Police clearance application now available online

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City residents may now start processing their application for police clearance online at cebucity.policeclearance.ph.

Police Senior Superintendent Benjamin Santos Jr., Cebu City Police Office director,and Nilo Cruz, president and chief executive officer of the Development Bank of the Philippines Data Center Inc., yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement for this purpose.

"Now with the help of DCI, the collection of the payment will be done directly to the bank. All cash payments will go directly to the bank and it's covered by the rules of the COA (Commission on Audit)," Santos said.

Santos said applicants will fill out the online form and get an access number also online before going to their new office near White Gold House at North Reclamation Area for fingerprint and picture.

Online requirements are still the same, which include cedula, any government I.D., birth certificate and barangay clearance. All approved police clearances will be also released at the satellite office near White Gold.

Santos said that with this new scheme, applicants could expect faster processing of their clearances. At P80, clearances processed online will be P5 cheaper than those processed in their office.

Aside from police clearance, he said the list of most wanted persons for "focus crimes" in Cebu City will also be included in the website.Focus crimes include physical injury, robbery, theft, homicide, murder, carnapping and motornapping, said Santos.

"The crimes rampant in Cebu City are theft, robbery and motornapping and we are looking into that," said the CCPO director.

Meanwhile, some workers welcomed the development.

Jimly Barro, who often applies for a police clearance because of the nature of her job as a contractual worker, said the initiative will allow her to save time, especially since she is a family person.

“Nindot na kay at least diretso na ba, dili pareha sa una nga maglinya pa unya dugay kaayo. So convenient para namo nga mga applicants,” she said.

"Personally, I would prefer nga maglukat online next time to see it for myself if better ba gyud ni nga system. I just hope nga faster gyud tuod siya and reliable and dili ma-compromise ang vital information sa mga tawo," Barro said.

Cruz, meanwhile, assured that part of their agreement it to secure not only the money but also for the files."Sinceit’s automated na,it will be less labor, less paper because it is already online record," he said. — (FREEMAN)