The Office of the President (OP) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) are collaborating with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to add layers of protection to avoid the loss or theft of balikbayan boxes.
In a statement Sunday, the BOC said that its Internal Administration Group acting deputy commissioner Michael Fermin met with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and PAOCC Undersecretary Gilberto Cruz in Malacañang last Aug. 3.
According to Fermin, the BOC has filed 11 criminal complaints against shady freight forwarding firms participating in the balikbayan box scheme.
He stated that the BOC was successful in releasing 36 containers of abandoned combined cargo totaling 9,689 cartons.
Fermin said the BOC is also finalizing a joint memorandum of understanding to expedite operations, improve coordination, and strengthen measures to preserve balikbayan boxes supplied by overseas Filipino workers.
The PAOCC, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Migrant Workers, forwarders, and other stakeholders have all signed this pact.
A Customs memorandum order for the registration of deconsolidators is also being developed, along with the payment of a P2-million performance bond to ensure that responsible parties are held accountable and that the handling of balikbayan boxes is meticulous and efficient.
