THE National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) said it will introduce an electronic payment (e-payment) system which is expected to curb corruption and ease staffing problems.
NMIS Executive Director Ernesto Gonzales said the e-payment system does not require clients to personally come to the NMIS office to pay for its services.
“This means not only there will be less time spent in paying whatever fees from NMIS services but also to minimize graft and corruption by limiting the face-to-face transactions between the NMIS personnel and clients,” Mr. Gonzales said in a speech at the opening of the 2017 Meat Safety Consciousness Week held in Quezon City on Tuesday.
The system, expected to launch in January, will accept payment for the services rendered by the NMIS such as on licensing, laboratory, certification, and imported meat inspection fees, among others.
At present, inspectors from the NMIS are tasked to collect some service fees at clients’ facilities, a practice which Mr. Gonzales said has led to some inspectors pocketing the fees.
He said that after assuming office seven months ago, he has suspended one inspector over such transactions.
The adoption of the new system will also do away with the need to send out inspectors on collection duty.
Mr. Gonzales said “the biggest problem” the NMIS is facing is staffing and the anticipated retirement of 30% of its current work force in two to four years. — Janina C. Lim
