The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has announced the full implementation of its online registration, appointment and e-Payment systems to pave the way for a fast and convenient way of securing NBI clearance certificates. Starting April 1, applicants can apply at any NBI offices at any time without having to wait in long lines for many hours to register and get a certificate.
“The online registration, appointment and e-Payment system is the bureau’s response to provide a more efficient and convenient process of issuing NBI clearance. It is the solution to eradicate queuing at the NBI clearance centers, shorten both waiting and processing time,” said NBI Director Virgilio Mendez.
Developed by the NBI’s Information Technology Division, the system has considerably shortened the entire process. From six steps, the process was reduced to only three, starting from online registration, appointment and e-Payment; followed by photo capture and fingerprint biometrics; and finally, clearance printing. Through these steps, securing NBI clearance is now hassle-free and convenient.
An applicant must start by registering online at NBI Clearance Web site – clearance.nbi. gov.ph – and accomplish the application form.
For applicants with no Internet access, the NBI, as an initial step, has set computer workstations at its Main clearance processing center in Manila, free of charge. In so far as the regional and district offices are concerned, the same will be attended to very soon.
The system then provides the appointment date. On the scheduled appointment date, an applicant may proceed to any of the 72 NBI Clearance processing nationwide for the Photo Capture and Fingerprint Biometrics.
“For now, applicants must proceed to their nearest NBI office for image capture and fingerprinting,” said Wilerme Haplasca Jr., NBI’s Operating Officer. But he mentioned the possibility of non-appearance in the future. “We might implement non-appearance within the year,” he said.
When Photo Capture and Fingerprint Biometrics have been done, the applicant pays the processing fee of P140, which can be made through the following channels:
• Online Banking – customers with local Internet banking access from banks such as BDO, BPI, Metrobank, RCBC, Unionbank, UCPB, Chinabank, PNB, Maybank, Sterling Bank and Eastwest Bank can pay online using real-time debit to their account.
• Over the Counter (Bank) – applicants can go to any participating bank (BDO, BPI, Metrobank, RCBC, Chinabank, Estwest Bank, Landbank, Maybank, PNB, Security Bank, Sterling Bank, UCPB and Unonbank) and pay over the counter.
• Over the Counter (Non-Banks) – customers can go to any outlet of Bayad Center, LBC, and Robinsons Department Stores. Bayad Center has 300 branches and 2,600 partner-stores nationwide.
• ATM and Debit Cards – customers with ATM cards by BDO, BPI, Unionbank, Chinabank, Maybank, RCBC, PNB and UCPB can pay via ATM.
• Mobile Payment – G-Cash
Applicants are given until 15 days to make payments through their chosen channels.
When payment has been done, the last step is the release of clearance.
According to Nick Suarez, Chief of NBI’s Information Division, the online registration is also applicable to Filipinos residing abroad.
For the purpose of verifying fingerprints, Haplasca cited that NBI has an ongoing plan for fingerprint verification system. “If the funding will be approved, the system may be implemented by 2016,” he said.
Haplasca also assured the public during the launching that the NBI Web site and database are secured.
“We do not want to compromise our system, and rest assured that the data is protected. We use very reliable encryption for our data,” said Haplasca.
Haplasca mentioned that the system is flexible. “It can accommodate applicants numbering 30,000 a day nationwide. For our main office alone, 8,000 applicants can be accommodated.
“The new NBI Clearance Processing System is a step towards improving the service the NBI provides the various publics. In fact, since the full implementation of the new system early this year, there has been significant improvement and positive feedback,” Mendez said.
