NBI clearance to become multi-purpose

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be issuing only one “multi-purpose clearance” for all types of requests, following significant reforms proposed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Alvarez disclosed that Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who exercises administrative control over the NBI, had issued a directive for such purpose.

The multi-purpose clearance will in effect do away with the usual separate applications for domestic employment, travel abroad, gun licensing and many others, thereby making it easier for people to obtain and use an NBI clearance.

Under the new circular, the NBI is directed to change the format of all NBI clearances to bear the phrase “Issued for whatever legal purpose” instead of a specific purpose. The NBI is also ordered to replace all existing formats with the new multi-purpose clearance.

“Secretary Aguirre’s swift action on our suggestion is admirable. This would go a long way not only to spare our people from a lot of difficulties in getting NBI clearance but also save them time and money,” said Alvarez.

The Speaker said Aguirre issued last Feb. 15 Department Circular 017, directing NBI Director Dante Gierran to scrap the present specific-purpose clearance and instead issue a multi-purpose clearance.

Implementation of the new multi-purpose NBI clearance will begin 15 days after appropriate notices have been published in at least two newspapers of general circulation.

In addition to implementing a multi-purpose clearance, Alvarez had asked the NBI to modernize its system not only to increase efficiency but also to address other problems in the clearance procedures.