NBI clearance for travel abroad

As a requirement for our Chinese tourist visa application, we had to secure an NBI clearance valid for travel abroad. Since in the past we already had a criminal namesake, we went straight to the NBI clearance renewal center in Carriedo. We brought our most recent NBI clearances and paid the P20 building entrance fee then went through steps 1-7 (skipping step 5). As usual we cannot claim the clearance within the day. We were told to claim the clearance personally 3 days later (claiming through an authorized representative is not allowed if travel abroad purpose).

Noted the following fees posted: Change of name is P165 while clearance / renewal is only P115. I'll probably renew with my married name some other time (since my passport is still in my maiden name and I didn't want to have to submit documents with different names for the visa application).

We were there from around 10:30-12:30. Ate lunch late at the nearby Chowking.

Went back to NBI for claiming a week later. Arrived in NBI Carriedo around 8:30am and went straight to the top floor for step 7 - releasing (no need to pay for the building fee again, just show the claiming receipt to the "guard"). After getting the printout, we checked if there was an indication that it is valid for travel abroad. Aside from the note, it should be printed on green paper instead of the usual peach. We also had to line up for thumb printing. An optional P2 for the wet towelette is available there. We finished by around 9am.

Transferring RDO

Since I transferred to my new work in Makati almost a year ago, I have not updated my registered RDO address. Previously, this was being done by the HR/Finance departments of where you work. I was surprised when I was giving my 2316 form (certificate of tax withheld) from my previous employer to my new HR and was informed that they no longer do this on behalf of employees. BIR transactions are to be done by employees themselves.

I thought the only thing I would have to worry about is the payment and filing of income tax return annually. This would be easy as I can just pay through any authorized agent bank. I already did this last April.

Unfortunately, I was told that I still have to process an RDO transfer, from my previous employer's registered RDO in Cavite to the new employer in Makati. What do I have to do? Very simple, just fill out a 1905 form (at least 2 copies), go to your previous RDO in Cavite, have it stamped and you're done! Well it would have been more convenient if I can just fax it and then have it stamped and let them fax it back to me. I really think this is feasible but whoever I ask from the BIR will simply say just go to your previous RDO.

I asked our HR officer if it was really the only option (do it in person) and said yes that is the only option that the BIR officer told her. I also emailed the BIR Contact center and they gave me the same answer, even mentioning the Memorandum order about the process. Well I was pleasantly surprised that they even bothered answering (2 months later) but at least it's better late than never.

So that meant I will have to waste a whole day travelling back and forth to Cavite just to get a stamp (very efficient and cost-effective, tsk tsk). Arrived at RDO 54 around 12:30 PM which is a bad time coz it's lunch break. Worse, the transaction for RDO transfer is at another office at the left side of the BIR bldg (not at the main entrance) which is locked from 12-1pm. So we were all just waiting outside under the scorching sun! Even if you're staying under the shade the heat will get to you. I feel like cursing when this happens because I feel we don't deserve this as taxpayers. They finally opened the door a few minutes before 1pm (which is a good thing, I was actually preparing myself to think they might open it around 1:30pm instead).

There was a receiving area inside and the office is fully airconditioned (good thing). I just deduced that they did not want to be bothered when sleeping during lunch that is why they lock it out. They should not even be allowed to sleep in my opinion. I rarely do this at work unless I am not feeling well. We do not even see private businesses such as banks shut out people just because it is lunch break.

The BIR should do something about this problem if they want people to voluntarily pay taxes. As a service-oriented government agency, they should be the one adjusting and not the other way around. Why don't they shift people's lunch break, some taking it 11-12am and others 12-1pm so that the people are still being entertained at any time?

They don't even realize that some of us have travelled for hours to process these transactions that ideally should have been done by BIR employees themselves. The mere fact that it is obvious where my income tax payments are going is already an indication that I have changed employers.

I never run out of things to complain about the government. I hate complaining but sometimes you cannot help it when you have to deal with their inefficiencies all the time.

