NBI Clearance in Mandaluyong City Hall

Okay, so I totally forgot about posting this topic because of a ton of things I needed to accomplish, as my timeline suggests.

My first attempt to get an NBI clearance was years back (2003), because I needed this piece of document for employment purposes. I went to the Carriedo Branch and surprisingly, the experience was not so bad after all, even if we could say that the line resembled a human caterpillar detangling itself. But then again, it was really organized, and the ride was fairly smooth. 

Here‘s the best part, renewals are much easier because you can swing by at the nearest NBI kiosk, which gives you a shorter queue on off-peak days. For more information about my experience in renewing the NBI Clearance in SM Megamall, click here. 

Months ago, I decided to have my NBI clearance updated to my married name. Reasons would include the fact that I urgently needed this piece of identification:

- as a requirement for my CR1 application;
- that it IS considered a valid ID; and lastly,
- it was SUPPOSEDLY the easiest to update.
 

The last item appeared to be false (well, in my case, at least).
 

Forget the long lines from renewal kiosks, because changing your maiden name into a married one is completely like applying the NBI clearance for the first time. 

To do this, you have to go to a NBI Satellite Office (NOT a renewal kiosk). You can do the application at the following locations:
1. Quezon City Hall **
2. Pasig City Hall **
3. Muntinlupa City Hall **
4. San Pablo City Hall **
5. POEA **
6. Kalibo, Aklan **
7. Las Pinas City hall
8. Mandaluyong City Hall
9. Caloocan City Hall
10. Valenzuela City Hall
11. Marilao, Muncipal Hall
12. Los Banos Municipal Hall
13. Taytay Rizal, Municipal Hall

** Installed with computers. Releases NO HIT clearances applied on the same day (thanks to blog4charity.org).

My proximity to the Mandaluyong City Hall branch was the supposedly perfect place for me to have my NBI Clearance updated. Well, it was! Since I lived in that very district, I did not hesitate for a second to rush its expected busy office.

Well, almost rushed there. I arrived at 3pm -- bad idea! It’s because their cut off is only until 3. You may think that it’s quite unfair for a government office to have a cut off time, but you’d really understand why -- it’s even quite impossible for them to finish by 5pm because of the volume of people trying to avail of their services.

So as a tip, transact before 3pm! Do not even think about going to a kiosk, because they won’t entertain you if you needed to change your name or status.

What to bring:
1.  Current NBI clearance (no photocopies allowed) - it’s okay if you were not able to bring it on the day of your renewal. They will just ask you to fill out the NBI Application Form- the kind that first-timers use.

As a suggestion, BRING it. It is a way of immediately identifying you, so that they wouldn’t need to “double-check” your identity.

2. CEDULA - this is to prove that you are indeed a resident of Mandaluyong City. You see, it’s a way for them to make sure that actual residents of the city are getting the benefits of utilizing the town’s facilities. All you need to do is show it to them, and you are not to submit this as a requirement. 

3. Amount of PhP115 processing fee.
 

There is actually only one counter/window opened to submit the form and pay the processing fee. You will just have to wait for your name to be called for the image capture, which is basically also the window beside it. You will just have to stand (or sit) behind the white “background” provided and look at their web cam to capture your smile. Note: you may sometimes not realize that they already took your picture so better be on the alert side.

And then you wait.

Agonizing, I say, because you will have to wait under a “tent” used for street birthday parties and wakes. They have also provided monobloc seats and benches for all applicants who are likewise waiting for their name to be called. Yes, you’d have to wait in “open air” and sometimes, under the scorching heat. You could be lucky if there are unoccupied seats. It was brutal because it’s gonna be humid, noisy and tiring, so a mini-merienda and some drinks would be helpful to cope with hunger and possible dehydration.

I also mentioned it was noisy. You will hear someone shouting out instructions or people’s names through a loud speaker, even if it wasn’t necessary especially if you already have a device that will already blast your voice. Aside from that, the windows to the right also has their own microphone that will blast the names of people getting the Mandaluyong Police Clearance. At least the man there did not have to shout. 

