Aside from the Robinsons Cybergate satellite branch, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has another branch in A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City, located at the J Centre Mall. This is good news to all residents living in the northern part of Cebu, especially to Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu citizens.
The NBI office was located at the third level of J Centre Mall. But since it was still outside business hours, we have to walk all the way to the back area of the mall and climb up flights of stairs to reach the clearance center. I arrived around 9 am and was lucky enough to score priority number 95. According to the security guard, they only accommodate 150 applicants on Saturdays. From Tuesday to Friday, they allow as much as 300 applicants.
Good thing, it was not too crowded (I think most applicants would prefer to hang inside the mall to escape the sweltering heat outside). No long queues were seen but applicants were scattered all over the place from the first floor to the third floor, occupying the sitting parts of the mall. The system was a bit disorganized. Nevertheless, I got my clearance in just 20-30 minutes.
Steps in getting an NBI Clearance:
- When you get there, immediately look for the security guard who acts as priority number keeper. Secure a number from him and ask for an estimated time when your number will be accommodated. This way, you can grab a quick bite from McDonald’s or somewhere.
- Hold on to your priority number and patiently wait at the holding area. They have arranged some monobloc plastic chairs for the applicants to sit. Do not wander much because you might miss your turn.
- The guard will announce when the next batch of 50 applicants to proceed to the clearance center.
- Priority lanes are provided for senior citizens, pregnant women and PWD just approach the people behind the glass windows.
- Applicants (with priority numbers) who missed their batch will be bumped off to the next batch (that’s what happened to me because I was so busy shopping). Last batch of the day is at 5pm.
- You will be given a Clearance Application Form (CAF) inside the processing area. Make sure you fill it up in capital letters.
- When accommodated, prepare one valid ID, your CAF and payment.
- Here is the list of accepted IDs:
- SSS ID
- TIN ID
- PHILHEALTH ID
- PAG-IBIG ID
- Postal ID
- Police Clearance (must be within 6 months)
- School ID (validated by the registrar)
- Company ID (must be presently employed)
- NSO Birth Certificate
- Voter’s ID
- Proceed to the CASHIER window for payment.
₱115 – Travel Abroad, Visa Seaman, Local Employment and other requirements
₱165 – Business Requirement, Change of Name, Permit to Carry Firearms/Firearms License, Adoption, NFA, POEA, PRA, SEC requirement
₱415 – Naturalization, Cancellation of Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR), Repatriation
- Proceed to the ENCODING window for data entry. Double-check on the information to make sure there are no mistakes.
- After data entry, your name will be called from the lady manning the BIOMETRIC FINGERPRINT/IMAGE CAPTURE window. They will take your mug shot and scan all your ten fingers individually.
- If you are clear, you will proceed to the RELEASING window and wait for your name to be called.
- Applicants with “HIT” remarks will be asked to wait for two weeks or fifteen working days.
Note: When I wrote this, NBI Satellite Branch at J Centre Mall was open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm. Updated schedule: Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
UPDATE as of March 31, 2015: NBI clearance can be applied online. Read my latest NBI Clearance entry here.
