of computerized plastic license cards and PTCFOR cards are excluded from annual license fees/charges and are shouldered by individual licensees:
- Firearm Licensed Card: PHP 45.00
- PTCFOR Card: PHP 45.00
Permit to Carry Firearm outside of Residence (PTCFOR) is PHP 2,000.00 per permit.
Registration Fee (one time):
- Reloading Machine: PHP 3,000.00
- Bullet Proof Vests and Vestments: PHP 800.00
Permit to Import Firearms, Ammunition, Spare Parts, Accessories and Ammunition Components:
- Firearms: PHP 10.00/firearm, payable upon arrival in the Philippines particularly at FED Bodega
- Ammunition: 0.05/pc
- Components—Shells: 0.01/pc
- Components—Primers: 0.01/pc
- Components—Gunpowder: 0.25/lb
- Spare Parts/Barrels/Slides: PHP 5.00/pc
- Firearms Accessories: 0.01/pc
- Bullet proof Vests and Vestments: PHP 500.00
Storage Fee (monthly) is PHP 100.00/sqm.
Permit to Transport Firearms/Ammunition:
- Gun Club (Quarterly): PHP 300.00/firearm
- Hunting Club (Quarterly): PHP 300.00/firearm
- Security Agencies: PHP 50.00/permit
- Repair or Change of Residence and other legitimate movements of firearm by individuals and other entities: PHP 50.00/permit
Records Authentication is PHP 20.00/copy.
Permit to Hold Competition:
- Invitational: PHP 1,000.00/permit
- National: PHP 2,000.00/permit
- Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA)-sponsored/accredited competition is not charged any permit fee.
Authority to Display Firearms is PHP 1,000.00/branch.
Seminar Fee for Gun Safety and Responsibility is PHP 300.00.
Administrative Fines for Loss of Government-owned firearms covered by SP and CR by caliber/type:
- Rifle Cal .22: PHP 500.00
- Shotgun (all gauges): PHP 700.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .22 (Ordinary): PHP 800.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .25, .32, .38, .380, 9mm, 7.65 mm, 6.35 mm and Magnum Cal .22 Rimfire: PHP 900.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .357, .40, .41, .44, .45 Magnum Cal .22 Centerfire: PHP 1,000.00
- High-powered Rifle/Sub-Machine Gun: PHP 1,000.00
Cash Bond for Firearms equals the same schedule as the administrative fines by caliber/type:
- Rifle Cal .22: PHP 500.00
- Shotgun (all gauges): PHP 700.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .22 (Ordinary): PHP 800.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .25, .32, .38, .380, 9mm, 7.65 mm, 6.35 mm and Magnum Cal .22 Rimfire: PHP 900.00
- Pistol/Revolver Cal .357, .40, .41, .44, .45 Magnum Cal .22 Centerfire: PHP 1,000.00
- High-powered Rifle/Sub-Machine Gun: PHP 1,000.00
Security guards who lose their firearm in performance of duties without negligence are exempt from paying this cash bond charge; an investigation report of the incident is submitted to Firearms and Explosives Division (Attention: Inspectorate Branch) for evaluation.
Licenses and recognition fees for firearms-related businesses and facilities:
- Dealer’s License: PHP 2,500.00
- Manufacturer’s License: PHP 10,000.00
- Indentor’s License: PHP 2,000.00
- License to Repair Firearms: PHP 2,000.00
- Repairman’s License (Gunsmith): PHP 500.00
- Recognition of Gun Club: PHP 2,500.00
  - Each succeeding year: PHP 100 per member as yearly recognition fee
- Air Gun Dealer’s License: PHP 1,500.00
- Air Gun Manufacturer’s License: PHP 3,000.00
- License to Deal in Spare Parts, Accessories and Components: PHP 1,500.00
- Accreditation of Firing Ranges:
  - Commercial: Initial PHP 5,000.00; Renewal (Yearly) PHP 2,500.00
  - Private: Initial PHP 2,500.00; Every Renewal (Yearly) PHP 1,000.00
Explosives-related licenses and permits:
- Dealer’s License: PHP 2,500.00
- Manufacturer’s License: PHP 10,000.00
- Purchaser’s License: PHP 1,000.00
- Foreman’s and Blaster’s License: PHP 500.00
- Permit to Unload:
  - Explosives/explosives ingredients in solid form: 0.025/kg
  - Explosives/explosive ingredients in liquid form: 0.02/ltr
  - Detonating cords and safety fuse: 0.01/mtr
  - Blasting caps and connectors: 0.01/pc
- Permit to Import Explosives/Explosives Ingredients: PHP 300.00
- Permit to Purchase Explosives/Explosive Ingredients per application: PHP 300.00
- Permit to Transport Pyrotechnics/Firecrackers per application: PHP 300.00
Pyrotechnics and firecrackers licenses:
- Manufacturer’s License: PHP 2,500.00
- Dealer’s License: PHP 500.00

