The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has reminded the public that delays in international parcel deliveries are often caused by inspection and clearance procedures required before packages can be released for delivery.
According to PHLPost, overseas shipments arriving in the Philippines are first processed by the Bureau of Customs for inspection and verification.
The agency said customs authorities determine whether a parcel is subject to duties and taxes or requires additional documents and clearances depending on its contents.
Some packages are processed quickly, but others may take longer due to additional inspections or incomplete requirements such as proof of purchase, invoices, permits, or other supporting documents.
“Sa customer, parang tumigil na ang galaw ng parcel,” PHLPost said.
“Pero ang di nila alam, sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, ongoing pa pala ang required checking at clearance process bago ito maipasa for delivery,” the agency added.
[Translation: To customers, it may appear that the parcel has stopped moving. What they may not realize is that the required inspection and clearance process is still ongoing before the item can be forwarded for delivery.]
To improve transparency, PHLPost said it is strengthening its customer notification system.
Customers may receive notices through letters, text messages, or email if additional documents are needed to process and release their parcels.
The agency also advised recipients to immediately coordinate with their local post office upon receiving a notification to prevent further delays.
“Alam naming frustrating ang maghintay, lalo na kapag hindi malinaw kung nasaan na ang parcel,” PHLPost said.
“Kaya tuloy-tuloy naming pinapabuti ang communication at notifications para mas maintindihan ng customers ang journey ng kanilang parcel bago ito makarating sa kanilang doorstep.”
[Translation: We know it can be frustrating to wait, especially when it is unclear where the parcel is. That is why we continue improving communication and notifications so customers can better understand their parcel’s journey before it reaches their doorstep.]
