Recruiters: OFWs losing jobs over delayed NBI clearance

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos seeking jobs overseas are losing work opportunities because the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is taking too long to issue the clearance certificates required to work abroad, a group of recruitment firms said yesterday.

Jackson Gan, vice president of the Filipino Association Manpower Exporters, Inc. (FAME) and president of Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (PILMAT), told The STAR that foreign employers cannot wait at least three weeks for would-be overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to get their NBI certificates.

“Majority of the new job applicants for overseas employment come from the provinces,” he said.

He said some job applicants have complained of long lines while applying for an NBI clearance under the agency’s new biometric system, and the wait of three weeks to more than a month for the release of the certificate.

Under the new system, a computer “captures” the image and fingerprints of the applicant. If the applicant has no derogatory record, he or she gets a certificate clearing him for either local or overseas employment.

Gan said the new system was implemented after Mega Data Corp. pulled out its hardware and software when its contract with the NBI ended June 30 after more than 30 years of being the bureau’s information technology provider.

He said all countries accepting Filipino workers ask for an NBI clearance certificate when the OFW applies for a work visa. He said many job applicants said the long wait for an NBI certificate has affected the processing of their papers at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

One of the complainants, Ivan Moster from Lipa, Batangas, said he has yet to receive his certificate after filing his application more than a month ago. Moster is an applicant for a job as painter in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Special lanes

Due to the dilemma faced by OFWs, Gan urged the NBI to designate a special lane for those securing “overseas clearances.” He cited the special lane for OFWs at the Department of Foreign Affairs for passport applicants.

He also debunked claims that the new biometric system is working. He said the NBI satellite offices just get the photographs and fingerprints of the applicants but the processing of the clearance is still done at the bureau’s headquarters on Taft Avenue.

Under the new biometrics system, the NBI headquarters accommodates only 2,000 NBI applications a day.

Five minutes

However, Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas received his NBI clearance certificate five minutes after filing his application last July 29.

Roxas arrived unannounced at around 3 p.m. at the NBI headquarters. He was accompanied by NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula during the process.

Roxas, as a Cabinet official, did not fall in line but waited at the newly inaugurated FBI National Academy Associates office at the main building’s third floor.

Roxas said he was happy with the “fast” and “orderly” biometrics system the NBI has instituted for its clearance certificate application. He said the process of fingerprinting now requires no ink because it is electronic.

“Within five minutes from the start (of your application), you get your clearance,” he said, adding that “it is the first time I have applied for a certificate with married as my civil status.”

Roxas said his certificate is a requirement for his confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

NBI addressing problem

NBI deputy director for technical services Reynaldo Esmeralda said they are acknowledging the problems encountered by NBI clearance applicants and they are doing their best to address the problem.

He said NBI personnel involved in the processing and issuance of clearances are made to render overtime work to attend to the influx of applicants.

However, he noted that with the NBI’s takeover of Manila Police District Station 5 precinct, which sits on land owned by the bureau, they can now accommodate the growing number of NBI clearance applicants.