BOC VOWS TO DELIVER ABANDONED BALIKBAYAN BOXES TO FAMILIES OF OFWs

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is looking to deliver thousands of “balikbayan” boxes abandoned in a Manila port to the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in two months.

BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno issued the statement during the  inspection of more than 100 container vans loaded with balikbayan boxes at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Friday.

According to Nepomuceno, some of the balikbayan boxes have been at the port for several months, even more than two years.

The boxes contain food items and personal effects, among others.

Nepomuceno said they are also coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers for the release of the container vans to forwarders.

The BOC conducted the inspection of the abandoned balikbayan boxes along with the National Bureau of Investigation.

During the inspection, Nepomuceno announced that the BOC will suspend the privileges of at least 11 deconsolidators who abandoned the balikbayan boxes.

He emphasized that these companies will no longer be allowed to transact business with the BOC, ensuring that they cannot engage in handling balikbayan boxes in the future.

“We will hold them accountable for the mistakes or for abandoning their obligations to our OFWs,”  he said.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the release of the fund for the door-to-door delivery of the packages to their rightful owners nationwide.

For updates, the BOC advised the public to access https://customs.gov.ph/home/overseas-filipino-worker-ofw/.