The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has moved to bar local deconsolidators involved in the long-term abandonment of balikbayan boxes, cutting off their ability to conduct transactions with the agency after thousands of shipments sent by overseas Filipino workers were left undelivered.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the companies identified in the case will no longer be permitted to handle balikbayan boxes or transact with the BOC, citing failures that left family-bound cargo stuck in ports for extended periods.
“Neglecting responsibilities toward the OFWs will not be tolerated, and the BOC will take decisive action to protect their rights and welfare,” Nepomuceno said.
Deconsolidators act as local agents of freight forwarders, responsible for breaking down consolidated shipments into individual consignments for distribution, including balikbayan boxes, loose cargo, and break-bulk goods transported by sea.
According to the BOC, records indicate that approximately 130,000 balikbayan boxes contained in 144 shipping containers were left idle at ports for at least a year after deconsolidators failed to settle shipping and arrastre fees covering handling, storage, security, and delivery.
Most of the undelivered shipments originated from Filipino workers based in the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Europe, and other parts of the Middle East.
Nepomuceno said the BOC, working with the National Bureau of Investigation, has assisted affected families in initiating legal action against the parties responsible for the abandonment.
He added that the President directed the BOC to assume responsibility for delivering the abandoned boxes to their intended recipients at no cost to the families.
As of January 23, 2026, the BOC had already released 66 containers, with deliveries ongoing, and confirmed that 8,020 boxes have so far reached their rightful owners.
The remaining 74 containers may be cleared for release once required legal procedures are completed, allowing further sorting and distribution to proceed.
