Public reaps the benefits of NBI computerization

If there is a citation for most improved government agency in 2001, it should be awarded to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

In previous years, the NBI had been the object of many complaints because it took at least three days to secure an NBI clearance. There were as many as 30,000 people at any one time at the NBI head office on Taft Avenue. Half that number were people applying for clearances for job or visa applications while the other half were people picking up their approved clearances.

Today, anyone can renew his or her clearance in five minutes from an NBI kiosk located in the air-conditioned convenience of Metro Manila’s five-star shopping malls.

When police general Reynaldo Wycoco became NBI director, one of his first objectives was to complete the processing of NBI clearances on the same day they were applied for. This would automatically reduce the number of people at the NBI head office by one half since no one would need to come back to pick up previously applied-for clearances.

Fortunately, the Mega Data Corp., the NBI’s computer service provider, had a "same-day release" system ready for implementation.

Wycoco instructed Mega Data to decentralize and install computer systems in all NBI offices nationwide to bring the service closer to the people. Under this system, people no longer need to travel all the way to Manila just to apply for an NBI clearance. And since all the NBI offices nationwide are computerized, people no longer have to wait for 30 days for the NBI clearance because it could be processed instantaneously.

Mall kiosks

Wycoco also asked Mega Data to develop a self-service kiosk which could be installed in shopping malls so that renewing NBI clearances would no longer be an inconvenience to the public.

As of end-2001, NBI clearance renewal kiosks had been installed at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, Gotesco Grand Central in Caloocan, and Park Square in Makati. This January, kiosks will be launched at Tutuban Mall in Manila and Metropolis Mall in Muntinlupa.

Seaman Ferdinand Bola of Sucat, Parañaque came home to spend Christmas with his family. When the agency called to advise him to return to the ship immediately, he was worried that he needed to update his seaman’s book and doubted if he could get his NBI clearance on time.

It so happened the agency heard on the radio that one could get an NBI clearance at a kiosk at Park Square and instructed Bola to get his there.

"I went to the kiosk at Park Square and I got my NBI clearance in three minutes. Ibang klase, ang bilis pala. Dati naghintay ako ng tatlong araw," Bola said.

We asked Bola how much he paid for the NBI clearance. He said, "Ganoon din, P100 lang. Dati tatlong araw ako naghintay pero bago yun, P3,500 yung binigay ko."

Norberto Calfoforo from Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City was scheduled to return to his job in Saudi Arabia but needed to renew his NBI clearance. He went to the SM Megamall’s NBI kiosk because he heard one could renew clearances there. Sure enough, he got his clearance in less than five minutes.

"Umupo lang ako doon, kinunan ng litrato. Wala pang limang minuto, ito na pala. Akala ko babalik pa ako mamayang hapon. Ang galing na pala ng pagkuha ng NBI clearance ngayon," Calfoforo said.

Benefits

The improved NBI computerization has resulted in many benefits, including:

•Two-fold increase in revenue. The issuance of clearances is the NBI’s largest revenue earner. The agency used to earn only P150 million a year due to slow processing of applications. But now, due to improved computerization, the agency earns more than P270 million a year which is given directly to the national treasury.

•No more graft and corruption. The renewal kiosks have reduced graft and corruption by almost 100 percent. Some unscrupulous NBI employees at the district level used to demand grease money to facilitate the release of clearances. Others practically defrauded overseas job applicants, especially those with namesakes that have criminal records. With the new system, the NBI has practically abolished graft and corruption in the agency.

• Expanded public service. The NBI clearance renewal kiosks can now issue more than 30,000 clearances to jobseekers and visa applicants everyday. Being mall-based, these kiosks are conveniently accessible and offer much faster processing time.

•Decongestion of the main NBI compound. The new NBI computerization system has effectively decongested the bureau of the long line of clearance applicants. From 30,000 people a day, the applicants’ queue has been reduced to just 4,000 people today.

How does the system work? First, an applicant pays the required fee to the cashier and presents the machine-readable proof of payment stub to the kiosk operator together with his old clearance. The machine then scans the renewal card of the PDF (portable data format) barcode in the clearance to verify the authenticity.

A QuickSearch database makes sure that the applicant does not have any pending criminal cases or if his or her name appears in the NBI’s wanted list.

The kiosk operator then fills in the other relevant data on the application form such as local or travel information, reason for application and any changes in the applicant’s address.

A digital image of the applicant is then taken and stored in the database. Facial templates are subsequently generated for inclusion into the PDF barcode of the new NBI clearance that will be printed later on.

If an image template is not found in the barcode, the operator performs a manual visual comparison of the applicant’s face against that appearing on the clearance form. For new clearances or those with renewal cards, facial verification is automatically performed. The system makes sure that the facial template contained in the barcode matches the image that is to be printed on the clearance form. All this in a span of five minutes or less!

Wycoco envisions that in the future, applicants may be able to secure their NBI clearances from the comforts of their homes by logging on to the NBI website.