MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has moved to resolve the long-standing issue of undelivered personal cargo, facilitating the release of abandoned balikbayan boxes to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. The distribution, which took place at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), aims to return shipments that were held in abeyance due to mismanagement by private freight forwarders.
The distribution drive was led by the agency’s Balikbayan and Overseas Filipino Workers Action Center, under the direction of Director Venus Apas.
The BOC clarified that many of these boxes were considered “abandoned” not because of the OFWs, but because the private forwarders tasked with their delivery failed to fulfill their obligations, leaving the cargo stuck at the port.
- Verification Process: Claimants underwent strict identification procedures supervised by the Action Center to ensure the boxes reached the rightful recipients.
- Bureau Intervention: Recognizing that many OFWs were victims of “unscrupulous freight forwarders,” the BOC intervened to bypass the logistical deadlock and deliver the personal items directly.
A major focus of the current initiative is addressing the legal side of the shipment delays.
- Makati Express Cargo: The BOC confirmed that it is actively supporting complaints filed by affected OFWs against Makati Express Cargo, a company linked to numerous cases of delayed or missing shipments.
- Legal Action: The agency is working with relevant government offices to pursue accountability against parties responsible for the non-delivery, seeking to prevent future occurrences of cargo mismanagement.
The BOC’s intervention is part of a broader mandate to protect the interests of Filipino workers abroad.
“By facilitating the recovery and distribution of these abandoned packages, the Bureau helps ease the burden on affected OFWs and their families,” the BOC said in an official statement.
To avoid future delays, the BOC and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recommend that OFWs:
- Check Forwarder Accreditation: Always verify if a freight forwarder is duly accredited by the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau.
- Monitor Balikbayan Box Status: Use the BOC’s online tracking system to check if the shipment has already arrived at the port.
- Report Issues Early: Contact the BOC Balikbayan Action Center immediately if a shipment is significantly delayed or if a forwarder becomes unresponsive.