Technical Education and Skills Education Authority (TESDA) Deputy Director General Aniceto “John” Bertiz III has proposed training courses for couriers contracted by express delivery services, including handling protocols and security checks.

Bertiz said couriers, messengers, and drivers of express delivery services should be equipped with better training not only about handling protocols and security checks but also in negotiating road traffics against all types of weather condition.

“The sudden rise of express delivery services has resulted in an overwhelming number of complaints from the motorcycle riders and customers. For example, their customers have repeatedly complained about the poor handling of parcels and food delivered to their doorsteps,” he said.

“To date, we do not have any training courses for these Filipino courier/delivery drivers, also known as one of our frontline heroes. In response to that, the government through TESDA should aim to assist and protect express delivery services in undertaking the quality standard training of our courier drivers,” he added.

With the booming of e-commerce not only in the country but also elsewhere around the world due to the protracted lockdown brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Filipino families have turned to online shopping for their daily supply of basic necessities.

Official figures show that about 71% or 76 million of the total 124.2 million population are active internet users and 70% of those internet users are online shoppers for goods and services. In addition, 67% or 72 million use social media through their mobile phone for various purposes including online purchases, payment of bills, and mobile map services.

The former lawmaker explained that the prolong pandemic has also paved the way for high demand for efficient and reliable express delivery of goods and services such as documents, mails, parcels and fast food.

“Workers in the courier or logistic industry are under constant stress as they have to deliver parcels or food within a set time frame and in all weathers, having to book shifts and changing routes depending on delivery schedules, but without the benefit and protection of an employee-employer contract,” he said.

“Apart from this,” he further pointed out, “these couriers whether driving, cycling or walking have to adhere to health and safety requirements without the decent training on parcel or food handling and/or customer service.”

Bertiz, a known advocate of OFW rights, also noted that there is an increasing demand for courier workers around the world, which is a potential market for Filipino contract workers abroad.

As the government’s training arm, the TESDA has resources and infrastructures to conduct traditional and online courses not only limited to livelihood skills development but also other capacity-building skills training, such as those that seek to properly train couriers and drivers, among others.