THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has completed the delivery of nearly 26,000 abandoned balikbayan boxes nationwide, marking a major milestone in government effort to return undelivered shipments to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
As of March 23, 2026, a total of 25,818 balikbayan boxes have been successfully delivered across the country, including all abandoned shipments previously left at the Port of Manila and the Port of Davao.
Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the last distribution activity was held at the Port of Cebu on March 24, where remaining boxes were turned over to the beneficiaries.
Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick D. Go stressed that OFWs should not be neglected.
“The Bureau of Customs and the Department of Finance, together with the Department of Migrant Workers, continue to assist in returning abandoned boxes to families. We will not allow our OFWs to be deceived. The government will ensure that their hard-earned shipments are protected,” Go said.
He added that the government has the responsibility to ensure that all boxes reach their rightful recipients and that those who took advantage of OFWs must be held accountable.
Nepomuceno said the agency is prioritizing the swift delivery of remaining boxes and described the completion of deliveries in the Manila and Davao ports as a major milestone, indicating that the nationwide operation is on track.
Latest data showed that 13,842 boxes were delivered in Cebu, 8,475 in MICP, 2,699 in Subic, 732 in Davao, and 70 in the Port of Manila. A total of 15,084 boxes remain pending for delivery, most of which are located in MICP (14,487) and Cebu (498).
The BOC also advised the public, particularly OFWs, to transact only with legitimate freight forwarding companies to avoid similar issues in the future.
