Department of Trade and Industry of the Republic o : KSA and UAE top list of countries with undelivered Balikbayan boxes

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Department of Trade and Industry through its Philippine Shippers' Bureau (DTI-PSB) has recorded that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have the most number of complaints on undelivered Balikbayan box shipments through sea in 2013.

Out of the 149 total complaints received by DTI-PSB pertaining to Balikbayan boxes which were not delivered to rightful owners or consignees, 37 or 25% of these complaints came from KSA while 31 or 21% were shipped from the UAE. United States of America (USA), Kuwait, United Kingdom (UK) and Singapore follow with 22, 19, 11, and seven complaints that are equivalent to 15%, 13%, 5%, and 7%, respectively.

DTI-Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Officer-in-Charge Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba reiterates to the public, especially the OFWs in the countries mentioned, to send only their hard-earned balikbayan boxes to foreign consolidators which have agents or freight forwarders in the Philippines that are DTI-accredited to be certain that their cargoes will be received by their loved ones.

"The non-delivery of Balikbayan box usually occurs when incoming shipments of balikbayan boxes are abandoned at the Philippine ports for failure of unscrupulous foreign consolidators to remit necessary funds to their Philippine agents for the delivery of cargoes to consignees," Dimagiba explains.

Consolidating the complaints on Balikbayan box shipments, the DTI-PSB issues its weekly advisory on foreign consolidators/principals and freight forwarders with cases elevated to the Department of Justice (DOJ), operating without the DTI accreditation, issued with formal charges, and with pending complaints.

In its advisory last January 10, 2014, 11 KSA-based foreign consolidators/principals are included in the list for not remitting the necessary funds to their Philippine agents to effect the release of containers where usually, Balikbayan boxes are part of the cargoes. They are: Caravan Cargo Agency; Cargo Net Worldwide Services formerly FAL-World Express Cargo; Global Cargo; Jonar Cargo; Kabalen Forwarders, North and South Express Cargo; PC Worldwide Cargo; Sir Cargo Forwarders, WRJ Freight Forwarders (A Division of Al-Zagel Cargo), Mohsen Cargo Services, and, Fil-Arab International Cargo.

The Philippine agents of these foreign consolidators--Megatop Express Cargo Forwarder; Manila Broker; J.J. Transglobal Brokerage; Jonar Cargo; RGC Green Logistics; Kabalen Forwarders; R&M Cargo Services; and Sir2Go Forwarders are not accredited with the DTI and should not engage in the freight forwarding business. Meanwhile, some accredited companies namely, DXL International Freight Forwarder, Inc., and ECFS International Forwarding, Inc. that are implicated in the complaints are now facing revocation of their accreditation with DTI.

On the other hand, six UAE-based companies are also in the advisory due to non-remittance of funds for Philippine agents. They are: Al Rodah Marine Cargo, Cityline Cargo, Dagupan Cargo Packaging Services, Express Link Cargo Services, Smooth Express, and, Grace Express Cargo. Also, some Philippine agents have been identified in the complaints, namely, Rodah Cargo Manila and VCG Customs Brokerage that are not accredited with DTI. Yet, also in the list are Aeroworld Logistics Phil., Inc. and D' Winner Logistics Phils., Inc. that are DTI-accredited but are being petitioned to have its accreditation revoked for being accused in the complaints.

The consistently high number of complaints on balikbayan box shipments coming from these countries since 2008 has prompted the DTI to conduct the Roadshow on Balikbayan Box Shipments in Dubai, UAE last  November 12-13, 2014 and in Riyadh, KSA last November 15, 2013. The same Roadshow was also held in Hongkong and Singapore last October 19-21, 2013 and October 25-27, 2013, respectively.

The Roadshow consisted of awareness sessions, dialogues, and consultations with overseas Filipinos (OFs) as individuals, associations, or organizations, embassy and consular officials, foreign service officers, overseas welfare officers, and legitimate freight forwarders on the problem on hand, fraudulent activities, actual and resolved cases, assistance programs, and promotional materials.

OIC Dimagiba reiterates, "DTI urges consumers to avoid becoming victims of unscrupulous cargo forwarders and check the list of DTI-accredited sea freight forwarders and monitor regular advisories and alerts at www.dti.gov.ph."

Complaints on pilferage or lost item and non-delivery of balikbayan boxes may be filed at the PSB at 2nd Floor, DTI Bldg., 361 Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City; or sent through facsimile number [phone] or email address - [e-mail]. Call DTI Direct [phone] for assistance.