3-week delay in delivery of balikbayan boxes attributed to ASEAN summit

International couriers are experiencing delays in delivering balikbayan boxes due to the most recent ASEAN summit, which was held last month in Manila.

An exclusive report by Jun Veneracion in 24 Oras on Thursday said that there has been a two to three-week delay in the arrival of balikbayan boxes from overseas starting November.

Joel Longares, president of Door to Door Consolidators of the Philippines (DDCOP), said that the ASEAN meet affected the delivery schedule.

[K]ung baga yung dating one week, nagiging two weeks, kasi yung mga container natatambakan sa ilalim hindi basta-basta nahuhugot," Longares said.

The Bureau of Customs also said that while it had a skeletal force during the ASEAN Summit, the ports in Manila were difficult to access due to the closed roads.

The DDCAP has been getting calls from its clients who are hoping that their packages will arrive by Christmas day.

The company also attributed the delay to the peak season.

According to the DDCAP, nearly 875,000 balikbayan boxes are being processed in December.

Longrales appealed to its clients for understanding, saying that the delay is not their fault.

"Pakiusap ko sa mga lahat ng mga nagpadala ng boxes 'wag kayo magagalit sa lahat ng kumpanya na pinapadalhan ninyo kasi ang nangyari, hindi ho namin ito kasalanan," he said.

DDCOP is hoping that days before Christmas, their operations will return to normal. — Jessica Bartolome/BM, GMA News