Philpost Modern History with First Female PMG

History

The Philippine postal system has a history spanning over 250 years. The first post office was established in the city of Manila in 1767. It was organized under a new postal district of Spain in 1779, encompassing Manila and the entire Philippine archipelago. In 1783, the postal service was organized in the Philippines-overseas mail from the Philippines was conveyed to Europe by Spanish ships via eastbound routes through Mexico. Later on, the postal district was re-established on December 5, 1837. After a year, Manila became known as a leading center of postal services within Asia. Spain joined the Universal Postal Union in 1875, which was announced in the Philippines two years later.

During the Philippine Revolution, President Emilio Aguinaldo ordered the establishment of a postal service to provide postal services to Filipinos during that time. On September 5, 1902, it was organized as a bureau under the Department of Trade (currently known as Department of Trade and Industry) by virtue of Act No. 426, which was passed by the Philippine Commission. The Philippines finally joined the Universal Postal Union in January 1, 1922 as a sovereign entity.

The Manila Central Post Office Building, the center of the Philippine postal services and the headquarters of then-Bureau of Posts, was completed in 1926. It was destroyed during World War II (1945) but was rebuilt in 1946, after the war.

The Manila Central Post Office located at LiwasangBonifacio is a neo-classical building designed by two American architects and a Filipino namely: Ralph Doane, Tomas Mapua, and Juan Marcos de Guzman Arellano. The Post Office Building was considered as the grandest building during its time, and is now considered as one of the dominating landmarks in Metro Manila.

With the overhaul of the Philippine bureaucracy in 1987, the Bureau of Post was renamed the Postal Service Office (PSO) by the virtue of Executive Order No. 125 issued by then-President Corazon Aquino on April 13, 1987. It was also that order which placed PSO under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). On April 2, 1992, by virtue of the Republic Act No.7354 issued by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, PSO became a government owned and controlled corporation named as the Philippine Postal Corporation of more commonly known today as PHLPost.

Milestones

1767-The first post office was established in the City of Manila.
1926-The Manila Central Post Office was built in its present neo-classical architecture.
1942-During the Japanese occupation, the then- Bureau of Posts was reopened, although the letters were censored.
1946-The Manila Central Post Office was rebuilt after World War II.
1948-The postal service and telecommunication facilities in the Philippines were considered the most modern at that timein Asia. For example, the airmail service was inaugurated in our country ahead of any other countries in Asia.
1992-The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost), a government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for providing postal services in the Philippines, was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 7354, otherwise known as the Postal Service Act of 1992.
2000-The improved Central Mail Exchange System (CMEC) is now capable of computerizing and modernizing the sorting of all incoming and outgoing mail matters handled by PHLPost.
2004-PHLPost was placed under the Commission on Information and Communications Technology per Executive Order 269.
2011-PHLPost was placed under the Office of the President per Executive Order 47, signed by President Benigno Aquino III. The President also appointed former Bulacan governor Ma. Josefina Dela Cruz as the new Postmaster General, the first woman to hold this position in t he history of the Philippine Postal Service.
2012-Under the able leadership of the first female Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Ma. Josefina M. Dela Cruz and PHLPost Chairman of the Board Cesar N. Sarino, the postal service remains committed to serve the public with honesty, integrity and quality of service.

PHLPost Modern History

2011

Achieved a financial turnaround, and since then, the corporation reported an increasing trend in its net income.
Underwent rebranding, from Philpost to a new and improved PHLPost, with the tagline: You send. We Deliver.
Prioritized reconciliation efforts with the GSIS to restore the active membership status of affected employees all over the country.
Forged partnership with private companies and organizations to scale-up operations, increase revenue streams, and link communities for social inclusion.
Strengthened government to government relations to bring services closer to the Filipinos.

2012

Implemented the Rationalization Plan for a sustainable, market-driven, and customer-centric organization.
Remitted PhP10 million worth of dividend to the National Government out of its 2011 income for the first time since its incorporation in 1992.
Ventured into logistics and warehousing business, with a three year refleeting program to ensure efficient delivery of communications and goods up to the last mile.
Migrated from paper-based to electronic postal money order; from manual and mechanical units to use of networked digital postage meter machines.
Expanded the postal network as major mall chains open postal counters, while private individuals become PHLPost’s partner in postal stations.

2013

Received Comelec commendation for 100% efficiency in the delivery of election paraphernalia.
PHLPost garnered a 93.97% rating in its performance agreement with the Governance Commission for GOCCs.
Introduced modern printing technology to renew interest in philately.
Institutionalized a postal awareness campaign, Sulat Mulat, to revive the art of letter writing.
Supported the continuing education of employees through an educational assistance program for masteral and specialized courses.

2014

Achieved global recognition after winning the World Mail Awards 2014 for People Management held in Germany, and a finalist in Post Expo Technology Award 2014 in Sweden.
Migrated from issuing laminated card type to a new Postal ID made of PVC with multiple security features.
Opened the first Government Procurement Service Hub in CDO.
Introduced the Selfie Stamps
PMG Josie Dela Cruz became the first Asian official appointed in the international payment gateway, Eurogiro Board.

2015

Implemented the Domestic Mails Tracking System for real time and complete events tracking.
Inaugurated the first temperature-controlled warehouse.
Singing Karteros became a hit.
Deputized as a collecting agent of Bureau of Customs to expedite delivery of mails and parcels.

Source: PHLPost