SecPa Documents and the Obsession with Long Lines

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Nowadays, most institutions ask for NSO (National Statistics Office) documents in Security Paper (SecPa).  Here in Bacolod City, you can acquire NSO SecPa documents by going to the NSO office and WAITING IN LINE for them.  Some people actually go to NSO as early as 3 in the morning because I think there is a limit as to the number of people that NSO can serve everyday.  Is it 300 people a day?  I'm not so sure.  But anyway, I cannot imagine myself waking up at 1 in the morning, riding a jeepney to the city at 2 in the morning and waiting in line from 3 in the morning until, probably, around 11AM.  And I don't think that there are jeepneys available in our area at 2AM. 

Image from phlist.com
I am in need of a SecPa document and I was thinking that there must be another option.  So I went to the website of NSO (which is www.census.gov.ph), and there I saw a link to http://nso.citizenservices.com.ph/ wherein you can acquire your SecPa documents by "ordering" them online, and then, your documents will be delivered at your doorstep. The service also has several payments options.  You can use your credit card, or Bancnet ATM card.  You can also pay through their Bayad Centers or at Metrobank (over the counter).  The service promised to have your document delivered in 2 to 3 working days through 2Go.  

And so, I tried the online NSO service, and true enough, it is very convenient.  I finished my transaction in 5 minutes. And then, the document is available by Wednesday (which is technically only 2 days since May 1 is a non-working holiday).  Yehey!  I saved myself from waking up at 1 in the morning!

What is this obsession with long lines anyway?  These long lines are not only true with NSO but with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), as well.  My husband got his NBI clearance two weeks ago.  He woke up at 4AM, left the house at 5AM, arrived at the NBI office at around 6AM.  When he got there, he was number 80.  There were 79 people ahead of him because some people actually SLEEP in front of the NBI office so that they could get in line first.  The NBI office actually opens at around 7:30AM and transactions start at around 8AM.

Are these situations also true in other countries?  Can anyone enlighten me on this one?

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