FIXERS

Earltrain wrote:

What are "fixers" and what do they fix? I keep hearing that word but still not sure what they do. Anyone?

A 'fixer' is someone who can do the hard yards for you when you perhaps apply for a visa, or try to rent an apartment. They have, or are supposed to have insider knowledge of the ins and outs of what is needed and often have colleagues working in the various departments. You have to pay them a fee for their services. They are not unique to the Philippines either. Lots of other countries, principally Asian have them too.

In the USA they work at the horse tracks in conjunction with betters and/or bookies.

Section 4 of the Philippines Republic Act 9485, defines a “fixer” as any individual whether or not officially involved in the operation of a government office or agency who has access to people working therein, and whether or not in collusion with them, facilitates speedy completion of transactions for pecuniary gain or any other advantage or consideration.

Section 4 of the Act states: Criminal Liability for Fixers. – In addition to Sec. 11 (b), fixers, as defined in this Act, shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment not exceeding six years or a fine not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

Fixers more often than not take you money to do things for you, but do they do anything faster in reality.  Rarely would it be cheaper.

Don’t use one.
On the advice of a Relative, many years ago. Because of time pressure. We employed one to renew our Son’s Philippine Passport.
It cost a lot of Money, and we never received the Passport.
Philippine bureaucracy is better now than it was then. So do it yourself.