The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has launched an online tracking portal for door-to-door Balikbayan box deliveries as part of efforts to clear a long-standing backlog of packages sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to their families in the Philippines.
In an advisory issued Tuesday, the BOC said the portal allows the public to monitor the status of Balikbayan boxes included in ongoing door-to-door rollouts. The tracking site can be accessed through the agency’s official website and will be updated regularly as deliveries progress.
The Customs reiterated that no fees are required for the release and delivery of the boxes, stressing that the service is covered under existing government arrangements to expedite the distribution of long-delayed shipments.
The BOC also warned OFWs and their families to be cautious in dealing with freight forwarders, noting recurring scams involving unauthorized charges and false delivery claims.
Balikbayan boxes are large cartons commonly used by Filipinos abroad to send goods to relatives, a practice long recognized as a symbol of support from overseas workers and these boxes are generally accorded duty-free privileges, subject to customs regulations.
Earlier, the BOC reported that more than 100,000 Balikbayan boxes previously held in its warehouses had been shipped out in the days leading up to Christmas, following directives to decongest storage facilities.
Many of the boxes had been in storage for years due to issues involving errant freight forwarders, abandoned shipments, and incomplete documentation.
Customs officials acknowledged that some boxes sustained damage from prolonged storage, while others contained perishable items that may have expired.
