The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is taking decisive action to reunite overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with their long-awaited holiday gifts and goods. This week, the agency is set to process 21 container vans of abandoned balikbayan boxes, aiming to deliver them to families across the nation.
Progress on Releases and the Root of the Delay
According to a recent social media update from the BOC, a total of 21 container vans are scheduled to be pulled out and processed for delivery. The bureau reported that, to date, 15 containers containing balikbayan boxes from overseas have already been released to their rightful recipients.
The customs bureau clarified that the significant holdup was not due to government inaction. Instead, the prolonged delay was caused by the failure of certain deconsolidators and freight forwarders to fulfill their contractual duties. These companies allegedly collected payment from hardworking OFWs abroad but did not complete the shipments.
In a strong move to support the affected workers, BOC officials accompanied OFWs in filing formal cases with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against these errant companies on December 4, 2025.
Government Support and New Tracking System
This initiative to clear the backlog of abandoned boxes is being carried out with the direct help and support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The President has expressed his full backing for the government's efforts to assist Filipino workers abroad who have fallen victim to fraudulent and irresponsible freight forwarding practices.
To bring transparency and peace of mind to senders and recipients, the BOC has launched an online tracking portal for the door-to-door deliveries of these boxes nationwide. The public, especially OFW families, are advised to check the status of their shipments by visiting the official BOC OFW page at https://customs.gov.ph/home/overseas-filipino-worker-ofw/.
Critical Reminders for OFWs and Free Delivery
The Bureau of Customs issued a crucial reminder to Filipinos living and working overseas. They urged OFWs to exercise greater caution when selecting freight forwarders for their balikbayan boxes. Key advice includes:
- Ensuring the chosen company is legitimate and registered.
- Being wary of offers with unrealistically low fees, as these can be a precursor to scams and fraud.
- Verifying the track record and reputation of the service provider.
In a significant relief for families, all deliveries of these recovered balikbayan boxes are free of charge. The door-to-door delivery operation officially commenced on December 18, 2025, following an inspection led by Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno at the BOC main office in Manila. The government is targeting to complete this nationwide delivery mission by early January 2026.
