TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Customs (BoC) here in the city released balikbayan boxes whose consignees have members of their loved ones who are working abroad.
The release of the balikbayan boxes was in consonance on the directive of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. to deliver them to the families of Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) free of charge, Francis Tolibas, the district collector, said in a statement.
BOC-Tacloban received 70 balikbayan boxes on December 27 last year bound to OFW families who were victims of unscrupulous consolidators.
The boxes are part of the abandoned packages consigned to Dubai-based ALL Win Cargo LLC, the consolidator, and Cargoflex Haulers Corporation, the deconsolidator.
These two are among the lists of consolidators and deconsolidators that were complained to have abandoned balikbayan boxes intended for OFW families from 2021 to 2022.
The balikbayan boxes are bound to 19 OFW families in Leyte; six each in Southern Leyte and Northern Samar; four in Tacloban City; three in Samar; and one in Eastern Samar.
“Of the 70 balikbayan boxes delivered to the (BoC) Tacloban, 39 were successfully claimed by its consignees,” Tolibas said.
Those who have not claimed their balikbayan packages may visit their office during office hours and from Monday to Friday.
For the sender or consignee of the balikbayan boxes, they need to present a proof of shipping, two valid government- issued identification cards, and a photocopy of the sender’s passport.
For authorized representatives, they need to present an authorization letter, proof of shipping documents, two valid IDs of authorized representatives, and a photocopy of sender’s passport.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
