PhilPost, PhilWeb ink deal

From slow mail to speed mail.

The Philippine Postal Corp., the state-owned mail and parcel delivery service, has taken a giant step forward into the e-commerce age as it tapped Internet firm PhilWeb.com in establishing a network of private postal stations nationwie.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, PhilWeb chief information officer Roberto Valdes said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the company and PhilPost has been signed. The strategic partnership will allow PhilWeb to put up postal offices around the country and speed up the delivery of mail services.

"The private postal stations shall carry the brand SpeedMail Station and will offer hybrid Internet.surface mail services and traditional post office products where delivery and mail security will be greatly improved through proprietary Internet software technology," Valdes said.

He said the parcel and package pick-up requests from customers via the Internet will be likewise accepted at the SpeedMail stations, which will start operations this month.

With a network in over 200 cities and municipalities nationwide, the PhilPost stations will be expanded with the addition of approximately 500 SpeedMail stations in all major cities and capital towns by the end of this year, offering same day mail delivery in any location within the country.

Valdes did not give any figures on the estimated amount of investments PhilWeb will pour in for the project, but it is expected that this new venture will enable the company to tap new sources of revenues, other than its traditional Internet-based services such as Internet kiosks and pre-paid Internet cards. – Conrado Diaz Jr.