FOLLOWING the reported “colorum” courier services being operated by foreign companies, the House of Representatives and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) both agreed to regulate the couriers and freight forwarding services in the country.
During the 2020 budget briefing of the DICT last Tuesday, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gringo Honasan said there is need to regulate couriers and freight forwarding services to protect consumers from unscrupulous and unlicensed companies.
“We already noticed this complicated situation,” Honasan conceded, in reply to lawmakers.
Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza called the attention of DICT on the reported foreign colorum courier services that are doing business in the country.
According to Atienza, there is a growing problem in this industry particularly with the entry of illegal couriers which are mostly foreign-owned. He said there’s really need to regulate it, considering that 67 percent of Filipinos are on the Internet.
Atienza added that government agencies should also look into these companies that are reportedly operating without proper license.
The lawmaker said since the e-commerce and courier industry is growing fast, there is a need to protect the consumers and users of these products that are ordered online and delivered to their houses and offices.
Atienza added that there are instances when these couriers are used illegally.
He said some of these services are found to be violating the 60-40 constitutional limits on foreign ownership.
The lawmaker said since they operate as a public service or convenience, logistics companies are supposed to be covered by the 60-40 ownership rule.
Probe sought
Meanwhile, Atienza said he is now preparing a resolution directing a House committee to look into the colorum operators, which he described as a syndicate, because of their effect on the legitimate courier and forwarding companies.
“If we start our investigation, will you cooperate? Ano na bang ginagawa ng DICT [What is DICT doing] to protect the consumers from these illegal couriers?” Atienza asked.
“We will start a Congressional hearing, to look into this deeper so that together we can formulate whatever effective laws,” he added.
For his part, Honasan said his agency is already conducting a study and its own investigation to determine those behind the illegal operation.
“We will fully cooperate and participate in any congressional inquiry,” Honasan stressed.
Atienza said, “If we need to craft a law to regulate the courier services to protect the consumers and the small-time players in the industry, we will have to do it.”