A total of 130 Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) managers and staff completed a specialized training seminar led by international experts, as part of a regional initiative to modernize and professionalize postal services across the Asia-Pacific.
The three-day External Capacity Building Program was held from April 23 to 25 at Arden Hills in Quezon City, bringing together 50 in-person postmasters and personnel, along with nearly 80 more joining online nationwide.
The training was organized by the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) with support from the Government of India through its Department of Posts, one of APPU’s key development partners.
India’s foreign aid program funds training efforts like these to build capacity among postal workers across member countries, often as an alternative to more expensive overseas training trips.
“Training postal employees within the Philippines is often more cost-effective than sending them abroad, especially in terms of travel, accommodation, and other related expenses,” said Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos.
He emphasized the value of bringing foreign lecturers to local seminars, noting that, “Through collaborations with international partners, valuable knowledge and expertise can be shared and transferred to local participants.”
The seminar carried the theme “Best Practices in Managing Post Office” and featured sessions by Anucha Soonglertsongpha and Sandeep Kunnathodi Puthanveedu (Sandeep KP), both distinguished lecturers from the Asian-Pacific Postal College (APPC) in Bangkok.
Topics included customer relationship management, digital transformation of postal operations, operational efficiency, and postal marketing strategies.
PHLPost officials said the training is part of their broader initiative to transform the Philippine postal system into a more service-oriented and modernized government enterprise.
“PHLPost is truly honored to learn from leading experts and trainers from APPU as they share best practices in post office management,” said Carlos.
“These timely and valuable insights will surely help the postal service enhance our practices across our post offices nationwide,” he added.
Also present was Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh, Secretary General of the APPU, whose attendance underscored the regional significance of ongoing capacity-building efforts in the postal sector.
Singh praised PHLPost for its commitment to workforce development and noted the essential role of continuous learning in keeping postal services relevant in the digital era.
Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Bangkok, the APPU is a specialized agency of the Universal Postal Union and plays a key role in promoting cooperation among postal administrations in the Asia-Pacific region.
The collaboration between PHLPost, APPU, and APPC reflects a shared vision of advancing postal services through education, digitalization, and strategic reforms.
