The Philippine Postal Corporation will continue its Philippine butterflies definitive series with new stamps dated "2006" for use on international mails.

Due to the increase imposed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) on terminal dues, increase in special drawing right (SDR) conversion rate, increase in domestic cost and the imposition of the 12% value added tax (VAT), the international postage rates were increased effective March 6,2006.

All of the 12 stamps are modified version of the definitives issued in 2005. Each of the three blocks of four is denominated in the new rates to zones 1, 2 and 3 and they take on the butterflies each block is suppose to replace. Therefore the four P20.00 stamps featured the same butterflies that appeared on the P17.00 stamps; the four P24.00 stamps show the butterflies from the P21.00 stamps; and the four P26.00 stamps depict the butterflies featured on the P22.00 stamps before.

The butterflies featured are:

P20.00  -   (1) Idea electra electra

(2) Charaxes bajula adoracion

(3) Tanaecia calliphorus calliphorus

(4) Trogonoptera trojana

P26.00 -   (1) Parantica noeli

(2) Chilasa osmana osmana

(3) Graphium sandawanum joreli

(4) Papilio xuthus benguetanus

P24.00 -   (1) Cethosia biblis barangingi

(2) Menalaides polytes ledebouria

(3) Appias nero palawanica

(4) Udara tyotaroi

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Stamps and official first day covers will be available on the respective first day of issue of the three blocks of four, at the Philatelic Service, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, 1000 Manila and all regional offices of the Philippine Postal Corporation.