Gov't launches 'selfie' stamps

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government today launched personalized stamps or " selfie" stamps in this resort island.

State-run Philippine Postal Corp. (PHILPOST) said Boracay Island is one of the 12 tourism destinations where tourists may have their photos or "selfies" taken and used for their personalized stamps.

"A tourist will have to go to a PHILPOST booth to have their picture taken. They will then be given a copy of their personalized photo stamps which they can use when they send letters anywhere in the country via our postal offices," said PHILPOST Manager Enrique Tagle.

PHILPOST said it decided to roll out "selfie" stamps featuring people's faces to enable local post offices to compete with e- mails and remain competitive.

"Selfies," which refer to the practice of taking photographs of one's self using a smart phone, has become popular with the advent of social media websites.

Tagle said letters being sent via postal offices are declining by 10 percent annually.