Probe into abandoned balikbayan boxes pushed
SENATOR Lito Lapid has sought an investigation, in aid of legislation, on thousands of balikbayan boxes of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that did not reach their respective families and were abandoned in different warehouses.
In Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 950, Lapid said it is imperative “to identify the companies responsible for abandoning their duty of delivering these boxes to the families here in the Philippines, hold them accountable, and impose necessary sanctions to prevent further damage to the OFW community.”
“The reported abandonment of balikbayan boxes not only undermines the sacrifices of our OFWs but also poses a threat to the well-being of their families, who eagerly anticipate the arrival of these boxes as a connection to their loved ones abroad,” Lapid said.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently identified foreign and local companies suspected of abandoning balikbayan boxes sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The BOC said these companies have derogatory records.
Identified foreign forwarding firms or consolidators were the Kabayan Island Express Cargo, Allwin Cargo, Manila Cargo, Mediacom Express Cargo, Pinoy Network Cargo, GM Multi Services Cargo, Sel Air Cargo, Sky Freight and CMS General Services.
Named local forwarders or deconsolidators, on the other hand, were the Luzon Cargo, FBV Forwarders and Logistics, Cargoflex Haulers, Rensworld Freight Logistics, CMG International Movers, ETMAR International Logistics, KC Door to Door Delivery Services and FGTI Forwarding Services, Cebu Cargo, Pinas Cargo, Goldwings Cargo, Cotabato Cargo, Phil Pacific Cargo, Manila Express, Al Delta Cargo and others.
In 2023, the BOC filed a total of 11 cases against 10 companies for their failure to deliver balikbayan boxes. Within these warehouses, there were hundreds of balikbayan boxes languishing in the warehouses for seven months up to two years.
Reports said some undelivered balikbayan boxes are allegedly being sold online.
The balikbayan box abandonment has been a problem for a long time.
In the shipment of balikbayan boxes, there are foreign-based “consolidators” that handle the shipments from those sending them from abroad, and there are “deconsolidators” – their counterparts in the Philippines that handle the boxes once they arrive.
Unscrupulous forwarders exploited OFWs through lower shipping fees, but they did not have any counterpart local deconsolidator.
These deconsolidators were supposed to undertake the clearance processes and the balikbayan boxes’ delivery.
