THE House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs on Tuesday (Feb 4) continued its inquiry into fraudulent practices in the cargo forwarding industry, exposing the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) alleged collusion with unscrupulous international and local forwarders.
OFW Party List Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino and COWA Chairperson Jude Acidre led the investigation, demanding accountability for missing and mishandled ‘Balikbayan Boxes’ that represent the hard-earned sacrifices of millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Testimonies from OFWs reveal disturbing patterns of delays, lost shipments, and outright extortion by cargo firms and their local deconsolidator partners. Some victims report being charged excessive fees for boxes they had already paid for, while others find their shipments auctioned off by the BOC under questionable circumstances and even resold to the rightful owners.
Vilma Silba, a former OFW for twenty years, narrated that her baggage was paid in Kuwait to a deconsolidator for around P50,000 for a door to door delivery, but was asked to pay another P29,500 in the Philippines for the baggage to be released and delivered to her. Until now, she has yet to get her baggages.
Rep. Magsino raised serious concerns over the BOC’s handling of these packages, questioning why legally owned boxes are being declared “abandoned” and sold to private bidders. Lawmakers press BOC officials for transparency, demanding a full accounting of auctioned ‘Balikbayan Boxes’, the identities of winning bidders, and whether affected OFWs have any recourse.
One major point of contention is the involvement of Monaliza Tan of Munique Rapid Trans, Inc., a firm reportedly profiting from auctioned ‘Balikbayan Boxes’. Allegations of collusion between BOC personnel and private entities fuel suspicions that these auctions serve as a cover for systemic corruption.
The hearing also revealed that certain cargo forwarders and deconsolidators knowingly participate in fraudulent schemes, leaving OFWs with little to no recourse. Lawmakers call for stricter regulations, including requiring cargo companies to provide delivery guarantees regardless of payment disputes, prohibiting additional fees from being charged to OFWs, and imposing heavy penalties on violators.
Rep. Magsino said, “Ang kanilang binibiktima’y mga OFWs na nagbayad na ng shipment fees at ngayo’y sinisingil na namang bayaran ng nanalong bidder ang mga balikbayan boxes na unang-una’y kanila naman talaga. Wari bang ginigisa ang mga OFWs sa sarili nilang mantika. Subali’t ang mas masakit, di-umano, ay ang patuloy na paglaganap ng korapsyon sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan at ang nabibiktima ay mga maliliit nating mamamayan gaya ng mga pangkaraniwang OFWs. We must put an end to these abuses. Cargo companies and customs officials who exploit OFWs must be held accountable.”
This issue remains a long-standing concern. In 2022, Rep. Magsino filed House Resolution 499 calling for an urgent and decisive action to address the mishandling, delay, and loss of ‘Balikbayan Boxes’. balikbayan boxes. The Committee held its first hearing last December 2024.
