Authorities are looking into mounting complaints tied to Makati Express Cargo as thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) report prolonged delays, undelivered shipments, and damaged balikbayan boxes—adding to a wider issue involving problematic freight forwarders.
Earlier regulatory action had already placed the company under scrutiny after the Bureau of Customs suspended its accreditation in 2025 over unpaid duties and regulatory violations. Reports linked to the case indicated that tens of containers—estimated at around 80 to 90—were left unprocessed, affecting a large number of senders and recipients.
Parallel to these developments, complaints have continued to surface online. A public Facebook group titled “Makati Express Cargo Complaint” has grown to nearly 21,000 members, where users share similar experiences involving shipments sent months ago but still unreceived.
Accounts posted in the group describe boxes dispatched as early as early 2025 that remain pending, while others recount deliveries arriving only after extended delays, sometimes with contents no longer usable. Several posts also show tracking updates repeatedly adjusted, citing external factors such as logistical disruptions or geopolitical conditions.
Some individuals claimed their cargo had already reached Philippine ports yet remained undelivered for long periods, raising questions about last-mile handling. Others reported partial deliveries after waiting several months, while a number of shipments are still unaccounted for.
One of the complainants, OFW Alma Garcia, said her box sent to Manila on December 27, 2025 has yet to reach her family. She also described the condition of stored cargo she was informed about.
“Madami pong mga nakatenggang drums na naarawan at nauulanan sa kanilang warehouse sa Cavite, mga boxes na patung patung po na hindi pa nakakarating sa kanilang pamilya,” Garcia said.
“Hanggang ngayon wala pa po nadedeliver sa pamilya ko… patuloy pa rin ang pag-pick up nila ng cargo sa UAE.”
Garcia urged authorities to intervene, pointing to the effort behind every shipment.
“Pinaghirapan namin mapuno dulot ng puyat, pagod at pagtitipid… sana makarating na sa pamilya namin.”
Separate reports from affected customers include boxes arriving with expired food items, damaged packaging, and signs of prolonged storage. Some also questioned why cargo collection operations abroad continue while existing shipments remain unresolved in the Philippines.
The issue is now part of a broader investigation, with the National Bureau of Investigation earlier stepping in to validate complaints tied to undelivered balikbayan boxes and examine possible liabilities involving freight operators.
