The Department/Postal Regulation Committee received on 28 February 2000 two(2) letter-complaints from Philpost reporting that undelivered PEMEDES mail matters bearing the notation œReturn to Sender  were dropped at Philpost street mail boxes ostensibly for the disposition by Philpost, in violation of postal regulations.

The Committee in its investigation attended by the concerned PEMEDES firms and the Philpost Assistant Postmaster General for Operations, noted the following:

1.         The face of the envelopes used by the senders/clients of the PEMEDES firms contains a notice that œIf undelivered, please return to PO Box 2148 Makati Commercial Center Post Office.  Philpost is unwittingly used in a transaction which otherwise is the primary concern of PEMEDES firms only; and

2.         Several PEMEDES firms are of the perception that they can use the Philpost facilities for the disposition of their undelivered mails, for testing the deliverability of their mail matters through the given addresses, and for their other expedient uses, over the objection of Philpost.

Considering that such practices are not only inimical to the maintenance of harmonious relations among operators in the postal delivery service industry but are not responsive to the Department policy to further improve the quality of service of PEMEDES firms, it is hereby directed that effective immediately, all PEMEDES firms should refrain from accepting mail matters using PO Boxes of Philpost as the return address for their undelivered mails. In cases where mail matters have already been accepted from their clients with such return address, it is hereby directed that such notice be cancelled or stricken out on the face of the envelope. Henceforth, the use of the facilities of Philpost by PEMEDES firms in the delivery of the mail matters of their clients is strictly prohibited. Any violation hereof shall be subjected to the schedule of penalties; as follows:

FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE:

Penalty of Fine in the amount of Two Thousand Pesos (P2 ,000.00)

FOR THE SECOND OFFENSE:

Penalty of Fine in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos

FOR THE THIRD OFFENSE:

Cancellation of the authority issued by the Department to operate private express and/or messengerial delivery service.

This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the filing of three (3) copies hereof with the U.P. Law Center, in accordance with Presidential Memorandum Circular No. 11 dated October 9, 1992.

Adopted: 5 April 2000

(SGD.) VICENTE C. RIVERA, JR.
Secretary