Courtesy: BOC fb page
Davao City, Philippines – In a significant development for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Davao has announced the successful delivery of all 732 abandoned Balikbayan boxes that were left at the port by unscrupulous freight forwarders.
This milestone is part of the government’s ongoing initiative, directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and supported by Department of Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go, to expedite the release and delivery of these long-awaited packages to their rightful recipients.
Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno highlighted the BOC’s strengthened measures to protect Filipino citizens. “We are continuously reinforcing our steps to protect our countrymen,” Commissioner Nepomuceno stated. “We are coordinating with various agencies, formulating policies to prevent such problems from recurring, and enhancing our help desks and dialogue platforms to expedite services and promptly address the concerns of OFWs.” He further emphasized that thanks to the support and compassion of President Marcos Jr. and Finance Secretary Go, the door-to-door delivery of these Balikbayan boxes to OFWs and their families was achieved without any additional cost to the recipients.
Commissioner Nepomuceno reaffirmed the BOC’s steadfast commitment to OFWs, prioritizing their welfare. The agency aims to provide faster, more reliable, and humane services.
Across the nation, a total of 35,476 Balikbayan boxes have now been delivered, including the 732 from Davao. Significant progress has also been made at other ports: the Port of Manila has completed the delivery of all 70 boxes, the Manila International Container Port has distributed 18,027 out of 24,123 boxes with 6,096 still in transit, the Port of Cebu has delivered 13,948 out of 14,340 boxes with 392 in transit, and the Port of Subic has delivered 2,699 out of 2,798 boxes with 99 currently being delivered.
During the activity, several OFWs shared their experiences of long waits and expressed profound gratitude to the BOC for the eventual receipt of their packages.
Commissioner Nepomuceno also recognized the Port of Davao, under the leadership of District Collector Maita S. Acevedo, for its efficient coordination and swift action that were instrumental in completing all deliveries. The BOC assures the public that efforts to expedite the delivery of remaining Balikbayan boxes nationwide will continue, alongside strengthened measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The public is reminded to transact only with legitimate and accredited consolidators and to remain vigilant against scams.
