MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has partnered with private freight forwarders to deliver nearly 3,000 abandoned “balikbayan” boxes to the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) across the country, officials announced Friday.
The BOC has coordinated with the Door-to-Door Consolidators Association of the Philippines (DDCAP) to distribute 2,954 boxes, recently turned over to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), to their rightful recipients. These boxes, sent by OFWs to their loved ones, were left unclaimed after being mishandled by unscrupulous freight forwarders.
BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla, the agency’s spokesperson, said the initiative ensures that families, even in remote areas, receive their packages without needing to travel to DMW warehouses. “We provided the link with DMW so that those in remote areas don’t have to come here, and our friends in DDCAP will deliver it to them,” Maronilla said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
To ease the burden on recipients, the BOC has waived all associated charges for the boxes. “We inspected the balikbayan boxes and found a way to waive the charges,” Maronilla said. “We created a scheme to avoid additional burden on our OFWs. They initially paid for it, and they do not need to pay more charges again caused by those who defrauded them.”
The BOC, with the approval of the Department of Finance, declared the boxes forfeited and formally donated them to the DMW through a signed Deed of Donation. The turnover ceremony took place Thursday at the Port of Davao.
Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio emphasized the emotional significance of the boxes, which contain gifts and essentials sent by OFWs to their families. “These boxes were originally sent by OFWs to their loved ones but were left unclaimed after being mishandled and abandoned by unscrupulous freight forwarders,” Rubio said.
In response to the issue, the BOC has filed cases against erring forwarding companies and is working with lawmakers to craft stricter regulations. Maronilla noted ongoing collaboration with Rep. Jude Asidre, chairman of the Committee on Overseas Workers, and OFW party-list Rep. Marissa del Mar to develop a law imposing stronger penalties on those exploiting OFWs.
The initiative reflects the BOC’s commitment to supporting Filipino migrant workers and ensuring their families receive the care packages they sent, often at great personal sacrifice.