And for about an hour or so, you will finally hear your name once they find your records “clear”, meaning, no hits or similar name. Otherwise, they will ask you to return after 1 week on a time they will specify just to get your clearance. So for those with unique names, good for you!

Unfortunately for me, I was one of those that needed to go back because they must have seen me with a “hit”. For those who know my full name, I don’t think everyone will agree that I have a namesake with anyone else in the world, especially with my new married name. You could probably imagine the odds.
 

On the other hand, it may be because I wasn’t able to give my personal copy of my NBI clearance and filled out the form as a new applicant. I only assumed this because they may think that I would have a namesake, which is just probably myself! Haha!

So after a week, I went back to get my NBI clearance. Went as early as an hour before the schedule, but the staff said to wait at 4pm, since it was their specified time to accommodate all those who were asked to come back. No exceptions.
 

So I waited again, only because I don’t want to be shouted at by the ones calling out the names. They are sometimes giving out nasty comments to the “pasaway” people who have nothing to do but make their job worse by asking if they were already called or if they could already get their NBI clearance.

Finally I got my NBI clearance. For some reason, I always get called last! Maybe it’s because I have THAT ENOUGH patience to endure waiting unlike those that were with me.

And I was so glad that I had to change my name once!

Quickie NBI Renewal Kiosk at Megamall

You would usually see a lot of people queued up to the top floor of SM Megamall only to find them renewing their NBI clearance. I was one of those unfortunate few who had to go all the way up to the 5th floor since D needed my clearance as part of his requirements in the marriage package. Coming from a night shift, I did everything I could to stay up -- counted the minutes when the line budged, tried to listen songs off my iPod, and counted the flight of steps. It was about 10 or 11AM when I came and imagine how exhausting the heat could get during this time.

But really, it didn't take that long for me to have the entire thing done, and how relieved I was that they didn't have lunch breaks. If my memory serves me right, it took about 30-45 minutes from top floor all the way down to the basement. With eyes already droopy and so wanting to go home, getting the piece of paper was all that mattered.

Just yesterday, I once again had to embark the same routine as I need this as part of my  Japan visa requirements as well as for my US CR1 visa to be presented during my final interview, and to my surprise this was what I saw at around 5:00pm:

Note: The people seated are maybe just resting

Maybe not everyone knows that they serve the public from 10:00am UNTIL 6:30pm. (**UPDATE: They are ONLY OPEN from Mon-Fri). Anyway, the entire thing took me barely 5 minutes (walking down the basement included!) since there were like 2-3 people lined up. So when renewing your NBI clearance, it is more comfortable to do it outside office hours.

So each time I needed to renew, it had to be 4:30 onwards to avoid that dreaded long line! I tried renewing at around 4PM and had reached the first flight of steps at least.

Remember, NBI Kiosks such as the one in Megamall only processes renewals only on weekdays (Mon-Fri from mall opening till 6PM). New applicants should go directly to the head office or satellite offices. Make sure to bring your personal copy of the old NBI clearance and prepare PHP115.00. Kiosks accepts renewal of clearance applied from 1998 to present provided that barcode is still clear and readable by the computer. They could accept changes only in address and purpose of clearance.

For changes in NAME, DATE OF BIRTH and PLACE OF BIRTH, you are advised to come personally at the NBI Clearance Center or in any NBI Satellite Office to fill-up a new application form and attach a photocopy of your birth certificate (source: NBI). There is actually 1 satellite office in Mandaluyong city hall complex. To read my NBI experience at the Mandaluyong City hall, click here.

Having the task done, I was able to spend more leisure time for myself. I so missed Japan so I decided to have this as my late-lunch-early-dinner meal:

I know right? Bento meals here are not be as good as the ones I had during my trip, but it would have to do. I just found the Fuji Apple sauce in my Tonkatsu a little too strong for my taste, and the meat was not tender at all. I am not having it again.

Don't get me wrong, maybe it was a bad batch. I did still find the veggies buttery just as I like it. Maybe it's just me and my taste. So there!

For more information about securing your NBI clearance, visit http://www.nbi.gov.ph/faq.htm