NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
BOC And DMW Team Up To Deliver Long-Lost Balikbayan Boxes Back To OFW Families
Photo credit: BOC
Finally, some long-awaited packages are heading home — with love, care, and a whole lot of teamwork.
In a move that speaks volumes about compassion in government service, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) joined forces to make sure 2,954 abandoned balikbayan boxes finally reach the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). These boxes, originally filled with goodies, essentials, and heartfelt surprises from OFWs, were left forgotten and unclaimed at the Port of Davao — all due to the negligence of shady freight forwarders.
But on May 29, 2025, hope was officially restored. During a ceremonial turnover in Davao City, the BOC handed the boxes over to the DMW, sealing the act with a Deed of Donation. With this, the DMW will now take charge of bringing these packages home — where they truly belong.
“These boxes are more than just packages — they’re filled with love, hope, and sacrifice,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio shared during the event. “That’s why we made it our mission to return them. With DMW’s help, we’re making sure they finally reach the homes they were meant for.”
The move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s push for more compassionate, people-centered service, especially for OFWs — our modern-day heroes.
DMW Assistant Secretary for Reintegration, Atty. Francis Ron C. De Guzman, echoed this appreciation. “The Bureau of Customs has always been there from day one to day zero, assisting us, helping us to deliver this symbol of love to OFWs and their families,” he said.
The balikbayan boxes had been declared “forfeited” with the green light from the Department of Finance, allowing them to be lawfully turned over to the DMW. Getting to that point wasn’t simple — the process involved months of coordination, securing clearances, completing paperwork, and sorting out logistics. But the BOC was determined to do the right thing.
District Collector Maita S. Acevedo of the Port of Davao, through a message read by Atty. Giovanni Ferdinand A. Leynes, put it beautifully:
“These balikbayan boxes are testament to the quiet resilience of our modern-day heroes... Tayo rin ay kaagapay sa paghahatid ng pag-asa lalo na sa ating mga bagong bayani.”
Now, the DMW is making the final arrangements to deliver the boxes — safely and swiftly — through a trusted logistics partner. Families can expect these long-lost gifts to finally land on their doorsteps in the coming days.
In a move that speaks volumes about compassion in government service, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) joined forces to make sure 2,954 abandoned balikbayan boxes finally reach the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). These boxes, originally filled with goodies, essentials, and heartfelt surprises from OFWs, were left forgotten and unclaimed at the Port of Davao — all due to the negligence of shady freight forwarders.
But on May 29, 2025, hope was officially restored. During a ceremonial turnover in Davao City, the BOC handed the boxes over to the DMW, sealing the act with a Deed of Donation. With this, the DMW will now take charge of bringing these packages home — where they truly belong.
“These boxes are more than just packages — they’re filled with love, hope, and sacrifice,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio shared during the event. “That’s why we made it our mission to return them. With DMW’s help, we’re making sure they finally reach the homes they were meant for.”
The move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s push for more compassionate, people-centered service, especially for OFWs — our modern-day heroes.
DMW Assistant Secretary for Reintegration, Atty. Francis Ron C. De Guzman, echoed this appreciation. “The Bureau of Customs has always been there from day one to day zero, assisting us, helping us to deliver this symbol of love to OFWs and their families,” he said.
The balikbayan boxes had been declared “forfeited” with the green light from the Department of Finance, allowing them to be lawfully turned over to the DMW. Getting to that point wasn’t simple — the process involved months of coordination, securing clearances, completing paperwork, and sorting out logistics. But the BOC was determined to do the right thing.
District Collector Maita S. Acevedo of the Port of Davao, through a message read by Atty. Giovanni Ferdinand A. Leynes, put it beautifully:
“These balikbayan boxes are testament to the quiet resilience of our modern-day heroes... Tayo rin ay kaagapay sa paghahatid ng pag-asa lalo na sa ating mga bagong bayani.”
Now, the DMW is making the final arrangements to deliver the boxes — safely and swiftly — through a trusted logistics partner. Families can expect these long-lost gifts to finally land on their doorsteps in the coming days.
May 30, 2025
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