Overjoyed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families are finally receiving their long-awaited balikbayan boxes, shipments that had been abandoned by negligent freight forwarders, following a coordinated government effort supported by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The emotional distribution marks the resolution of a protracted issue where deconsolidators and freight forwarders failed to deliver the boxes despite having collected payment from OFWs abroad. The Bureau of Customs (BOC), spearheading the release, clarified that these companies’ failure to fulfill their obligations caused the extensive delays.
To ensure accountability, the BOC assisted affected OFWs in filing formal cases with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on December 4 against the responsible freight forwarding companies. President Marcos has expressed full support for these efforts to assist OFWs victimized by fraudulent and irresponsible operators.
As of the latest update, 15 containers of abandoned balikbayan boxes have been released and are currently being delivered to their rightful owners. The BOC announced that an additional 21 containers are scheduled to be pulled out and processed this week.
In light of this incident, the BOC reminded the public, especially OFWs, to exercise greater vigilance in selecting freight forwarders. They advised verifying company legitimacy and being wary of offers with unrealistically low fees, which are often precursors to fraud.
The Bureau has committed to continuing its assistance by issuing official advisories and updates through its official platforms to keep the public accurately informed. The BOC reiterated its commitment to protecting OFW welfare and addressing such issues in a “transparent, orderly, and accountable manner.” #
