Hundreds of cargo containers packed with undelivered balikbayan boxes have begun moving out of the Port of Manila, following a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the shipments reach overseas Filipino workers’ families before Christmas.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confirmed Thursday that the initial rollout covers an estimated 130,000 unclaimed boxes that had remained stuck at the port for months — and in some cases, years — due to unresolved shipping issues.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno personally led the inspection of the shipments, most of which originated from the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Officials noted that some boxes had been awaiting release for as little as eight months, while others had been held for as long as two years.
“Out of the 144 cargo containers, there is a minimum of 54,000 boxes (per container depending on the size) and if there is a combination of large packages, it can reach 130,000 plus balikbayan boxes. That’s why we were surprised when the bureau unraveled the problem in July. The shortest time of waiting for the release was eight months and some waited 2 years,” Nepomuceno said during a press briefing after the inspection.
According to the BOC, the shipments were declared abandoned after consolidators and de-consolidators failed to pay the required duties and taxes, leaving the cargo stranded at the port.
Nepomuceno assured recipients that the boxes will be delivered without any charges, as the government has covered the costs as part of a holiday initiative for migrant workers and their families.
“When we approached President Bongbong Marcos (PBBM), through (Department of Finance) Secretary Frederick Go, we were given a budget as a Christmas gift from PBBM to our OFW,” he said.
The customs chief also confirmed that administrative and criminal cases are being prepared against the parties responsible for abandoning the shipments. Asked about the timing of the legal action, Nepomuceno said, “After Christmas, we will start (filling cases).”
“But we will still talk to the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) about how to determine if the large-scale estafa that we can file for alleged collusion or conspiracy,” he added.
Earlier this week, President Marcos announced that the government aims to return all affected balikbayan boxes to their rightful owners before the holiday period ends, with authorities committing to speed up distribution nationwide.
Balikbayan boxes are large packages sent by overseas Filipino workers to their families, typically containing personal items such as clothing, footwear, and toiletries.
