OVERSEAS Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families can now expect improved access to vital assistance and information regarding Balikbayan boxes and general shipments, following a new inter-agency initiative between the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).
The alliance was formally established through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno and CFO Chairperson Secretary Dante Francis M. Ang II.
Under the agreement, both agencies will collaborate to educate overseas Filipinos on customs requirements, mandatory documentation, prohibited goods, and strategies to avoid fraudulent shipping schemes.
The partnership specifically targets systemic issues affecting door-to-door packages, establishing clearer referral channels for shipments that are delayed, damaged, tampered with, missing, or left undelivered.
“Marami sa ating mga Filipinos Overseas ang regular na nagpapadala ng Balikbayan boxes para sa kanilang mga pamilya,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
“Through this partnership, we want to ensure that they have access to reliable information on customs requirements, proper shipping practices, and available government assistance whenever concerns arise,” added Nepumuceno.
To execute the initiative, the BOC will supply authoritative, updated guidance regarding cargo-forwarding policies, humanitarian donations, and import restrictions.
Meanwhile, the CFO will distribute these advisories through its global platforms, orientation seminars, Migration Talks, and Community Education Programs.
“Through this MOA, we can connect those two strengths,” CFO Secretary Ang II emphasized, noting that the agency will bring customs updates directly to migrant communities worldwide.
Additionally, the agreement outlines the creation of a Joint technical working group (TWG) tasked with designing standard implementing guidelines, referral mechanisms, joint information campaigns, and capacity-building measures.
By streamlining communication and expanding public outreach, the BOC and CFO aim to empower global Filipino communities to make informed, safe decisions when sending care packages home to their loved ones.
