Guns banned in Metro Manila until Oct. 18

Metro Manila, Philippines — Firearms are banned in the capital region starting Sunday, Oct. 13 as a regional conference will be held, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Civil Security Group said.

Manila will host the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction at the Philippine International Convention Center from Oct. 14 to 18.

The PNP said Permits to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence are suspended until Friday midnight.

Exempted from the ban are members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other law enforcement agencies.

Malacañang suspended government work and classes in the cities of Manila and Pasay on Oct. 14 and 15 for the event.

The conference is “the main platform in Asia and the Pacific to monitor, review and enhance cooperation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 at the regional level.”

The framework “aims to achieve the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries over the next 15 years.”

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.