Anthrax or e-mail? Yule snail mail volume down 10%

Was it the threat of anthrax, the convenience of e-mail, or simply hard times that led to a 10 percent drop in Christmas snail mail?

The volume of mail and packages sent through the Philippine Postal Corp. during the Yuletide season decreased by 10 percent, Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) chief Love Joy Matias said yesterday.

Matias attributed the decrease to two factors — the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and the economic slump worldwide.

"Compared to last year, there was a 10 percent decrease (in the volume of mail and packages) received and dispatched by the Post Office," Matias told The STAR.

Matias also said that electronic mail (e-mail) has something to do with the decrease in the volume. "We have to agree that electronic mail has affected not only the Philippine postal system but the system worldwide as well," he said.

Under the ordinary mailing system, letters mailed in a Manila post office take several days to reach the provinces. Electronic mail, on the other hand, can reach the recipient in a click of a computer key.

He, however, expressed confidence that the regular mail system would not be replaced by electronic mail.

"There’s no substitute for personal handwriting, which has a personal touch," added Matias, who noted that the postal office has received and dispatched some 600 million letters from January to October 2001.

"That’s just goes to show that we still need the postal office," he stressed.

Some observers also noted that the scare of anthrax could have also contributed to the decrease. "Natatakot kasi ang mga tao na ma-anthrax (People are also afraid of anthrax)."

At the same time, Matias revealed their plans to implement "high-breed" and express mail to compete with commercial e-mail.

Under the express mail, a sender could have confirmation on whether his mail or package has already been received by the recipient. "We have to meet the demands of the customers, who want proof of delivery," he said.

"In implementing the high-breed mail, we have considered affordability, though it would cost higher than the cost of conventional mail," Matias noted.