A family in Kidapawan City got the biggest surprise of their life after finally receiving the two balikbayan boxes sent to them from Kuwait.

It was almost three years ago when Alma Rios was informed by her overseas Filipino worker (OFW) child about the package—and the excitement she felt was already replaced with frustration and acceptance that the two boxes may have already lost along the way.

This week, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the two balikbayan boxes were already received by the Rios family, along with the same packages for two other families in Kidpawan City.

“These boxes are not just material goods—they are the fruits of their loved ones’ labor and sacrifice. For every balikbayan box delivered safely, a family’s dignity is restored, and a promise is fulfilled,” said Cacdac, who led the symbolic turnover.

On the part of the Rios family, Cacdac said the two balikbayan boxes were packed with hard-earned goods.

‘I express gratitude to the DMW that we finally received the balikbayan boxes that was sent to us by my child from abroad,” Rios told Cacdac in a local dialect.

Cacdac said the turnover was made possible through the coordination of the DMW, Bureau of Customs, and other concerned agencies, following the recent signing of a Joint Administrative Order and Deed of Donation to address undelivered and fraudulent Balikbayan shipments.

The delay in the delivery—and in some cases non-delivery— of balikbayan boxes has been a common problem by the OFWs.

In the conduct of investigation especially by the Bureau of Customs, it was found out that the two main causes of balikbayan boxes-related problems was the miscommunication between the agency that accepted the balikbayan boxes and the courier service in the Philippines, and scams.

A few years ago, the BOC initiated the free delivery of balikbayan boxes which were found abandoned in several warehouses in Bulacan.

In May this year for instance, nearly 3,000 balikbayan boxes, which were mishandled and abandoned by freight forwarders, have been turned over to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for distribution to the families of Filipinos working abroad by the BOC.

Last month, the DMW has crafted a policy with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other government agencies to ensure that all balikbayan boxes are not only delivered but also done without delay.

The DMW stepped in to resolve the issue of long-delayed and undelivered balikbayan boxes, acting swiftly to ensure they finally reached their rightful recipients—and to prevent future cases of fraud and neglect.