By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The delivery of abandoned balikbayan boxes is almost complete, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported Monday, Nov. 6.
In the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program, BOC Assistant Commissioner and Spokesperson Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla said the agency was able to expedite the distribution of abandoned balikbayan boxes.
“We make sure na kapag may ganyan pong insidente, sa pakikipagtulungan din po sa ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno, ito ay aming pinoproseso pa rin sa ilalim ng batas,” Maronilla said.
The assistant commissioner pointed out that the abandonment of balikbayan boxes in warehouses was a result of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) falling prey to sketchy freight forwarding companies and consolidators.
“Itong karamihan [ng] nakikita niyo ngayon na natengga at hindi pa nadedeliver, karamihan po riyan [ay] pinarating dito at inabandona na lang. Walang usapan kung sino ang magde-deconsolidate at hindi pinroseso sa Bureau of Customs,” Maronilla said.
He also reminded the public, especially OFWs, to be vigilant in choosing freight forwarders that will deliver their balikbayan boxes.
“[So] ang advice ko is i-educate natin ang ating mga sarili, lalo na sa ating mga OFW sa history ng mga kompanyang pagtitiwalaan nila ng mga napakahalagang laman ng kanilang mga balikbayan boxes,” Maronilla said.
“Kung ano man ang pagpapahalaga niyo roon sa mga gamit sa loob, ganun din ‘yung pagpapahalaga na gawin natin sa pagpili ng maaayos na consolidators at deconsolidators,” he added. – cf
