OFWs in Hong Kong to stage rally vs Customs

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong will rally today against Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina’s “oppressive” taxation and inspection of balikbayan boxes.

The Network of OFWs Opposed to Excessive Government Fees coalition (NO Fees coalition) and Migrante Hong Kong will jointly lead the rally. The affiliates of Bayan Hong Kong and Macau will also participate in the protest.

The OFWs will gather at 11 a.m. on Chater Road, hold a program until noon, and then march to the Philippine consulate general for a short program that will last until 1 p.m., according to Migrante Hong Kong.

Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante party-list chair, said the P600-million target collection of the Bureau of Customs serves as the BOC’s license to ransack balikbayan boxes or impose other tax schemes.

“Our main demand today is for the Aquino government to retract its P600-million target collections on OFWs’ balikbayan boxes now,” Regalado said.

BOC officials said they are drawing up revised guidelines regarding the handling of balikbayan boxes. The new rules may be out by next week.

Regalado noted that while the BOC agreed to stop the random inspection of balikbayan boxes, “we have received reports from families who still received inspected boxes even after the BOC order was issued.”

Last Friday, Migrante International held a “zero remittance day” also in protest of Lina’s directive to open balikbayan boxes.

Regalado said the OFWs would also hold a “zero vote campaign” against candidates of the administration in the coming elections if the government would not heed their call.

“Our message is clear. The migrant sector is a force to reckon with. Those who have insulted us will feel the brunt of OFWs and their families’ ire this coming election season,” she said.

“Let the zero remittance day serve as a preview of the migrant sector’s unity come election time,” she added.

Malacañang said yesterday it respects the freedom of the OFWs to express their sentiments, but hopes that OFWs would also participate intelligently in the coming elections.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said choosing leaders should be “based on platform, what will be good for the country and what will improve the lives of families.”

Valte also said the government has not yet monitored the exact impact of the zero remittance day because this was being captured on a monthly basis. But according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, it has no significant economic impact.