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The UNI Apro Post & Logistics Committee, meeting in Manila, had a good exchange of views with the CEO of PhilPost, Mr Hector Villanueva who came and addressed the meeting. He told the meeting that unless they wanted privatisation they needed to make sure the post company was making a profit, they needed to give incentives to the Government so they would want to keep their investment. One of the things the company needed to do to stay profitable was to modernise and use new technology. UNI told the Mr Villanueva that while unions weren't opposed to new technology and modernisation, they wanted to be consulted and to be able to ensure their members were re-skilled, retrained and given new jobs and the the work wasn't outsourced. Mr Villanueva gave assurances that the union would be an integral part of the decision making over modernisation.



He also told unions attending the UNI-Apro meeting that PhilPost was one of the first fully deregulated markets in the world where all post was subject to competition since 1991. He said the company was doing well competing with new entrants and in reality it was PhilPost that still had to provide the Universal Service, but that was now a difficult task with falling volumes of mail.



UNI urged PhilPost to urgently develop proper computer systems and outfit their post offices to be able to fully participate in the UPU's IFS system of remitting money. The Philippines is one of the largest markets for migrant workers and up to $US14billion is remitted back to the country, sadly much of it as cash in mail. Mr Villanueva said he was working to try and discourage this practice and to move to electronic funds transfer through Post Office but he needed financial partners for the capital investment that was requred.



A very useful question and answer session followed and UNI Apro thanked Mr Villanueva for coming and speaking freely to the meeting.

Mr Villanueva with UNI Apro, UNI P&L and the President of the Philippines PEUP union