My eyes on the NBI
December 8th, 2005 | by ka edong |Here are other notes and observations of my experience getting an NBI clearance. This is turning out to be an NBI-themed week on Technobiography.
- While at Carriedo, I noticed the more or less clear signs of what windows and what sections belonged where.
- I explained to three ladies at one of the windows that I had an extra-ordinary case, having been to an NBI kiosk in Baguio and getting a “hit” (my name was in the NBI’s watch list).
One lady said:“Samahan mo na nga yan, kawawa naman, yan.”
She helped expedite my clearance processing.
Did I look like a poor dog? What made me deserve the expediting [or is it "expedition"
]? The skeptic in me said: “Are they expecting something in return?” - I noticed that they did not have uniforms. Was it wash day that day? Didn’t the NBI have a budget for uniforms? Were they employees of Mega Computer, a private company that handles some IT processes of the NBI?
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I also noticed this nifty contraption they put together (see photo). It’s a camera with an adjustable stand. This guy is taking a picture of a picture that will be printed on the NBI clearance in lieu of a digital photo of the “live” person.
Aside from this camera, there are more than 5 other digital cameras taking photos of “live” people - like a mugshot - that gets printed on the NBI clearance.
All in all, I think there have been commendable improvements in the way I’ve been getting my NBI clearance through the years. They’re improving. Not perfect, but who is anyway?
For this, a POB for the NBI. (A pat on the back for the NBI).
ka edong
cleared
