"Couriers should be subject to stringent monitoring as we live under the new normal."
Sometime last June, videos of mishandling of packages being handled by J&T Express went viral on social media. The videos showed personnel of the courier carelessly throwing parcels as they load them into a van, not minding if they get broken or damaged. One video even showed a J&T Express van moving along a busy street with a parcel left on top of the truck.
With complaints mounting against J&T, no less than President Rodrigo Duterte issued an order to investigate the courier for alleged mishandling of the packages entrusted to them by its customers, even threatening to shut down the company.
However, two months have passed and it seems no government agency has ever lifted a finger to investigate J&T over its alleged mishandling and malpractices.
A couple of days ago, another video, posted by a certain Lakas Pinas surfaced on social media showing a supposed client of the courier opening her package. The video showed a securely packed parcel inside a J&T Express packaging. When opened, the content was supposedly substituted as it yielded a piece of rock. Interestingly, the client even suspected the box in which the parcel was packed before it was sealed inside the J&T packaging, could have been substituted, as it came from another courier company.
I just can’t believe government authorities are turning a blind eye on the alleged mishandling and malpractices of some courier companies. As people start to rely more on online purchases under the new normal, the more these couriers should be subjected to strict monitoring.
Actually, a ranking member of the House of Representatives has already filed a resolution l seeking to probe illegal and unregulated courier, but which has been pending since last year.
Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, author of House Resolution No. 481 entitled “A Resolution Urging the House of Representatives of the Philippines to Call for an Inquiry in Aid of Legislation, Into The Proliferation of Unregulated Courier Operators,” while clarifying there is a need to support those who render courier services as they risk lives in delivering products and services to us during this pandemic, the consuming public also needs to be protected.
Recently, one Liberty Mugot Navales Arances posted her experience on social media regarding online purchase and delivery.
According to Arances, she bought a 32-inch television, but upon ordering the box, she discovered the screen was broken. She however did not give any details as to where she bought the tv and which courier delivered her unit.
Another online buyer, Ella Labasbas, provided a more detailed experience on online buying and delivery.
According to Labasbas’ post, she ordered a laptop from Dell Store through Shopee as she badly needed one to enable her to work from home. The package was delivered by Ninjavan.
However, upon opening the box, Labasbas said she was shocked to find out the package contained one marble slab.
A courier, identified as Teng Macalbog was apprehended as he was supposed to deliver 150 grans of shabu with a street value of P1 million in Barangay UP Campus, Quezon City last month.
Last Friday, a food delivery driver in Cebu City, identified as Balthazar Erañes, yielded P6.8 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation conducted by PDEA.
Incidents like these are not limited to the Philippines, said Atienza as according to news reports. A total of 376 people in Malaysia, including delivery riders, have been detained for various drug offenses at roadblocks set up when it implemented a movement control order in response to the COVID-19.
“As we rely more on online purchases and these couriers, there is really a need to regulate them so as to determine whose responsibility it is when a problem arises in the delivery of products acquired online,” said Atienza.
“Who will shoulder the responsibility for Arances’ broken TV screen and Labasbas’ fraudulent delivery, the seller, the online sellers’ platform, the app-based delivery operators, or the rider who was simply sub-contracted? How can we prevent couriers from being used by drug traffickers in the illegal drug trade?” Atienza asked.
The unregulated couriers include small players like those catering to on-demand delivery, like Grab Delivery and Grab Food, Transportify, Angkas Delivery and Lalamove which can be used as soon as people download their apps onto their smartphones.
Big-time players which lack the necessary requisites to operate in the Philippines also include Ninja Express Tech Philippines, or Ninja Van; the PH Global Jet Express, Inc or J&T Express and the AAI Logistics Cargo Express, Inc. or Black Arrow Express.
We are in the middle of a pandemic and there are issues that need to be attended to. And this particular issue needs to be included for this is part of the new normal. If even the President himself is calling for a probe, it could only mean it is of serious concern. This must be a priority.
