Interacting with My Local Government

It was my birthday on the second day of this year. Intent on getting much needed rest, I wasn´t paying much attention to my other concerns during my birthday. Two weeks later a colleague of mine mentioned that she had just gotten her driver´s license renewed. That struck a chord of uneasiness in me, so I inspected my own driver´s license. Sure enough, it had expired on my birthday.

So I steeled myself to performing the indomitable chore that is known in our country as: Going to a Government office and applying for something.

It has always been the same experience for me no matter whichever government office I went to. Inefficiency and lassitude run rampant.

So I steeled myself for what was to come, expecting the least and worst of the people I would have to meet.

Sure enough, when I got to the provincial LTO office, it did not disappoint me. I was kept waiting for half an hour more than was necessary. Thinking on it, it wasn´t so bad. Maybe they learned some efficiency in the last three years. The medical test was fine and I was approved to get a license by the doctor. But when the time came that I was to fill up the application form and submit it, I was told that I needed to present a government issued ID with my Tax number on it. I wondered, why do I need an ID with my Tax number on it? I wasn´t going to drive a cab. My license was non-professional. Then I thought. ¨ah! of course! They want something to ´grease´ the wheels¨. I couldn´t be party to that, so I abandoned that idea.

Instead I went to a satellite office inside a shopping mall, where the people are friendlier. There was only a moment of sheer panic, when the cashier asked her boss if my medical certificate was ok (since it was taken from the provincial clinic), but it was approved and in short order, I had my shiny new license.

I must admit I was surprised by the efficiency of that satellite office. And the courtesy of the people who worked there as well. It made them seem like a private company.

How I just wish our whole government was that way. Concerned with the people they serve, instead of lining their own pockets.

Dream on.