The public can now expect faster and more efficient transactions of their police clearance applications in some 186 police stations nationwide with the rollout of the National Police Clearance System (NPCS), according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said the online NPCS is a great leap towards crime prevention and peace in the community especially at this time of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The NPCS is initially available in 186 police stations and the national roll-out is expected to be completed next year.
“Inaasahan natin na mas mapapabilis na ang pagbibigay ng police clearance sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan nito lalong-lalo na yung mga nag-aaply muli ng mga trabaho ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” Año said.
“Sa kabilang banda, mas mapapabilis din ang pagtugis sa mga kriminal lalong lalo na yung nagtatago sa ibang lugar dahil sa ang datos natin ay para na sa buong bansa at hindi na lamang per LGU,” he added.
The NPCS is a nationwide issuance of police clearance through online application that seeks to improve the process for criminal records checks. Applicants may either register online or at their chosen police station. Upon obtaining an appointment, applicants can proceed to their selected police station on the scheduled date and present two (2) valid IDs, reference number, and official receipt of payment.
The NPCS is initially available in 186 police stations and the national roll-out is expected to be completed next year.
DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that the rollout of the NPCS is part of the digital transformation of the Philippine National Police to adapt to the new normal.
“Unlike before wherein criminals can simply get away with their crimes by moving from city to city or from one province to another, they can now be easily tracked with the PNP’s new centralized system,” said Malaya.
As per the record of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), some 36 wanted personalities have been arrested so far since the rollout of the said online system.
Once fully operational nationwide, the NPCS crosses out the likelihood that a person with a criminal record in one place will be able to obtain a police clearance in another area.
Malaya said that once fully operational nationwide, the NPCS crosses out the likelihood that a person with a criminal record in one place will be able to obtain a police clearance in another area.
He said that a total of 1,711 PNP personnel in all Police Regional Offices (PROs) nationwide have undergone NPCS User’s Training as Verifier, Clearance personnel and Help Desk Personnel to ensure maximum use of the said online system.
From March 21, 2019, to August 11, 2020, alone, the PNP received a total of 629,301 clearance applications, 506,167 of these were printed, and 508, 233 were paid applications.
Malaya hopes the processing of police clearance will become even faster and more efficient as more police stations will undergo the systems training in the NPCS Users Training Batch 2.
Former PNP Chief now Senator Bato de la Rosa filed Senate Bill 1581 last June 2, 2020 which will hopefully institutionalize the online system through a national law.