RETURN TO SENDER/RTS MAIL MATTERS OF PRIVATE EXPRESS AND/OR MESSENGERIAL DELIVERY SERVICE (PEMEDES) MAILED OR RETURNED THRU THE FACILITIES/PO BOXES OF THE PHILIPPINE POSTAL CORP…

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 “Return 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 “If 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