MANILA – Lawmakers call for accountability from cargo forwarders and policy change in the Bureau of Customs amid the recurring issue of missing and mishandled "balikbayan boxes" of overseas Filipino workers.

During the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs hearing on Tuesday, several OFWs shared their stories of delayed and eventual lost balikbayan boxes.

Vilma Silga, a former OFW in Saudi Arabia for almost 20 years, said she paid a deconsolidator in Kuwait around P50,000 for door to door delivery of her baggage. 

However, she has yet to receive her baggage in Bacolod, because she is being asked to pay another hefty amount.

"Hinihinling ko lang po na mai-award sa akin yung aking boxes. At hindi ko na kayang magbayad ng P29,500. 'Yung pamasahe ko nga papunta dito kung saan ko pa hinanap," she said.

"Hindi ho namin alam kung saan napunta. Sa ngayon ko lang nakita ko na kahit karton ng boxes ko. Ang problema hindi makarating sa akin kasi kailangan magbayad ako ng P29,500 para makarating sa akin," Silga added.

Another former OFW in Saudi Arabia for 14 years, Leonora Roblo, shared the same story of a supposed scam.

"Nasaan na yung aming kargo na yun? Sa tagal-tagal kong nagabroad, bakit ako ngayon na-scam nung ako'y nag-exit na?" she said.

"Ibibigay ko yun sa kamag-anak kong mahirap… Dalawang taon na ako dito sa Pilipinas, hindi parin dumating yung aming boxes na yun. Sana po kung nasaan man yung box na yun, i-reward na po yun sa amin," Roblo said.

Bernadette Alba, the wife of a former OFW, likewise said they only experienced issues with their balikbayan boxes recently.

"For almost 15 years lagi naman pong nakakarating ng maayos yung aming balikbayan boxes. Nito lang after COVID-19 nangyayari ang mga ito," she said.

"Ang nakakapanghina na loob, naiscam na kami nung una, nagbabayad naman po kami ng tama sa Riyadh, bakit kailangan i-auction ang aming mga bagahe andito naman kami… Ang pakiusap ko lang po sa lahat, matuldukan lang po lahat ng problema," Alba said.

Corazon Betudio, another OFW from Saudi, said she ended up paying extra for her balikbayan boxes just so they could be released.

"Nagpadala po ako ng balikbayan box… Sa kagustuhan ko po ako ay nagbayad kay Munique para makuha ang boxes," she shared.

House panel chairperson Rep. Jude Acidre and OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino said we must hold perpetrators accountable.

"We're looking into gaps in regulation, if not in oversight. How do we monitor, how do we determine the culpability of the shipping forwarder based in another country and in the Philippines?" he asked.

"When there is so much discretion and regulations are not applied, that becomes a problem," Acidre added.

"Ang kanilang binibiktima’y mga OFWs na nagbayad na ng shipment fees at ngayo’y sinisingil na namang bayaran ng nanalong bidder ang mga balikbayan boxes na unang-una’y kanila naman talaga. Wari bang ginigisa ang mga OFWs sa sarili nilang mantika," Magsino said.

"Subalit ang mas masakit, diumano, ay ang patuloy na paglaganap ng korapsyon sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan at ang nabibiktima ay mga maliliit nating mamamayan gaya ng mga pangkaraniwang OFWs. We must put an end to these abuses. Cargo companies and customs officials who exploit OFWs must be held accountable," she added.

Bureau of Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Phillip Maronilla said there should be no extra costs since under the law, there are exemptions of up to P300,000 for balikbayan boxes.

"Yung exemptions po ay isa-isang dapat i-claim. Ang kada exemption ng OFW ay i-cclaim dapat nila," he said.

"Ang naging practice, ibinibigay yung tiwala dito sa cargo forwarders. Mauuuna dito yung consolidators. Once it's consolidated, hindi na po nagkakaroon ng proseso ng pag-cclaim ng exemption na yun. Bagkus kasama sa sinisingil na ila sa OFWs yung estimated duties and taxes… pati po freight charges and other charges," Maronilla explained.

The Customs official suggested lawmakers craft legislation to resolve the issue.

"Pwede pong sigurong bumalangkas tayo ng isang batas na even if consolidated yung shipment, maaaring magkaroon ng proseso sa pag-claim ng balikbayan box tax exemption… Nawawala po yung treatment pag nagconsolidate sila," he said.

Magsino questioned why the BoC would declare "legally owned" boxes as abandoned and eventually sold to private bidders.

Maronilla explained that some balikbayan boxes are included in cargo tagged as "abandoned" and are up for auction.

"Wala hong delineation pagdating sa abandoned cargo whether it's commercial or personal. Usually ang pinasok, 15 days ho hindi niyo binayaran yung tax, automatic sa system ng Customs, sa ilalim ng batas madedeclare na abandoned ho yan," he said. 

The Customs official said they can find out the name of the consignees through "stripping" or opening of the boxes to examine and list down all its contents.

Magsino also asked Customs about allegations that there are some officers that earn and collude with private bidders.

"Kung meron hong ganun mga instances at report yun ho ay aming agad na iniimbestigahan… Merong iba na bidders na pinakiusapan, inaattribute nila yung mga charges na yun sa kanilang mga expenses. Kasi pag nabigay sa kanila yung balikbayan box, obligado sila ilagay sa warehouse," Maronilla answered.

The Customs official said they changed their policy due to these issues.

"From now on, lahat ng ma-aabandon na balikbayan box, ang way forward namin is to idonate ito sa Department of Migrant Workers," Maronilla said.