Anyway, finally we're in and I immediately looked for a queueing number. The 1st one was around 90 and I got 95 (not bad). The queue was for the "officer of the day". There was another line (traditional pila) for another lady who is taking LTO? transactions (not really sure what that is). After quite some time, I noticed that no number is still being called yet. I was seated at the front and a woman was asking so many questions to the "officer of the day" and she was not even #90 (in fact she had #105, wtf?!). A guy beside me was getting furious and already started to shout what's the point of the number system if it is not being followed? The "officer of the day" then finished her conversation with #105 and started to call #90.

Thirty minutes later it was still #92 or 93. I noticed the lines for "LTO" were dwindling and she was fast, she had probably entertained already about 20 people compared to "officer of the day" who has only entertained about 2 or 3. Tried my luck with "LTO" lady since all I needed was a stamp. Told her it's just for RDO transfer, she took my forms, asked several other people for their transactions, went to the computer to check records, stamped my forms and got it in probably less than 5 mins. She actually accommodated about 3-5 people within that 5 mins. Now that is what I call efficient. For "officer of the day" I just returned my number. Should not have bothered with her in the 1st place.

Guess what? I even overheard LTO lady tell a guy (whose previous RDO was in Davao) to just fax the RDO for his transfer form. Pwede naman pala e! She even provided the tel/fax numbers of his RDO to him. She's really accommodating and fast and I commend her for that. Too bad I did not see her name.

My hunch is that BIR only processes RDO transfer through fax for extreme cases. But given that they are all already computerized, they should actually allow transactions to be done at any RDO no matter where you are registered.

I had to spend the next half of my day in a bus on my way back home to QC. A whole day's pay just to transfer my RDO. Now all I need to do next is update my marital status and last name. That would be for another day at my new RDO in Makati. I'll have to do that after at least 5 working days when the transfer would take effect.

Renewing NBI Clearance again

I rant about govt offices as I see a lot of inefficiency in the way transactions are done. In fairness, for the past 7 years that I worked, I noticed that there has been some improvement in the processes but still a lot more needs to be done. One such process is the renewal of the NBI clearance.

As part of the pre-employment requirements, I had to process the renewal of my NBI clearance again. I know that NBI has already made this process easier through kiosks in Malls and availability of satellite offices in select city halls in Metro Manila. However, I discovered a few years ago that I have a criminal namesake due to a hit in the NBI records list. This caused me to wait for a week to get my clearance unlike the usual no-hit names who can get it within the same day of application. The last time I took this was in QC city hall.

This time, my dad attempted to renew me in SM Megamall. The day he applied for my renewal, he was able to do step1-2. That is payment of the fee and the quick search. From the quick search they will let you know whether you have a common name which will most likely have a hit or you can proceed to step 3 which is verification. Mind you that the quick search is only a manual check of the officer (no checking with a database / computer).

After step 2, my dad was told that I will have to process the succeeding steps personally as my name is common and will most likely have a hit. They will also need to take my picture. The problem was that I was in the office that day (in Makati)  and they said that the receipt is valid only on that day. My Dad called me on the phone to let me know that I have to finish the renewal within the day or I would have to pay again on another day. He clarified what time the kiosk in Megamall will close.  They said 6:30 so my dad and I arranged to meet there around 5. 

On my way to Megamall on the bus, my dad called again to tell me he's already in Megamall and the NBI kiosk is closed (it was only 4:30pm)! A note says that they closed early since they ran out of receipts (wtf)! And to think that it's supposed to be a service-oriented government office. 

I got pissed that they had to close early when there are other transactions being done there aside from payment of fees. I decided to go directly to the NBI clearance center in Carriedo (near LRT) on another day to complete the process. In fact, this was what I was supposed to do from step3 onwards. It was indicated in the stamp on my receipt. My dad should not have listened to the NBI employees in Megamall, they only confused him. I did not have to go back there and I do not even have to do that on the same day.

I went early to NBI Carriedo for step3 onwards and although the lines were long, the processing was quick. I was able to finish in 15 mins. As usual, I would have to come back the next day since I have a hit which is a great improvement from before where I had to wait for a week. 

