Selling of unclaimed balikbayan boxes causes fuss online; OFWs express disappointment

A video uploaded by content creator Alexis Vines has gone viral on social media in recent days after he unboxed a balikbayan box he bought online for P5,500.

Among its contents were a pillow, a blanket, perfume, and lotion, all of which were imported.

In an interview on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Alexis admitted that he felt sorry for the owner of the balikbayan box and that he also wondered how it did not reach the supposed recipient in the country.

The real owner of the box

In the vlog Alexis posted, he said that there was no information written on it, which is why he decided to pay for the box.

But as he further inspected the box, Alexis found out who sent it and who it was for, a detail that he did not mention in his video.

The KMJS team tried reaching out to the intended recipient of the balikbayan box but they declined to be interviewed.

They mentioned that it was sent by their OFW mother. However, due to their inability to pay the claiming and processing fees, they stated that they were unable to retrieve it. They no longer have plans to redeem or retrieve the box.

Meanwhile, Alexis said that should the intended recipient of the box still wanted its contents, he was willing to hand them over.

Disappointed OFWs and family members

Following Alexis' viral posts, many netizens became furious at the sale of unclaimed balikbayan boxes online. Some also complained that the balikbayan boxes they sent for their families did not reach their destination.

Among those who expressed their disappointment was "Ela," a former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from Yokohama, Japan.

She said that in June 2023, she sent a package to her relatives in the Philippines.

The balikbayan box she sent contained a variety of items, like noodles and chocolates, worth over P100,000.

"Ela" said that she sent the box through a forwarding company in Japan owned by a fellow Filipino.

"Wala namang sinabi na insurance. Basta ang nakalagay lang is kung sakaling mawala ang bagahe, babayaran nila kung magkano ang total na nilagay namin," Ela added.

["They didn't mention anything about insurance. They just said that they would pay for the balikbayan box if it got lost during shipment."]

Months have already passed, but her relatives in the Philippines still haven't received anything. She has tried contacting the courier, but they would often tell her that the shipment was just delayed.

"Grabe na ang stress na binigay nito sa akin hindi ako nakakatulog," she said in tears.

["The whole situation was so stressful and I can't stop thinking about it."]

"Ela" took to social media to air her concern, and to her surprise, almost 200 people also had the same complaint as her.

Among those who related to "Ela's" problem was Rose Ann, a resident of Antipolo, Rizal, whose mother-in-law also works in Japan.

"Mag-i-start sana kaming mag-asawa na ibenta 'yung iba dun sa online, 'yung mga chocolate, sabon. 'Yung amount nung box na 'yun is nasa P40,000 up," she said.

["My husband and I thought of selling some of those products that were in the balikbayan box. The value of that box is around P40,000."]

Rose Ann said that they were supposed to receive the box in only two months, but due to the delay, the box's contents have already expired.

"Masakit kasi alam mo 'yung pakiramdam na pinaghirapan 'yun ng biyenan ko. Bago mapuno 'yun, hindi ganun kadali. Lumapit na din kami sa mga police station, sa BOC, sa DTI. Kaso,wala, pasa-pasa talaga ang nangyayari," she said.

["My mother-in-law worked hard for that balikbayan box. We've tried reaching out to the police, the Bureau of Customs, the Department of Trade and Industry, but nothing happened."]

"Mercedes" was also supposed to receive a balikbayan box from her sister-in-law in Japan.

She said that the box has an estimated value of P50,000 and that it contained the clothing they were supposed to wear to the wedding of her niece.

Unfortunately, even after the wedding, the box hasn't arrived yet.

"Dahil hindi nga dumating si box, nadoble po 'yung gastos niya. Nagpabili pa ulit siya ng mga kakailanganin namin sa kasal. Umaasa pa rin kami," she said.

["The box didn't arrive on time. Her expenses doubled as she had to buy new things for the wedding. Until now, we're still hoping to receive that box."]

BOC's response

The Bureau of Customs ordered an investigation into the sale of balikbayan boxes online and said that they follow a process for the disposal of unclaimed balikbayan boxes.

"May mga agreement na binibigyan ng consent ng sender ang shipper at forwarder na kung hindi sila maka-comply sa pagbabayad o 'di kaya pagki-claim within the said period ay maaaring i-dispose 'yung kanilang mga boxes, para naman ma-liquidate nila kahit papaano. Labas 'yun sa jurisdiction ng Bureau of Customs," they added.

["Agreements exist among the sender, the shipper, and the forwarder. If the sender fails to comply with the agreed payment, or if the box is not claimed within the specified period, their boxes may be disposed of for liquidation purposes. This falls outside the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Customs."] 

Meanwhile, some forwarding companies admitted that they do actually sell the unclaimed balikbayan boxes if they have been in their office for a year.

Anyone can pursue legal action if the cause of the problem lies with "unaccredited" freight forwarders or freight forwarding companies, Atty. Paul Talao said.

"Dahil sumingil sila doon sa mga nagpadala pero hindi nila ginampanan 'yung kanilang contractual na obligasyon, puwede pong magreklamo na ipasara ang kompanya na 'yan, na panagutin ng danyos perwisyo doon sa halaga ng balikbayan."

["They can file a complaint against the company since it failed to fulfill its contractual obligation. The complaints could entail requesting the company's closure or seeking compensation based on the value of the balikbayan box."]

The KMJS team tried reaching out to the Japan-based courier the three women mentioned, but they refused to give a statement.

"Sana magkaroon kami ng kasagutan kung nasaan na 'yung bagahe namin," Rose Anne said.

["We hope that we can find the answer as to where our boxes are."]

The Bureau of Customs said that they will release a list of accredited consolidators and forwarding companies in the first three months of 2024 to guide Filipinos on whom they should entrust their balikbayan boxes.

—JCB, GMA Integrated News