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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos: BOC to start releasing 130 container vans of abandoned balikbayan boxes

Marcos: BOC to start releasing 130 container vans of abandoned balikbayan boxes

Published Dec 16, 2025 01:00 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
More than a hundred container vans of abandoned packages of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will finally be released by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) this Christmas, President Marcos announced.
During his visit at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)-Terminal 3 for the launch of the airport's new facilities, Marcos said that the balikbayan boxes will be released starting Tuesday, Dec. 16.
"Nais ko rin ibalita na sinisimulan na ng BOC ang proseso upang maipamahagi ang isang daan at tatlumpung abandonadong container van na balikbayan boxes sa mga nagmamay-ari nito (I would also like to report that the BOC has already begun the process of distributing 130 abandoned container vans of balikbayan boxes to their rightful owners)," Marcos said in his speech at the event.
According to the President, some of the container vans of balikbayan boxes sent by OFWs for their loved ones have been abandoned at the ports since last year.
He added that the packages have not been released due to the non-payment of appropriate fees through the BOC.
"Ang nangyari po rito ay nagpadala po ang ating OFW ng balikbayan box, inuwi dito sa Pilipinas, yun naman mga nagdala, hindi naman binayaran ang mga dapat bayaran dito sa Pilipinas. Kaya e, nandoon, nakatiwangwang lang yung mga balikbayan box for almost —yung iba magwa-one year na, nandoon lang sa Bureau of Customs (What happened here is that our OFWs sent balikbayan boxes and brought them home to the Philippines, but the parties who transported them did not pay the required fees here in the Philippines. As a result, the balikbayan boxes were left unattended—some of them for almost a year—just sitting there at the Bureau of Customs)," Marcos said.
"Ngayon sinimulan na natin ang pagbibigay at ipagbabalik. Dahil hindi naman pagmamay-ari ng pamahalaan ‘yan. Pagmamay-ari ‘yan ng ating mga OFW. Kaya’t starting today, ire-release na natin (Now, we have begun the process of distributing and returning them. These do not belong to the government. They belong to our OFWs. Therefore, starting today, we will begin releasing them)," Marcos added.
He assured the families of OFWs that the government will try its best to send the packages to their rightful owners this Christmas.
"Pipilitin natin. Yung mga iba rito, pinadala para pang Christmas gift noong nakaraang taon, kaya’t sa wakas, e, pipilitin natin matanggap naman nila ito bago dumating naman ang Pasko (We will do our best. Some of these were sent as Christmas gifts last year, so at last, we will make sure that they are able to receive them before Christmas comes again)," Marcos said.
The move, Marcos further said, is part of the government's effort to make its services for OFWs more accessible, faster, and more reliable.
The President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos graced the launch of the new immigration e-gates at the NAIA-Terminal 3, allowing passengers to be cleared in as fast as 20 seconds.
A mezzanine food hall, which offers travelers better spaces to rest, to dine, and to reconnect, was also launched on Tuesday.

Related Tags

President Marcos Balikbayan boxes Bureau of Customs (BOC) OFWs NAIA
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