MANILA, Philippines – In line with the implementation of the Republic Act 11261 or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced Friday (20 December 2019) the newly-implemented program has already benefited more than a thousand of free NBI clearance applicants or 1,032 to be exact, and counting.

NBI Director Dante Gierran said the 1032 free NBI clearance issued to applicants only covers 15 NBI Satellite and Regional Offices which are strategically located in various parts of the country.

These are LRT Northmall, NBI Muntinlupa Satellite Office, NBI Quezon City Hall, NBI Biometrics Main Building and NBI SEMRO among others.

Director Gierran stressed that at present , there are already more than 130 NBI Clearance Satellites and Clearance processing centers to cater to the public.

He also said the NBI will continue to expand the establishement of additional NBI Satellite offices in 2020.

NBI Deputy Director for Information Communications Technology Service Jose Justo Yap, for his part, said that for 2018, the IRD and ICTD have processed and issued 7,520,791 clearance certificates.

He added that in October 21, 2019, as one of its mandates to expand accessibility to government services, the NBI issued Memorandum Circular No. 02 Series 2019 on the guidelines in the implementation of the First Time Jobseekers Act in the NBI.

This means that first-time NBI clearance applicants are free.

Information and procedures of RA 11261 were also posted in conspicuous places in the Central, Regional and District offices, websites and other relevant media platforms for the information and guidance of stakeholders.

Yap emphasized that this is a priority project of the NBI in line with the directive of the President to simplify government processes and bring the government services closer to the people. (Benjie Cuaresma/IAMIGO/CNS)