Government officials said they are close to resolving one of the largest backlogs of undelivered balikbayan boxes in recent years, following the abandonment of shipments by a suspended cargo forwarding company.
Assistant Secretary Francis de Guzman detailed that twelve containers carrying an estimated 2,500 donated balikbayan boxes had reached Davao Port across 2023 and 2024, forming the first group of long-stalled packages now being cleared for release. Many of these boxes had been untouched for years, prompting the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to step in and organize their distribution.
He noted that the government had already reached “95 percent delivery rate” as of late last year. “’Yung pong natitirang 5 percent, pinipilit pa rin nating siyang ma-deliver sa mga consignees of kamag-anak po ng ating mga kababayan po,” he said.
Efforts have been slowed down by difficulties tracing recipients, with several consignees having relocated or changed contact information. De Guzman said the cargo company responsible for the backlog had been suspended by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
“Ito po ‘yung marami raming natengga, hindi nadeliver na mga balikbayan boxes. As of last count po by Customs, umaabot na po ito sa 80 to 90 containers all around the Philippines po na hindi pa rin niya nadedeliver,” he said, describing the nationwide scale of undelivered shipments attributed to the same company.
The DMW is coordinating with the BOC and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to fast-track the release of the remaining containers and has categorized the firm as unscrupulous. Once the Mindanao deliveries conclude, attention will shift to boxes stored at the Manila Container Port, which were similarly abandoned by two other freight companies.
“In the coming days, pangangalanan lahat ng mga nagkaproblema,” DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said.
The DMW and BOC are now preparing legal action that may lead to fines, penalties, or even imprisonment for those responsible.
