EMS Philippines: Commute and Package Getting

I had a relatively pleasant and smooth experience with getting my package from EMS compared to other accounts I heard and read about, all things considered. This post will be about my experience of commuting to EMS Philippines at Pasay, getting my package as well as my personal thoughts on the whole thing.

✲ COMMUTE

To EMS:

I live in Makati. I left the house at 9:15am on a Thursday morning in October (still the rush hour but not too heavy along Ayala Ave, also a weekday and not a peak month like December, which I assume is when lots of packages get delivered).

I took a tricycle to Ayala Ave. from my house and rode a jeepney to MRT Ayala Station. From there I rode the bus going to MIA/NAIA. Fare was 15 Php. I alighted at the footbridge just past Park N Fly and crossed it. I then walked toward PTT Gas Station adjacent to Park N Fly and walked along the side of the road until I reached the EMS/Philpost Office.

I wasn't able to take pictures but it's a familiar road to those who've traveled to the NAIA. The EMS address says it's along Domestic Road but the only signage I saw says it's MIA Road. The man I asked directions from told me to cross said large road and walk along the left side, because if you walk along the right, you'll be gambling your life crossing it.

From EMS:

Getting back, I simply took the same bus, only northbound. Fare was 14 Php and the ride felt shorter, possibly because we didn't pass by the MOA area. I alighted at Pasay Road in a fit of excitement (instead of underneath the MRT) but Ayala is Ayala. I wasn't going to get lost on home turf.

✲ PACKAGE GETTING

To retrieve a package from EMS, you must have:

• Notice Card from EMS
• Valid ID (2 for good measure)
• Cash (How much, exactly? CLICK HERE)

Optional but important so bring it anyway:

• a copy of your package's Tracking Number
• a photocopy of your Notice Card

The Notice Card looks like this

This list of acceptable IDs are listed at the back.

I arrived at EMS around 10.50am, went to the office located at the right (Customer Service/Window Delivery Unit) and presented my Notice Card as well as Valid ID (which was my passport). I was given a number and told to wait till it was called. When it was (some 10 minutes later), I was sent to the Bureau of Customs (located at the far left of the lot past the dilapidated buildings) because my package was subject to Customs Examination (as ticked on the Notice Card).

I once more presented my Notice Card and Valid ID to the officers in charge (helpful guard was helpful). At this point, my Notice Card already had a number written on it by the people at Customer Service and I was told to wait again till it was called and my package would be opened in front of me to be scrutinized by the Customs official.

The wait was honestly not long, perhaps because I was used to waiting in long queues. I had brought my trusty old iPad with me and read manga to pass the time. I arrived at the Bureau of Customs around 11am and was called to witness my package opening around 12.30 - 12.45pm.

After my package was opened and assessed, it was taped again with Philpost tape and I lined up by the assessment room to await how much tax I was going to pay. It didn't take too long for the officials to compute the price. Some 5 - 10 minutes later, one of the assessment people called my name, presented my bill and asked if I would pay it then and there.

The tax was roughly a third of the price I paid for the actual thing, like 33.3% (for the comprehensive breakdown, CLICK HERE). Since I had the cash, I said yes. The breakdown was rewritten on an official receipt and I paid for it. After paying, I presented the receipt to the officers in charge, signed their log book and got my package.

✲ PERSONAL THOUGHTS

I had steeled myself the night before for whatever horrors that may come with getting a package from Philpost. For the commute and EMS experience, I found these two blog posts to be particularly helpful.

In retrospect, I had no reason to be so anxious, especially during the package opening. The Customs official asked me how much I had paid for my package, and I feebly tried to claim it was 100 USD, but then she casually said "But it says it's ensured for 300 USD"

okay.jpg

Aside from asking the price, she asked what material my package was made out of and made random comments about how resin doll parts are expensive and not toys to be played with, etc. etc. thus making them expensive.

The officials were courteous, if a little slow to do their jobs, but overall okay. Nothing out of the ordinary, simply Filipino. It's not as bad as some blog posts make it out to be.

Was I scandalized at the tax I had to pay? Honestly no. I was actually relieved it was very, very close to what I estimated, but yes I could have done things to cut the costs. Lessons learned and all in all, not bad for a first time experience.