Sources & Methodology

These are the primary sources used across the site.

How sources are used

A link is not treated as proof merely because it appears on a government-looking page. We check the publisher, publication context, date, scope and whether the instruction still agrees with the live official process. Operational claims such as the current fee, number of IDs, payment methods and HIT timing are tied to the most relevant current NBI guidance available.

How we handle conflicting official information

Older Citizen’s Charter pages and newer how-to pages can remain online together even when their fee or workflow details differ. We do not silently combine incompatible figures. The guide identifies the conflict, gives priority to the current live transaction for an applicant’s actual payment, and preserves the older source only where it explains policy or historical procedure.

What community reports can and cannot prove

Forum posts and videos can reveal common points of confusion, interface changes or questions worth investigating. They do not establish an official fee, eligibility rule or guaranteed outcome. When community observations are mentioned, they should be labeled as experience rather than converted into a rule for every applicant.

Review and correction cycle

High-impact facts are rechecked against primary sources during meaningful updates. A page date is changed only when the page was actually reviewed or revised. Readers can report a disputed statement through the Corrections Policy process with the page URL and supporting official source.

Source hierarchy

1. Official NBI instructions and live official portals.
2. Official Citizen’s Charter pages and NBI announcements.
3. Other Philippine government sources when directly relevant.
4. Third-party/community observations only for user-experience context, and clearly labeled when used.