BOC plans advance clearing of OFWs’ balikbayan boxes

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) wants to clear in advance the packages sent by legitimate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), doing away with the process of physically examining the balikbayan boxes starting next week.

The catch is the OFW must be legitimate and registered with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to avail of the “pre-cleared” program, said Customs Deputy Commissioner Arturo Lachica.

If the OWWA is able to submit the list of legitimate OFWs, the program can be implemented starting next week, he added.

“We would probably be able to secure the list by next week. It would have to be uploaded to our system, so the names would automatically (appear). The list would let us know who are the legitimate OFWs,” Lachica said, referring to Filipinos working abroad through legitimate manpower channels.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said there are about 2.3 million OFWs in mid-2014. 

Lachica said that once the system is put in place, the balikbayan boxes should be cleared even before these arrive on Philippine soil and should no longer need physical inspection. 

“The presumption is that it (balikbayan box) is already ok,” he added. 

To fine-tune the program, the BOC, he said, is also looking into the cases of non-OWWA members and the possibility that the system will be abused.