MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued a call for overseas Filipino workers and their families to claim 294 unclaimed 'balikbayan' boxes that have been left in its custody, following their abandonment by forwarders.
According to Philippines News Agency, the boxes were left by forwarders who had already collected payments but failed to complete delivery. "Let us work together to ensure that these balikbayan boxes, filled with memories and valuable items, reach their intended recipients," Rubio stated in a recent news release. The boxes, identified with Bill of Lading numbers and consigned to Mediacom Express Cargo and Pinoy Network Cargo WLL, arrived from Kuwait on February 12, 2023, and are currently stored at Port Net Logistics, Inc. CFS Warehouse in Sta. Ana, Manila.
To facilitate the collection process, the BOC has posted a list of unclaimed balikbayan boxes on its website. To claim their boxes, recipients are required to present several documents, including the passport of the sender, a valid government-issued ID, and proof of shipping, such as an invoice or bill of lading. Additionally, those claiming on behalf of someone else must provide a notarized authorization letter or special power of attorney, along with a valid ID of the representative.
For further assistance, the public is encouraged to contact the BOC through its hotline or via email. This initiative follows the BOC's previous success in releasing over 450 balikbayan boxes, bringing the total number of boxes successfully distributed to 10,084.