The next day I was able to claim my clearance in 5 mins. I would have commended NBI Carriedo for the fast and efficient service, but I am disappointed that there's no one manning the NBI clearance renewal card booth. I was looking forward to getting this as it will allow me to renew the next time more conveniently in malls via ATM type kiosks and get the renewal within minutes even if you have a criminal namesake. 

Discovering one of those old, long lost photographs

I was looking through some old documents and bills of my hubby looking for a receipt of a broken hard disk (hoping it's still under warranty) when I chanced upon an old photograph of me and Rene with a friend of ours after an oath-taking ceremony as Electronics and Communications Engineers back in 2000. Today was the 1st time i saw it.

Rene, me and Ian after the oath taking ceremony for new ECE's back in 2000 (Manila Midtown Hotel)

It is amusing to see how much we've changed for the past 7 years. We were so thin then. It was our only photograph from that occasion. And it was courtesy of Ian, who asked to have a picture with us.

The ceremony was not that big a deal unlike the graduation ceremony. We went there by ourselves, without our parents and did not even bother to bring a camera. Some of our batchmates including Rene even went there directly from work.

Looking back I remember we wanted to skip it as the ticket was expensive. Only it was required by PRC before they could release the certificate/license. Which is also the main reason why we did not take our parents anymore. And to think for that price, the meal they served was a measly pancit (a small serving without much sahog) and a glass of soda. Oh well, afterwards I think we just headed to Robinson's Place Manila right across the hotel for dinner.

Gone from one govt office to another

Yesterday i went to 4 govt offices in all: BIR, NSO, Pag-ibig and SSS. I know this is not what you would call travel, but i'd rather call it an adventure or more appropriately a challenge. :) Transacting with the govt is one of those errands that you would rather not do but you still have to do for your own sake.

I was quite early at the BIR (around 7:45) and as it is around the tax filing time of the year, a lot of people were already lined up outside. Although i was also going to file Rene's tax return that day, i wasn't planning on doing it at the RDO39 office. My purpose was to just claim the printed OR's from a BIR employee. Good thing i was the 1st to approach his table and he was always accommodating. I was just surprised that the ORs he printed for me were 10 booklets of 50 pcs each! That's 500 ORs! Kaya pala medyo mahal ang binayaran ko. I paid Php800 for that. I just followed the BIR employee's suggestions coz i wasn't familiar with the BIR registration requirements for professionals. I don't even anticipate Rene will use it as he receives salary just like any other employee except he is considered a consultant. I wonder if the BIR requirements are actually applicable to everyone. Even after attending the taxpayer's briefing prior to release of Rene's BIR registration, I am still confused. Andyan pa yung mga books of accounts that i do not know how to fill out.

About paying at the RDO39, the reason why i would prefer paying Rene's ITR at an authorized agent bank instead is because the line at the cashier is too long. The day i registered him as a professional i was around #200 from the last person being serviced, and i got to the counter 4hrs later! My estimate is 50 people being serviced per hr since i think only one counter is open.

After the BIR, i proceeded to NSO in east ave to claim the marriage cert copy. Since it was still early morning, again a lot of people were lined up at the releasing area. I was glad to see there's no line at the window where my doc is released. I noticed though that the last time i went there around 3pm in the afternoon, there's not a lot of people around in the releasing area anymore. I've been here a couple of times because the 1st time i applied for the marriage cert was in March. Since we got married in Dec 2007, i was expecting it to be available already since i was told that the MC has been forwarded to NSO in Jan. However to my surprise i got a negative certification. I went back to QC city hall, which is just a jeep-ride away, got a copy of the transmittal sheet (showing that it was received by NSO) and got back to NSO to prove that they already have the copy, after which i got another claim stub on when it will be released. (If the municipal hall where you got married has not forwarded it to NSO, you have to do an endorsement process which is a lot more hassle and expensive - for this case i would suggest you wait it out and do what i did once they have forwarded it, for the meantime just get a certified true copy of your MC from the municipal hall).

