What to do when you get a REGISTRY NOTICE from the Post Office (Philippines)

If you just received a registry notice such as the one below, then this post should help you know what to do.

Registry Notice from the Philippine Postal Corporation

As you already know, that little piece of paper is one hell of a vague object. You know it might refer to something important but it just doesn't give any clues as to what it is or what to do about it. Yes, it's got your name and your address and a "Claim at Window" but, where is that window? and why didn't they just deliver that thing to your address? They certainly know where you live! And the PhilPost website doesn't help either. It's "temporarily" down.

A few days ago, I received one just like that (though I should mention that this picture belongs to Cheftonio) and I was utterly confused. I tried to make sense of that little piece of paper but there's just nothing on it that I could understand. And so, I turned to Google, and after a few websites here is what I found out:

1. International packages are delivered to the Philippine Post Office and not to your address so these can be checked by the Philippine Customs.

Some items such as firearms and narcotics are prohibited entry to our country. In order to do this, Customs checks all incoming international deliveries. This is fine and rightly so but I've already received two shipments from Amazon.com that landed directly to my address. These were books and the package I personally picked up was a cosmetics kit so I don't know if they check by sender or by the look of the package. Are they allowed to actually open it?

2. They hold the package in the Post Office of the city indicated in the address, the main branch that is.

Because I indicated Quezon City, I had to get my package in the Philippine Central Post Office. And because Quezon City is such a large city, getting to their office posed another challenge.

As much as I wanted to just go to the branch 15 mins away from me, I didn't want to risk the hassle and disappointment. So I made sure which branch I should really go to. Thankfully, I got a number in one of the non-government websites and the lady who answered kindly referred me to the Central Post Office (for parcels). In case you need to call them, here is the number:

(02) 928-6443

Philippine Central Post Office

Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm

3. At the Post Office, they will take your Registry Notice so take a picture of it while you still can.

This is the reason I don't have a picture of my Registry Notice. The lady at the counter didn't give it back. Damn!

Anyway, if your address is in Quezon City, you should go to Window 37, the Parcel Section. This is at the left-most part of the Central Post Office in Quezon City. There, they will ask for your Registry Notice, a valid I.D. (a list can be found at the back of the Registry Notice) and a P50 Postal Fee. I don't know what the Postal Fee is for when I already spent time and money to pick up the parcel that they won't post to me.

It's a really simple process made difficult by the lack of information on that little piece of paper. If it was informative enough, I wouldn't be writing this post. I hope someone in authority realizes this.

Anyhow, I hope I helped you, reader, in some way.

Cheers!