Exemptions and special fee relief

Registered organic firearms of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and other law enforcement agencies including the National Police Commission (Napolcom) are exempt from payment of firearm license fees under the IRR.
All government employees and retirees from government service and military officer reservists receive a 50% discount on firearms license fees and charges, subject to the condition that it shall not be less than PHP 150.00 per firearm.
Senior citizens receive a 20% discount on these charges.
The PTCFOR fee is exempt for the following:
- Senior Government Officials, including Senators and Congressman, Cabinet Members, Department Secretaries/Undersecretaries/Assistant Secretaries, Bureau Directors or Heads of Offices with Equivalent Rank and Heads and Members of Constitutional Commissions, Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Ombudsman and deputies/assistant Ombudsman, and Justices of the Sandiganbayan.
- Active AFP/PNP personnel, officials and employees of NBI, BJMP and Napolcom duly certified by their respective heads of offices.
- Military officer reservists on Annual Duty Training or Week-End Active Duty Training.
- Other persons whom the C, PNP may exempt from payment of PTCFOR fee.
- Other persons exempted by the Office of the President as provided in Section 6 of Executive Order No. 256.
Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA)-sponsored/accredited competitions are not charged a permit fee under the competition fee provision.
Security guards who lose their firearm without negligence are exempt from the cash bond charge, subject to submission of the required investigation report.

Implementation rules and centralization

FED approval of any firearm application requires a certificate of attendance by the applicant in a seminar covering gun safety, responsibility, laws, regulations, and other pertinent topics.
The seminar fee collected for Gun Safety and Responsible Gun Ownership is collected by the PNP Finance Service and made available for use of FED and other PNP units involved in Firearms Licensing Operations, subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
Private Security Agencies (PSAs) and Company Guard Forces (CGFs) are allowed to pay the cash bond for existing firearms on a staggered basis over five (5) years from the effectivity of the IRR, with equal annual amounts; those that purchase/acquire new firearms upon effectivity pay the corresponding cash bond on a maximum of four (4) installments over one (1) year.
FED retains twenty percent (20%) of total collections for firearms and explosives fees and charges to fund FED direct operating expenses.
Other PNP offices/units involved in processing submit Estimates of Income and Revenue (EIR) and a Program of Expenditures to C, PNP (Attn: Director for Comptrollership) as the basis for control and utilization of Trust Receipts, subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
In conformity with Republic Act No. 6963, PNP remits funds collected from firearms license fees to the National Police Commission to support the Scholarship Program for surviving children of PNP members, excluding the twenty (20%) percent retention mandated by Section 3 of Executive Order No. 256, and funds support to other PNP units involved in processing firearms and explosives licenses.
All other PNP units involved in implementing the IRR submit a monthly report of revenues collected pertaining to these fees.
FED sets up and facilitates computerization of PTCFOR; applications for new issuance and renewal of PTCFOR are exclusively processed by FED for approval by C, PNP and C, FED, with temporary suspension of authority of Regional Directors of PNP Regional Commands due to centralized data base for PTCFOR.

Penal consequences and surcharges

Any person found violating any provision of the IRR is dealt with criminally and administratively as evidence warrants.
Surcharges/penalties apply to any person, entity, or corporation that fails to renew the issued license, permit, or registration before the expiration date, with surcharge rates by number of months after expiration:
- Ten Percent (10%) after One (1) month
- Twenty Percent (20%) after Two (2) months
- Thirty Percent (30%) after Three (3) months
- Forty Percent (40%) after Four (4) months
- Fifty Percent (50%) after Five (5) months
- One Hundred Percent (100%) after Six (6) months
Firearm licenses not renewed after six (6) months are deemed revoked/cancelled and terminated, and the firearms are subject to confiscation.

Repeal of inconsistent issuances

All orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the IRR are repealed or modified accordingly.