President Benigno Aquino III has enacted reforms in the Bureau of Customs meant to modernize the bureau and also raise exemptions on goods brought into the country by travelers and shipped in by migrant Filipino workers.
Included is a new provision that allows overseas Filipino workers to send in balikbayan boxes, contents of which amounting to not more than P150,000 shall be tax-free. The privilege may be availed three times a year.
For travelers, shopping just got a boost as the law allows bringing in personal valuables worth a minimum of P150,000 to a maximum of P350,000,