DOF delivers 35,000 abandoned balikbayan boxes nationwide

The Department of Finance (DOF) reported that 35,549 abandoned balikbayan boxes have been delivered to their intended recipients nationwide as of Wednesday.

In a video statement, the DOF said it has completed the delivery of all 14,332 abandoned boxes at the Cebu Port, ensuring that the shipments were released and delivered free of charge.

“Ang bawat balikbayan box ay pinaghirapan ng ating mga kababayan. Para sa kanila, hindi lang ito isang kahon—ito ay simbolo ng kanilang sakripisyo at pagmamahal sa kanilang pamilya,” said Finance Secretary Frederick Go.

(Each balikbayan box represents the hard work and sacrifice of our overseas Filipinos and their love for their families.)

He noted that some boxes were left abandoned in ports due to issues involving box-handling companies.

The DOF earlier said thousands of balikbayan boxes left behind by consolidators at different ports across the country are now being processed for delivery.

Some of these boxes have been sitting in storage for as long as three years.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the problem stemmed from unpaid shipping and port charges, as well as failures by some importers to properly handle the shipments.

“Sometimes, if a box is sent once, it arrives, but succeeding shipments no longer do,” he said.

Go assured the public that the government is working to protect overseas Filipinos from similar incidents.

“Hindi natin hahayaan na maloko ang ating mga kababayan. Sisiguraduhin ng gobyerno na protektado ang kanilang pinaghirapang padala,” he said.

(We will not allow our citizens to be deceived. The government will ensure that their hard-earned packages are protected.)

The boxes were approved for door-to-door delivery at the government’s expense, while the BOC has filed charges against erring shipping companies. The agency has also launched an online tracker to monitor backlog shipments.

The DOF had earlier committed to complete the deliveries within 60 days starting in January.—MCG, GMA News