The Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office III (DTI-3) reminded families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) from Central Luzon to be vigilant in monitoring Balikbayan boxes sent by their relatives from abroad. Based on the data from the Philippine Statistical Authority for 2012, Central Luzon has the second highest number of OFW at 294,000 or 14.4% of all Filipino OFWs sent abroad.
DTI-3 Director Judith P. Angeles reiterated that OFW families can monitor their Balikbayan boxes through the internet, by logging in the Bill of Lading number of their Balikbayan boxes at the following websites:http://www.dti.gov.ph/dti/index.php/resources/listings/ Balik Bayan box tracker or at http://customs.gov.ph/balikbayan-box-tracker-101/.
The lists of accredited and blacklisted freight forwarders are also available at the DTI listings page. The list includes the contact persons and details of the forwarders for easier monitoring. There are fifty six (56) accredited sea freight forwarding companies accredited by the DTI as of March 6, 2015.
Recent complaints have reached the department regarding the delay in the delivery or loss of Balikbayan boxes sent through unscrupulous freight forwarders. The DTI may assist complaints from OFWs or their consignee relatives through the Business Licensing and Accreditation Division (BLAD), formerly the Philippine Shippers Bureau of DTI. BLAD can be contacted through the DTI Hotline 02 751.3330.
Posted By: Edrillan Pasion
