Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno announced that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Davao has successfully delivered all 732 abandoned balikbayan boxes previously held at the port due to fraudulent freight forwarders.
The milestone is a key part of the national government’s commitment to expedite the release of overstaying shipments, following the direct mandate of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and with the active support of Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go.
Commissioner Nepomuceno highlighted that, through the administration’s intervention, the door-to-door delivery of these packages was completed at no additional cost to the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or their families.
“The BOC continues to strengthen our measures to protect our countrymen. We are coordinating with various agencies and formulating policies to prevent this problem from recurring,” said Commissioner Nepomuceno. “We are strengthening help desks and dialogue platforms to ensure we promptly address the concerns of our OFWs.”
The Port of Davao joins other major hubs in clearing the backlog of abandoned shipments. To date, the BOC has successfully distributed a total of 35,476 boxes across the country:
| Port | Boxes Delivered | Status of Remaining Units |
| Port of Manila | 70 | 100% Completed |
| Port of Davao | 732 | 100% Completed |
| Manila Int’l Container Port | 18,027 | 6,096 Ongoing |
| Port of Cebu | 13,948 | 392 In Transit |
| Port of Subic | 2,699 | 99 Ongoing |
During the distribution event, several recipients expressed their relief and gratitude after facing long delays caused by unscrupulous forwarders. Commissioner Nepomuceno extended his recognition to the Port of Davao, led by District Collector Maita S. Acevedo, for the seamless coordination and swift action required to finalize the deliveries.
The Bureau of Customs reaffirms its mission to provide “faster, more reliable, and more humane services” to the Filipino people. However, the agency also issued a stern reminder to the public:
To avoid scams, OFWs and their families are urged to transact only with legitimate, accredited consolidators.
The BOC remains vigilant and continues to fast-track the remaining boxes nationwide to ensure every “padala” reaches its rightful home.
