Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima formally announced today that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has switched its clearance system over the holidays. The soft launch was made on January 2 with the head office and 18 branches nationwide going online.

De Lima said that “the new Clearance System provides a more reliable platform for the efficient processing of applicants’ information. With the improved search engine and query database, the accurate releasing of clearances will be faster.”

The new system includes an Automated Cashiering Module for consistent accounting reports to help eliminate malversation and corruption and a Renewal Module to ease the hassles of securing a clearance for those with existing ones.

“This is a first in the history of the Department and of the Bureau – our very own clearance system that was internally developed as part of our flagship National Justice Information System (NJIS) Project,” De Lima added. Before the new system, the NBI clearance system was operated by third party providers or contractors.

As of January 8, 2014, forty nine (49) sites nationwide are already live to cater the public. Enhancements and improvements are expected in the next couple of weeks to extend to e-Payment Module and NBI kiosks.

The NBI clearance is a formal document that clears its holder from any derogatory record from the law enforcement agency. The clearance is also used to secure other formal documents like a passport and is often a requirement for those seeking employment.