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| Ang and Nepomuceno shake hands over the deal |
The Commission on
Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have signed an
agreement to help provide Filipinos abroad with information and assistance on problems
relating to balikbayan boxes, humanitarian donations and other shipment
concerns.
CFO chairperson Dante Ang
II and BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno signed the document formalizing the
agreement yesterday.
Secretary Ang said the partnership will assure Filipinos overseas of an avenue to obtain accurate information about their shipments and which government offices to approach for assistance.
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| DETAILS HERE |
“The problem is the lack of information. Through our existing networks and continuing dialogue with them, we can make sure they know who they can trust, what procedures to follow, and which BOC offices they can approach when they need assistance,” Ang said.
Before the agreement, Ang
said the CFO had used regular press releases, posts on social media platforms,
community engagements and overseas networks to inform Filipinos abroad about customs
procedures, legitimate service providers, and the appropriate BOC offices to
contact.
All these efforts are
expected to be strengthened with the BOC’s active involvement.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Customs Commissioner Nepomuceno
emphasized the importance of the new alliance, saying many OFs send balikbayan
boxes on a regular basis to family members back in the Philippines.
“Through this partnership,
we want to ensure that they have access to reliable information on customs
requirements, proper shipping practices, and available government assistance
whenever concerns arise,” Nepomuceno said.
Their agreement comes
amid mounting problems about boxes being abandoned in container vans at various
ports, including Manila, Cebu and Davao, mainly because freight forwarders failed
to pay for port storage, handling and shipping fees.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Other problems include
pilferage and damage to boxes, with forwarding companies refusing to cover
losses. Another common problem is the inordinate delay in the delivery of the
boxes, made more serious by the lack of local tracking, tampering and damage.
To alleviate customers’
concerns, the government has at times intervened to get abandoned boxes sent to
recipients at no extra cost, or if they remain stuck in overseas warehouses,
find another company that would take over the shipment and delivery in the
Philippines.
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| A Citi Express customer posted these photos of the boxes which she said were being delayed |
But the problems remain. Most recently in Hong Kong, a number of overseas Filipino workers sought help from various government agencies to track and recover boxes they sent through a company called Citi Express Cargo Services as early as November last year.
The complainants said on
the company’s Facebook page that the company staff have been promising them for
months that their boxes would arrive soon, but they never did.
Others said, however, that
their boxes did arrive, but only after months of delay.
Under their agreement with CFO, the BOC will provide updated guidance on customs laws and procedures, regulated goods, documentation, duties and taxes, exemptions, permits, clearances, and other requirements.
In turn, the CFO will disseminate the information through its various platforms which they use to engage Filipinos who are abroad.The CFO chief added that the agreement should also prove useful to overseas Filipinos extending humanitarian assistance and donations to communities and institutions in the Philippines through programs such as LINKAPIL.
