The DFA, The LTO, The NBI and the Pinoy

At one point in your life, you will have to get a passport, a driver's license, or an NBI Clearance. These, they do not teach you in school. They do not teach you how to get a TIN number, an SSS number, how to file your ITR nor tell you the detailed steps of how to get a housing loan. These you learn on-the-job.. when you get to enroll in the endless, tragic subject called Real World Philippines 101.

I cannot help but feel frustrated whenever I am in an unreasonable, disorganized line to get some sort of government requirement. I cannot understand why they can't inject some sort of professionalism into these processes! They know a lot of people stand in line, why not device a number system like what some banks do. Being a "government" agency is not an excuse-- since Landbank, AFPSLAI, NSO and Pag-ibig practice these numbering systems. Or, if they can't improve the processes, why not provide for better waiting areas ? How come the NSO can do online processing and others can't?

Why not treat the Pinoy as a "Client" and not as Beggars waiting for alms. The sad thing is, we do not have choices. We need passports, DLs, and clearances.

Hey, we're paying for these services. Not only through taxes , but also through the various processing fees , computer fees, envelope fees and *gasp* "tissue fees" (Yep, people at NBI charge P5.00 for every "wet tissue" they give you to clean your thumbs after the thumb printing! haha!)

I do not mind getting the clearances. I just hope they fix these systems soon! Or is it their way of providing employment to the "fixers" ?

P.S. When I gave up getting my NBI clearance renewed in Sta Rosa, Laguna (where the line was 3 buildings long) I decided to try the NBI Kiosk in Park Square Makati. Aside from the brief kink in the morning (the guards of Ayala Center opened another door and let the "people from Ayala" cut the line and get their clearances first) -- it was really, really fast processing. Took me less than 10 minutes to get my new clearance! So.. congrats to the Kiosk people, there are still a lot of things to be improved, but you're getting there...