BOC warns OFWs on fly-by-night forwarders

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should be wary of sending balikbayan boxes home through freight forwarders with rock bottom charges since there have been cases in which the boxes never arrive, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rufino Biazon said yesterday.

“To Pinoys sending balikbayan boxes home: Beware of fly-by-night forwarders offering rock bottom prices. Some end up in abandonment and disposal…Fly-by-night forwarders charge very low fees but don’t pay the freight and other fees, relying on the broker on the receiving end,” Biazon posted on his Twitter account.

He said these foreign-based bogus forwarding companies either have no contacts in the country or have small-time contacts and cannot afford to pay for the release of the shipment. “Sometimes, the broker doesn’t have the money to pay the fees and simply abandons the consolidated containers” at the port, Biazon said, adding that most of the victims are based in the United States and the Middle East.

In an interview with reporters, he said OFWs should “choose carefully the company they would hire. It should be able to complete the operation and can pay the fees once the cargo arrives in Manila. They (OFWs) would just have to exercise due diligence.”

It has only been a week since he assumed the position as BOC chief but he has already received some complaints against these fly-by-night freight forwarders, he said.

“I received personal information and questions on the balikbayan boxes that are not released. I also had a briefing with the Manila International Container Port (officials), who complained about the pileup of the consolidated cargo,” Biazon said, adding that while the BOC is often criticized for delays in the release of balikbayan boxes, the freight forwarders are the ones truly at fault.

Biazon said he will order a compilation of data on which freight forwarders are reported to have shortchanged their clients. He added that he may have the names of these firms posted on the BOC website.