NBI to implement general, multi-purpose clearance  

Future applicants of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance will no longer have to indicate the specific purpose of their application. 

In a department circular dated February 15, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II directed the NBI to immediately change the format of the clearance form for it to bear the phrase “Issued for whatever legal purpose” instead of specific purpose such as local or overseas employment. 

As a result, current formats for the NBI clearance would have to be replaced with the multi-purpose clearance. 

“The Unified NBI Clearance system is our answer to the needs of our people who are faced with the modern demands for record-keeping and civilian identification imposed challenges amongst many Filipinos who seek clearances from the NBI for their specific purposes,” Aguirre said in a statement. 

“Once the NBI clears an applicant, he is cleared for whatever purpose, plain and simple,” he added. 

Aguirre said the order was in line with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte for government services to be accessible to the public and lessen the expense entailed by Filipinos to avail such service. 

The new order will take take effect after 15 days from date of publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.  — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News