THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is processing the remaining abandoned balikbayan boxes to ensure these would reach their intended recipients within the holidays.
About 15 abandoned balikbayan boxes are being processed and are set to be transferred to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which will distribute the boxes, Vincent Philip Maronilla, BOC spokesperson and assistant commissioner, said in a televised interview.
“The deed of donation is just being reviewed by the DMW. We expect that it will be signed this week, maybe before Christmas, hopefully we can start distributing the first batch of donated balikbayan boxes to the respective recipients,” Maronilla said.
Maronilla said the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were victimized by unscrupulous deconsolidators and consolidators.
“They received money from OFWs but they did not process it when it arrived in the country,” Maronilla said.
Aside from the DMW, the BOC said it is also working with the Deconsolidators Association of the Philippines for the distribution of the boxes.
“It will go to the intended recipient as it is not their fault that they were scammed,” Maronilla said.
In October, the BOC has released and distributed over 11,000 balikbayan boxes to their rightful owners since 2022.
This initiative is part of the BOC’s commitment in safeguarding the interests of overseas Filipinos and ensure that they receive their packages without undue delay.
