JOINT ORDER TO PROTECT ‘BALIKBAYAN BOXES’ APPROVED

On Jun 16, 2025

JAO to protect Balikbayan boxes of OFWs signed June 9, 2025, with Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac (center) leading the ceremony. Second from right is BOC AOCG Deputy Commissioner Atty. Vener Baquiran (photo: BOC-PIAD).

A JOINT Administrative Order (JAO) focused on strengthening regulatory oversight for foreign and domestic freight forwarders responsible for the handling of incoming ‘Balikbayan boxes’ sent by Filipino Overseas Workers (OFWs) has been released.

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), thru the stewardship of the Department of Finance (DOF) said the JAO was finalized and released last June 9, after careful deliberation and consultation with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Ports of Authority (PPA).

Signing on behalf of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio is Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) Deputy Commissioner Atty. Vener Baquiran.

“This landmark agreement aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to safeguard the welfare of OFWs and aims to strengthen regulatory oversight for foreign and domestic sea cargo freight forwarders responsible for handling Balikbayan Boxes,” the BOC said.

BOC AOCG Deputy Commissioner Atty. Vener Baquiran, signing the JAO on behalf of the agency (photo: BOC-PIAD).

The JAO addresses persistent challenges related to the delivery, security, and timely release of Balikbayan Boxes. These packages are recognized as vital conduits of support from OFWs to their families across the Philippines.

The new rules are supported by Congress thru the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chaired by Rep. Jude Acidre and OFW Partylist Rep. Marissa Magsino.

The JAO establishes uniform standards, clear accountabilities, and streamlined coordination among all stakeholders within the logistics chain, the BOC added.

“This order is designed to mitigate delays, prevent mishandling, and curb abuses by unscrupulous freight forwarders and deconsolidators,” it added.

To foster absolute transparency, the BOC also committed to ‘regularly publish and meticulously update a comprehensive list of registered deconsolidators and affiliated foreign consolidators” on its official website to aid OFWs in making informed decisions when sending their boxes home.

In his keynote message, delivered by Depcomm. Baquiran, Commissioner Rubio conveyed his unequivocal support for this initiative.

“The BOC is committed to going beyond our core mandate by streamlining processes and working closely with partner agencies to ensure the prompt and proper release of Balikbayan Boxes. These shipments symbolize the trust of our overseas workers—and we must honor that trust through efficiency, fairness, and integrity,” the Customs chief added.

It can be recalled that Pres. Marcos’ first marching order to his first customs commissioner, Yogi Filemon Ruiz in 2022, is for the BOC to ensure the prompt and unimpeded delivery of all balikbayan boxes and the weeding out of suspicious and ‘fly-by-night’ local and foreign freight forwarders, consolidators and deconsolidators that have victimized thousands of unsuspecting OFWs over the years.