Photo for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Tensions flared at a Customs warehouse in Bulacan due to unclear instructions on releasing balikbayan boxes following extreme delays in delivering shipments from the Middle East. Families who expected to collect packages from OFWs flocked to FR Agbay's warehouse in Balagtas, Bulacan, but an operator representative said they were told not to release the packages. "Director Fermin of the BOC ordered a halt . I do not know why they are stopping this," FR Agbay representative Roberto Uy said in Filipino. Thousands of balikbayan boxes, mainly from the Middle East, have been abandoned at the BOC by foreign courier services, with local delivery services working to have them shipped. With most recipients refusing to leave without their packages, the firm had to coordinate with the BOC, and the shipments were then cleared for release. According to Customs Director Michael Fermin, the boxes should have been delivered to the intended recipients' addresses and not picked up at the warehouse. "These boxes should be delivered at no cost to the OFWs. What they're doing now, they incur expenses," Fermin explained. Fermin also stated that the company should ensure that the remaining packages were delivered to the correct addresses to avoid backlogs ahead of the Christmas holidays. BKM/ Expat Media
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