DOF, BOC send off abandoned balikbayan boxes

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have successfully completed the delivery of all abandoned balikbayan boxes left by cargo handlers at the Ports of Manila and Davao, with a total of 25,818 boxes released to Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFWs) families nationwide as of March 23, 2026.

In a ceremonial distribution held yesterday, March 24, the BOC also said 13,842 out of the 14,279 abandoned balikbayan boxes at the Port of Cebu, or about 97%, have been successfully delivered nationwide as of yesterday.

Finance Secretary Frederick Go emphasized the government’s responsibility to ensure that every hard-earned balikbayan box reaches its rightful owner, adding that those accountable for any irregularities must be held liable.

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to expedite the delivery of remaining shipments, noting that the successful clearance of the Ports of Manila and Davao demonstrates steady progress in the nationwide effort.

Nepomuceno said the BOC will now shift its focus to the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Port of Cebu to complete all pending deliveries.

Data from authorities showed that 13,842 boxes have been released in Cebu, 8,475 at the MICP, 2,699 in Subic, 732 in Davao, and 70 at the Port of Manila.

A total of 15,084 boxes remain scheduled for release, the bulk of which are from the MICP with 14,487 boxes, while 498 are still pending in Cebu.

L98 Brokerage chief executive officer Leslie Lim said in a separate interview that her firm assisted in the distribution of 8,707 out of the 13,842 balikbayan boxes intended for Cebu consignees.

“Sure g’yud mi na ma-receive,” Lim said, adding that the company is strictly following the proper procedures to ensure that the boxes are delivered to the correct recipients.

Lim explained that the delays were caused by multiple factors, including the involvement of several consolidators rather than a single forwarder.

In one instance, she noted that the owner of a forwarding company passed away, leading to changes in management and operational disruptions that contributed to the backlog. It took several months before the affected balikbayan boxes were eventually processed and released.

The ceremonial turnover of 30 in Cebu marked the final phase of delivering the remaining abandoned balikbayan boxes stored at the port.

Go and Nepomuceno personally led the turnover of boxes in Cebu, where 30 OFWs and their families received their long-delayed boxes. Beneficiaries expressed relief upon finally receiving their packages.

DOF and Customs vowed to pursue estafa and cyberlibel charges by next week against 11 forwarders in the Philippines, who caused the abandonment of these balikbayan boxes.

To prevent similar incidents, the BOC said it is drafting a Customs Administrative Order that would tighten regulations on freight forwarders, including a proposal requiring companies to post a ?2-million bond to ensure financial accountability.

BOC also coordinated with Philippine embassies in Qatar and Kuwait to warn OFWs against dubious freight forwarders and to monitor overseas operations linked to reported violations.

Nepomuceno reminded OFWs, particularly those sending boxes through Cebu, to be cautious of extremely low shipping fees, transact only with reputable freight forwarders, demand official receipts and reference numbers, and report suspected scams to authorities to avoid falling victim to similar schemes. — (FREEMAN)