NBI chief orders more appointment slots opened for clearance seekers

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Eric Distor has ordered  the opening of additional slots for new applicants who are in dire need of NBI clearances for their employment.

Distor told GMA News that that starting October 10, NBI clearance centers nationwide shall be open even on Saturdays.

He also said that even applicants whose appointments are scheduled for a much later date may already proceed to NBI clearance centers, provided that they have already registered online and paid the required fees.

This comes amid reports that 26 of the bureau's satellite offices have run out of online appointment slots amid the pandemic.

According to Maki Pulido’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday, 10 of the 19 NBI satellite offices in Metro Manila no longer have slots for online appointments until the end of the year.

These offices are located in Cubao, Baclaran, Parañaque, North Caloocan, Marikina, Mandaluyong, PhilPost Manila, Novaliches, Ortigas (Pasig) and Metro East (Pasig).

In the provinces, 16 of over 100 NBI satellite offices have also run out of slots, including branches in Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal, Bataan, and Albay.

The NBI said it reduced the number of slots from 600 daily to 250 to 300 due to the pandemic.

“Gusto namin silang bigyan ng clearance. Ang problema lang, hindi namin puwedeng tanggapin lahat ng gustong pumunta. ‘Yung mga offices kasi namin naka-skeletal force lang,” NBI ICT Division chief Marlou Baltazar said. — with Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News