100,000 balikbayan boxes released after years in storage

More than 100,000 balikbayan boxes that had been in storage for years at the Port of Manila were finally being distributed to the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), just days before Christmas.

According to Oscar Oida's Thursday report on "24 Oras," the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said a complaint should be filed against negligent deconsolidators.

Among these balikbayan boxes was one from OFW Michelle Grepalda, who sent the balikbayan box when she was in the Middle East in 2023.

Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said negligent deconsolidators should pay the port charges, shipping costs, and taxes and duties.

One of the balikbayan boxes was damaged due to long-term storage.

Nepomuceno hoped that perishable goods in the balikbayan boxes had not expired yet.

As much as OFWs were thankful that their families finally received their balikbayan boxes, they still expressed disappointment. 

"Idemanda natin at hindi na makapag negosyo. Magkakaroon kami ng mas mahigpit na parameters na kapag may problema, meron kaming hahabulin na bond. Hindi pera ng gobyerno ang gagastusin namin sa obligation nila," Nepumuceno said.

(We will file a case against them so they will no longer be able to do business. We will impose stricter parameters so that if there is a problem, we have a bond that we can go after. We will not use government funds to cover their obligations.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News