A LEGISLATOR has called for an investigation into the proliferation of unregulated courier delivery services, adding that most of these couriers are foreign-owned and without local partners.
Representative Jose L. Atienza, Jr. of BUHAY Party List said Thursday at a news conference that he is seeking quicker action on House Resolution 481 to investigate foreign couriers and pass a law that will regulate the industry.
The resolution states that “modern information and communications technology are being used by unscrupulous foreign couriers” which “has placed legitimate freight and courier services companies in an unfair situation of competing against unregulated and fly-by night operators.”
“Di napupuna, walang nakakapuna pero maraming nangyayari dito na kailangan paki-alamanan ng gobyerno (The government has not taken note but lots of things have been happening and the government must come in). Government has to take control otherwise, baka mga consumer ay malugi, mga motorcycle driver maperwisyo, ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno walang pananagutan sapagkat karamihan sa kanila ngayon, walang lisensya, walang permit (The consumer and motorcycle drivers could be disadvantaged, and the industry is not accountable to government because many of them are unlicensed)” Mr. Atienza said.
Asked what the Department of Information and Technology is currently doing on the matter, he said: “Monitoring. Supportive of the effort. So the thing is for us to hurry it up para mawala na yung reasoning na hindi kami makagalaw dahil walang batas (To rule out the excuse that no one can act in the absence of a law). Let’s give them a real reason to go after the offenders” Mr. Atienza said.
According to a member of staff with the House Committee on Trade and Industry, there are no scheduled hearings to tackle the resolution yet, but the Committee could hold a meeting next year. — Genshen L. Espedido
