A TOTAL of 1,996 unpaid and abandoned balikbayan boxes have been distributed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to their intended recipients since July this year, 1,667 of which were delivered while 329 boxes were picked up by consignees at designated warehouses.
The delivered packages included 1,450 boxes consigned to CMG International Movers and Cargo Services.
The 30 remaining boxes remain undelivered due to incomplete information, no confirmation or no response was received from recipients/senders.
The BOC also processed 1,154 balikbayan boxes consigned to Island Kabayan Express, 329 of which were picked up by recipients at Portnet Logistics Warehouse in Sta. Ana, Manila.
Subsequently, the BOC endorsed the remaining 825 boxes to the Door-to-Door Consolidators Association of the Philippines (DDCAP) for immediate delivery.
As of date, 217 parcels have been successfully delivered, 310 are out for delivery, and 210 are for dispatch.
The 16 containers with 4,625 balikbayan boxes consigned to Win Balikbayan Cargo LLC (All Win) are currently under the custody of the Association of Bidders at the Bureau of Customs (ABBC) at Hobart Warehouse in Balagtas, Bulacan.
Several boxes were already distributed and picked up by consignees from the warehouse in Bulacan.
The BOC intends to deliver the remaining unclaimed packages, particularly those bound for Visayas and Mindanao.
The BOC also extended the claiming of boxes at the Hobart Warehouse for another two weeks upon the request of consignees.
Pick-up schedule shall be announced once ABBC completes the inventory of the balikbayan boxes on Nov. 9.
During the meeting between BOC and ABBC on Monday, the BOC proposed the creation of a joint team that will implement a system for the efficient and speedy release and delivery of balikbayan boxes.
The BOC has warned Filipino workers abroad to be vigilant against dubious freight forwarders that continue to victimize Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
Aligned with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, the Bureau would continuously work to ensure the distribution of balikbayan boxes to the families of OFWs in time for the Christmas Season.
