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The Bureau of Customs will partner with government agencies and stakeholders to address abandoned balikbayan boxes and go after erring forwarders
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BOC says it is drafting an order to mandate the registration of deconsolidators and the payment of a P2-million performance bond
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is partnering with government agencies and stakeholders to resolve the issue of abandoned balikbayan (personal effects) boxes.
In a meeting on August 3, the BOC together with the Office of the Executive Secretary and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) agreed to enter into a strategic partnership to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose balikbayan boxes have either been delayed or abandoned. The agreement extends to filing charges against erring freight forwarders.
BOC was represented in the meeting by acting deputy commissioner Michael Fermin of the Internal Administration Group. He and other BOC officials met with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and PAOCC Undersecretary Gilberto DC Cruz.
A joint memorandum agreement is also being finalized with the PAOCC, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), forwarders and other stakeholders to streamline processes, enhance coordination, and strengthen efforts to safeguard the welfare of OFWs and their balikbayan boxes, BOC said.
Toward this goal, the bureau said it is undertaking a number of measures, including the drafting of a Customs memorandum order, which mandates the registration of deconsolidators with the bureau.
RELATED READ: BOC eyes balikbayan box deconsolidators registration under draft memo
The measure, along with the proposed payment of a performance bond worth P2 million, will ensure responsible parties are held accountable and that the handling of balikbayan boxes is carried out with care and efficiency, according to the bureau.
BOC will also collaborate with the DMW to include comprehensive information about balikbayan box importation in the agency’s training program for OFWs. This initiative aims to educate OFWs about their rights, responsibilities and ways to protect their balikbayan boxes during shipping.
In addition, a social media information campaign will be intensified to empower the OFW community.
The partnership with the Office of the Executive Secretary and PAOCC was the subject of a meet
At the meeting, Fermin presented actions the BOC has taken to support OFWs and facilitate the release of their balikbayan boxes.
He cited the release of 36 containers of abandoned consolidated shipments, comprising 9,689 boxes, of which 9,011 have been distributed to their owners while 678 remain unclaimed due to insufficient information.
The BOC also filed 11 criminal complaints to unscrupulous forwarders involved in the alleged balikbayan box scheme.
