THE Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) on Friday urged nonresident Filipinos (NRFs) to verify cargo forwarders before sending their balikbayan boxes for the Christmas season.
“Before sending a balikbayan box, the CFO advises NRFs to verify the identity and accreditation status of their chosen cargo forwarder and its Philippine counterpart, keep receipts, tracking numbers, bills of lading and other proof of transaction, and be cautious of unusually low shipping rates, unauthorized agents or unexplained additional charges. They are also encouraged to regularly monitor their shipments and immediately report irregularities to the appropriate authorities,” the commission said in a statement.
CFO Chairman Dante Ang II advised NRFs to visit the Bureau of Customs (BOC) website, check its List of Accredited Cargo Forwarders for Consolidated Shipments of Balikbayan Boxes and monitor BOC advisories on forwarding companies, having reported incidents involving abandoned boxes.
“For many Filipinos overseas, a balikbayan box is more than a shipment. It represents months of hard work and is one of the ways they share the fruits of their labor with their families back home. We want our kababayans to enjoy the Christmas season knowing that the boxes they carefully prepared have a better chance of reaching their families safely and on time. A few minutes spent checking official government information before shipping can help prevent months of problems later,” Ang said.
The CFO’s reminder came after reports of balikbayan boxes that remain undelivered despite senders having already paid for their shipment.
“Such cases can result not only in financial losses but also in disappointment for families expecting packages from their loved ones overseas,” the CFO stated.
The BOC in May filed criminal complaints against Makati Express Cargo Inc. and several responsible officers over approximately 36,826 balikbayan boxes left unclaimed at ports in Manila, Cebu and Davao, and another was filed a month later against five cargo forwarding firms involving 3,176 abandoned boxes and alleged violations such as unauthorized deconsolidation and fraudulent declaration.
