BOC suspends freight firm over balikbayan boxes

MANILA, Philippines — As part of the continuing commitment to protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, the Bureau of Customs suspended for 60 days the accreditation of a freight forwarding company for failing to comply with a BOC show-cause order issued last week.

The BOC said the two-month suspension of Makati Express Cargo Inc. stemmed from the MECI’s failure to explain within three days why its accreditation should not be revoked, and because of its failure to settle outstanding duties and taxes.

“We remain committed to ensuring that all forwarding companies comply with customs laws and that our kababayans can trust that their hard-earned shipments reach their families safely and without delay,” BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.

Prior to the suspension, reports indicated that MECI had several shipping containers of balikbayan boxes left unclaimed and unpaid across several ports, including those in Cebu, Manila and Davao.

Some of these containers were found to have been overstaying, with several already declared abandoned.

Nepomuceno said the BOC continues to monitor and take appropriate measures to ensure that the affected balikbayan boxes are properly accounted for and delivered to their intended recipients in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers.

He added that the BOC would endorse the matter to the Department of Trade and Industry, so it can act on the firm’s DTI accreditation.