Balikbayan boxes should be delivered with Guarantee

The Department of Trade and Industry urges Filipinos abroad to ensure themselves to send only through valid and accredited forwarding agents. This advisory comes amid the busy season where Filipinos abroad send their boxes through out the year highlighting several important occasions. The start of the school year is a particular important deadline where important school items and other supplementary goods are sent back home to help augment the extra spending arising from the start of the school term.

Concerns were also raised that for 2017 already more complaints were filed on Undelivered or delayed boxes.

The DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau officer in charge Ferdinand Manfoste urged senders to be vigilant and visit the official DTI website to check for accreditation to avoid non delivery damage or pilferage.

There are over 700 accredited freight forwarders on the DTI list.

Senders were also reminded to list down the contents of their boxes, to thoroughly wrap their boxes, and if able or willing, to pay for insurance. Balikbayan boxes with values not exceeding P150,000 will be exempted from paying duties and taxes.

Manfoste said senders should also be aware of items that are prohibited from being shipped in balikbayan boxes.

“Currencies or mga cheke; firearms and ammunition, explosives; yung mga alahas, ‘di pupwede ‘yan. Prohibited drugs and other substances; pornographic materials; pirated products. Plant seeds and plant materials and any food stuff that are not in cans, packages, or in bottles,” he said.

Persons whose packages never reached their intended recipients may send their written complaints to DTI-FTEB along with supporting documents such as receipts and packing lists.

Our overseas Filipino workers earn hard earned money to send home. And it is with this trust that forwarding companies should not fail to deliver. The Bureau strongly urges that correct receipt should be issued and only to use the services of a tried and tested brand in the freight cargo business.

An advise all too common and if used with common sense, can avoid further disappointments

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(Image from www.yugatech.com)