PhilPost to the public: Send Christmas mail early

Manila Central Post Office at night (Wiki Commons)

MANILA — The Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) is urging the public to send their letters, cards, parcels and presents to their relatives and friends earlier to arrive in time for Christmas.

Postmaster General Josefina Dela Cruz said that people should send their gifts or cards in advance to avoid delay, considering that the volume of mail triples during Christmas time.

Likewise, PhilPost issued the following advisory on Christmas mailing schedule of different kinds of mail — express mail, registered mail, ordinary mail and parcel (domestic and international):

For Domestic — Express Mail (should be sent not later than Dec. 15); Registered Mail (not later than Dec. 10); Ordinary Mail (not later than Dec. 11); Parcel (not later than Dec. 10).

For International (via Air) – Express Mail (not later than Dec. 14); Registered Mail (not later than Dec. 1); Ordinary Mail (not later than Dec. 8); Parcel (not later than Dec. 1).

For International (via Surface) – Ordinary and Parcel (not later than Nov. 14).

International Express Mail Service is the fastest means of sending time-sensitive items to addresses abroad. Any articles such as documents, samples of merchandise and goods, not specifically prohibited by regulations, can be sent via IEMS. Currently, the Philippines has a bilateral agreement with 45 countries for the reciprocal exchange of EMS items.

Domestic Express Mail Service (DEMS) is the fastest means of sending urgent messages, business documents or goods to addresses within the Philippines. Generally, DEMS items are delivered the next day after the date of mailing provided that they are posted on or before the prescribed cut-off time. Currently, the service is available in all major cities and towns nationwide.

Letter Post items include letters and post-cards weighing not more than two kilos can be accepted in post offices and postal stations for delivery locally or any part of the world. Letters are first class mails which are either ordinary, priority or registered.

Ordinary Mail includes all unrecorded items which are charged the basic postage and delivered through the regular delivery channels. Mails are classified into first, second and third class.

Priority Mail is a next-day delivery of unrecorded mails in Metro Manila and selected cities and towns nationwide if posted on or before 3:00 P.M.

Registered Mail is accorded mail security with the entire process being recorded from acceptance to delivery to the addressee. As proof of delivery, the sender may attach a registry return receipt to be signed by the recipient. Indemnity is paid in case of loss or damage of registered mail.

Parcel Post is a convenient means of sending non-perishable foodstuff, handicrafts and other merchandise to addressees within the country and abroad. This service is available in all post offices nationwide. Parcel may be sent via air or surface means.

Air Parcel Post is the fastest means of sending parcels to foreign countries. This service is available only in countries with which the Philippines has bilateral agreements.

Surface Parcel Post is the cheapest means of sending parcels to foreign countries with which the Philippines has bilateral agreements. Surface parcels may be sent to countries where the Philippines has no bilateral agreements only through the intermediary of the United States of America.