LINE AGENCIES

Based on the number of people who form a line in order to transact with a government agency, the NSO (National Statistics Office) at corner J.M. Basa and Rizal streets in Iloilo City would naturally fall in the No. 1 place.  No. 2 would most likely be the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission)
at E. Lopez Street, Jaro District, Iloilo City.  Since we began writing about these agencies up to now, nothing has improved.

It was not so long ago that we heard a certain Mr. Harry Dolindo being interviewed by Aksyon Radyo on what the public can expect of them upon their transfer to a new building.  Among other things, he said that there will be no more human lines as their new building can accommodate their expected clientele.  He also announced that they will be making improvements in their system.

Te?  Where is that system now, Mr. NSO?  Amu man gihapon.  Pareho ka lawlaw ka tong una.

We are writing about these agencies again not with the expectation that improvements might be made in their services.  We are writing to invite people to react and write to us so that your thoughts could be heard by somebody higher.  At high noon of June 30, a new set of elected officials will sit under a new administration.  In as far as these line agencies are concerned, however, we cannot expect drastic changes or improvements.  Why?  Because these human lines were not even discussed or made as an issue in the heat of the election campaign.  Nobody was concerned with the way our new  professionals were treated.  No one among our candidates then discussed about improvements in the delivery of NSO’s service.  Was there one?

The NSO is under the umbrella of the NEDA (National Economic Development Agency).  Let us hope the new incoming NEDA secretary will look into the plight of NSO’s clientele.   The way service is delivered now, one gets an impression that no study on statistics was made in computing the number of transaction desks in relation to the number of clients.   Also, the agency repeatedly fails to provide measures in anticipation of increases in the number of clients such as during enrollments.  Mga statisticians man bla kamo? 

Oops, by the way, the NSO has transferred to a new location.  It has moved closer to another line agency which happens to be a private bank whose clients include members of another line agency—the GSIS.  Many people still have not known of their new location as there was no piece of notice put in the building they previously occupied.

Or maybe the NSO people deemed it unnecessary anymore to bother itself with a signage or whatever.  Maybe they thought that people would immediately know where their office is by the presence of a line of tired, angry, hungry, and cursing humans. LAW-LAW!

Hey NSO and PRC, look at how your bad example affects us.  Your habit of lining up your client is being followed by a computer gadget store named CDR King. Tsk! Tsk!