Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez welcomed the signing of a landmark Joint Administrative Order (JAO) aimed at shielding the balikbayan boxes of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from fraud, theft, and delivery delays.
“Today’s milestone reflects what public service should always be—listening to the people, acting on their concerns, and delivering results that uplift lives,” Romualdez said, emphasizing the symbolic weight balikbayan boxes carry for millions of Filipino families.
He added, “The balikbayan box is not just cargo; it is the story of a Filipino working hard abroad for the love of family. It deserves protection, and it has now been secured.”
The JAO, signed by the Departments of Finance, Trade and Industry, Transportation, and Migrant Workers—alongside the Bureau of Customs, Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau, and the Philippine Ports Authority—establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework to address long-standing complaints from OFWs.
This initiative is expected to tighten oversight over sea cargo consolidators, ensure clearer documentation, and implement stricter mechanisms to weed out abusive or illegitimate freight forwarders.