From QC, I went to Pasig. I did my transactions with Pag-ibig and SSS after lunch. The good thing about their branches in Shaw Blvd, is that they're walking distance away. Pag-ibig is just across SSS while Philhealth is also a few meters away. This is my 2nd visit. The 1st time i was only able to finish Philhealth. My objective was to change my status from single to married as well as to change from employed to voluntary member (as i am now unemployed and wanted to continue my membership). For Philhealth, it was easy and convenient. Their office is aircon-ed plus it is not too crowded. I got to do both updates in one transaction just by submitting a form, a photocopy of the marriage cert and paying the quarterly premium (P300 for 3 months). Most of the employees at the different counters were accommodating except for the lady at the information desk (how ironic!). Kakabwisit nga e, magtatanong na nga lang ng answerable by yes or no, ang isasagot pa sayo syempre! Kaya nga nagtatanong e. I was merely asking if I should put my married name on the form as i will be updating my status or still the maiden name. Syempre maiden name ko yung nasa records nila e. I wanted to make sure i am filling it out correctly. Kung ganun ba naman sya sumagot sa lahat ng magtatanong ewan ko na lang kung me magtatanong pa sa kanya. I should have taken her name, now that i thought about it. Pero never mind, baka bitter lang sya sa trabaho nya.

In Pag-ibig, my observation is it is quite organized and that they employ a numbering system for different transactions. Once you get a number you just sit back, relax, read something or watch TV. It is nice that they have an aircon-ed office and TV's for the members waiting for their number to be called. Although the office is still not big enough to hold everyone. There are not enough seats, as there are still people standing at the back. Although i always manage to get a seat. In my case they had to refer me to another office at the 2nd floor to accomplish change from employed to voluntary. This is my 2nd visit because i needed to bring my COE from my last employer as a reqt. After my docs were checked, i went to the 1st flr office and queued for payment/cashier. The premium is fixed at P100/month. In fairness, my number got called in an hr after around 100 more. I wonder why the forms i filled up and my COE are still with me. Not sure if i have to submit them i guess i better check again. The lady at the 2nd flr did not ask me to go back after telling me to pay at the cashier. When my voluntary status is already updated, i still have to request for merging of premiums from other branches so as to consolidate their records and at the same time be able to request update of civil status. This will be for another day.

As it was around 4:15 already i tried to go to SSS and see if i may still be able to update my status. For this case, i plan to update my civil status 1st before changing to voluntary. I was told it would take around a month for it to reflect my new name.

The 1st time i went to SSS i lined up for about an hr with my update form and photocopy of the marriage cert only to find out that they only accept certified true photocopy of the MC. I even have the original with me and showed it to her but the lady said it is still not acceptable. I looked back at the list of requirements at the back of the form and it only says marriage cert. It does not specify certified true photocopy. I was really pissed. Even after checking the requirements over the internet, it still did not prepare me for this. Kung specific yung hinihingi nila they should have specified it in all their listings of requirements on the forms and on the net so as not to waste people's time. Since my NSO copy was not yet available, I went back to QC city hall to request for certified true copies.

Now my 2nd visit, since i got there around past 4 already, i was happy to see that the line was not that long for the membership info counter. Before when i went there in the morning all the counters have long queues except for the cashier but now in the afternoon it's the opposite, all the other counters have a short queue except for the cashier. At least now i have an idea when to pay my voluntary premiums. I can always pay in the morning or pwede rin naman i think sa banks. I inquired if i can still apply for loan or the new ID, but i was told to do that only at least after a month so that my new name is reflected.

Some must haves when transacting with govt offices:
1. fan - not all transactions are done in an office (w/ aircon/fan)
2. pen/s - almost always need to fill out forms
3. reading materials - to pass the time during long queues
4. doc reqts - very important to call beforehand to inquire about requirements or check online website (usually birth/marriage cert, pictures)
5. forms - if you have internet access and a printer, might as well bring filled-out forms already to speed up your transactions, sometimes lining up for forms also take considerable time (such as in SSS)