ILOILO City – City councilors approved an ordinance seeking a hub for online application and document verification for those who want to secure a police clearance, health clearance and/or working permit.
The One-Stop Application Center (OSAC) will “eliminate long queues and streamline processes,” and thus make the application for such documents “more convenient,” said Councilor Joshua Alim, author of the ordinance.
Sangguniang Panlungsod members passed the measure on Nov. 20.
The city government, “through a memorandum of agreement [or a] joint venture agreement with any qualified supplier,” shall set up the OSAC in a local government-owned building or property, the ordinance stated.
Mandated to comply with the ordinance were the Office of the Mayor’s Working Permit/Clearance Division, the City Health Office and the Iloilo City Police Office.
In addition, using fake clearances is a violation of the ordinance and punishable with a P5,000 fine and imprisonment of up to a year.
Alim stressed that the ordinance was in compliance with the order of President Rodrigo Duterte for government agencies and local government units to create a system that would drastically reduce the time spent obtaining vital documents./PN