On claims of those charging extra fees, the Customs official said these cargo may not be part of those they put up for auction.

Last October, the BoC said it would donate over 4,000 abandoned balikbayan boxes to the Department of Migrant Workers, who would oversee the distribution to OFWs.

Bulacan 1st District Rep. Danny Domingo questioned the DMW if it really helped the OFWs since they have yet to receive their balikbayan boxes.

"Ang napag-usapan sa sitwasyon na ito ay magkakaroon ng revised deed of donation. At kami ay nakapagbigay ng draft sa Bureao of Customs at inaantabayanan namin ito," DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said. 

"Pangalawa, may draft Customs Administrative Order kaming hinihiling. Kasi ang solusyon dito nakikita namin, kasi kung kami lang ay pagpapasahan ng abandoned boxes, hindi nagagamot ang problema. Which is bakit may abandoned boxes in the first place kung binayaran na ito?" he added.

He explained they have policies in place and they coordinate with the BoC.

"Inaantabayan namin yung deed of donation mafinalize ng Bureau of Customs, pero pinangangatawan namin yung kami mag distribute ng abandoned boxes," Cacdac said. 

"Ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin kung nakikita niyo na nagkukulang kami… Hinihiling ko lang po na bigyan niyo kami ng access sa kahon at kami na mismo magaabot para matapos na ho lahat ito. Ilang buwan na po kami nakikipagusap at lumalapit," he added.

DMW Assistant Secretary Kiko De Guzman said they have released 9,927 balikbayan boxes to OFWs, leaving 430 boxes left with the BoC.

He said these are the boxes with no names or unreadable information.

"For this set po, ang pinagttrabuhan namin ng Customs is 5,562 boxes. So yun po yung ano namin. Yung 2,594 boxes ito yung ready for donation sa Port of Davao. Karamihan sa boxes ng OFW dito ay nasa Port of Manila," he said.

DMW said it joins the call for a more "permanent solution" to combat the "fraud" and issues with balikbayan boxes.

FIRM TAGGED IN BALIKBAYAN BOX ISSUES

International travelers  arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport festooned with Christmas decorations  on December 18, 2023 in Pasay City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Five of the OFWs who have missing boxes pointed to a certain Monalisa Tan, President and General Manager of Munique Rapide Trans Inc.

Tan was also present at the hearing, and said her company was not initially a forwarding company for balikbayan boxes.

"I'm not really into before balikbayan [boxes.] Na-involve lang ako with balikbayan boxes, it happened when may client na naginquire sa akin to release their containers po... Yung na-auction sa akin puro balikbayan boxes," she explained. 

"Because doon sa company namin, registered po kami ng FTEB that's why nag join ako ng auctions to help my friend get their containers," Tan added.

Acidre and Magsino questioned why Tan's company won three auctions, where she won several containers.

"It's a blind auction and you bid three times. Nanalo kayo at palaging balikbayan box ang napupunta sa inyo. Isn't it too much of a coincidence?" he said. 

"Don't tell me every time mananalo ka… Unless may inside information ka sa Customs na balikbayan box ang laman nito," Acidre added.

"Bakit tuwing may balikbayan boxes ang nanalo ang Munique Rapide? Napaka lucky naman po ni ma'am Monalisa…. Aminin man natin o hindi mayroong inside information sa mga magbibid," Magsino said.

Tan said her friend gives her a bill of lading and then she gives it to a certain Dolly Domingo, who has retired from the BoC.

Domingo was not present at the hearing to answer the allegations.

Maronilla maintained they usually conduct a blind auction, so they only indicate in their notice that the items are general cargo.

"I would assume, tulad ng sinabi ni ma'am, pinakiusapan siya ng port to take on this auction for the purpose of distributing," he said.

"Bukod sa accreditation pagfifile-in po natin ng bond yung deconsolidator to answer for the container. Para po pag nabiktima sila o hindi yung problema sa pagpapalabas ng containers, sagot po nila," Maronilla suggested.

Acidre then said there should be special accreditation for consolidators if balikbayan boxes are involved instead of ad hoc arrangements.

The lawmaker likewise asked Tan if it's possible to release the cargo of the OFWs present at the hearing.

"Pwede naman po. Actually yan po yung sinasabi kanina. Si madam Negros pa siya. Nireview ko yung boxes. Yung local forwarder namin sila po ang naninigil. At cost lang naman po kasi wala kaming pangabono doon," Tan said.

The businesswoman said she spent about P60,000 to P80,000 per container van. The extra fees that are being charged are "at cost" for shipping, personnel and other costs.

Cacdac said they will review if it's possible to tap the AKSYON fund to cover these costs on top of the P10,000 financial assistance they gave the OFWs.

Meantime, Magsino called on the Department of Trade Industry to strengthen its measures and penalties against erring freight forwarders.

DTI says its mediation division received 214 complaints, mostly undelivered boxes, from 2022 to 2025.

The National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Immigration committed to cooperate with the House panel and investigate the matter and other issues raised in the hearing.

Among the suggestions of Magsino for remedial legislation include:

    - Require undertaking on both parties for shipment and delivery of balikbayan boxes

    - Prohibit counterpart local forwarders to request payment from OFWs sending balikbayan boxes who paid international forwarders

    - Stricter liabilities and penalties, including license suspension and revocation

    - Require on-demand, unconditional bank guarantee to be secured by forwarders for shipment of balikbayan boxes

The House panel approved a motion to create a technical working group to craft proposed legislation to resolve the issues.