Have you or anyone you know fallen victim to the Balikbayan Box Scam? If so, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) pledges to provide one-time cash assistance.
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A balikbayan box is a package sent back to a worker’s home country. As the name implies, it is a large box containing presents such as food, clothing, and other items meant to be enjoyed by family members. The sender avails of the services of a courier agency to send the package either by air or sea. However, there are cases where the package never arrives at its destination.
Help Extended to Scam Victims
The Department of Migrant Workers has pledged to give Php 30,000 in cash assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who fell victim to the so-called balikbayan box scam. According to the Philippine Star article, those who experienced delays, losses, or abandonment of their packages are eligible for cash aid.
Those who wish to avail of the cash assistance will need to submit the required documents to the regional offices of the DMW. Additionally, the names of applicants will be checked against lists from the corresponding government agencies.
Funds for the cash aid will come from the DMW’s Aksyon Fund. Those who wish to avail of this fund must be able to provide proof that they are overseas workers and proof of employment. The applicant should also provide details regarding the assistance they are requesting from the government.
Efforts Extended to Return Balikbayan Boxes
Similarly, according to a report by the Philippine News Agency, the DMW earlier facilitated the release of more than 40 balikbayan boxes that had been recovered. This initiative came about after a number of OFWs expressed their concerns through the agency’s social media pages.
The balikbayan boxes were retrieved from a warehouse in Valenzuela City and were then distributed to their recipients in Cavite, Batangas and as far as Negros Occidental.
The DMW’s efforts in retrieving the boxes were made possible through coordination with the Bureau of Customs. In the previous year, the department delivered a little over 10,000 balikbayan boxes.
What is the Balikbayan Box Scam?
In a House committee report, alarming accounts about cargo firms and their deconsolidator partners in the Philippines were uncovered. There were testimonies from OFWs who experienced delays in receiving their balikbayan boxes. There were also instances where their packages were declared lost. Some workers even reported experiencing extortion just to have their boxes released. In some cases, packages were auctioned off despite the owners having proper documentation.
In the same hearing, some cargo companies were discovered to be engaging in fraudulent practices. As a result, there is a strong call to hold these companies and their co-conspirators accountable.
Tips on Preparing a Balikbayan Box
Sending balikbayan boxes is a meaningful way for overseas workers to share blessings and happiness with their families back home. It is no surprise that many take the time to carefully prepare the contents of their boxes.
To ensure that these packages safely reach their intended recipients, the Bureau of Customs reminds senders to choose accredited agents. Once a legitimate company has been selected, it is important to ensure that only permitted items are included in the box. This means no currencies, jewelry, firearms, pornographic materials, pirated products, plants, or improperly sealed food items.
Only legitimate items should be included, and these should be properly listed on the waybill.
Another way to avoid falling victim to scams is to be cautious of companies offering unusually cheap shipping rates. If a company offers to act as a middleman during the shipping process, always ask for credentials from the personnel involved.
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