Packages containing ukay-ukay, glutathione delay balikbayan box deliveries

  DUBAI - Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were warned anew against sending items of commercial quantities in balikbayan boxes, with UAE-based cargo companies saying that this is one of the common causes of delays in the distribution process. Balikbayan boxes are packages that Filipinos abroad send to their families in the Philippines. The boxes often contain gifts in the tradition of the Filipino custom of gift-giving. With the Christmas season fast approaching, cargo companies are expecting an influx of balikbayan box shipments to the Philippines. An average total of 10,000 boxes are collected everyday in the UAE. Anticipating a surge in sales in the run-up to the holidays, representatives of cargo companies operating in the UAE met with Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes in Dubai on Wednesday (August 24) to voice their concerns over delayed deliveries, saying that part of the problem is brought by those who knowingly or unknowingly send prohibited items. Landerson Goson of Makati Express said that when one box is flagged for containing prohibited items, the rest of the boxes in the shipment will also be affected as the Bureau of Customs conducts investigations by batches. A standard shipping container contains an average of 350 balikbayan boxes. Also read: Comprehensive guide to balikbayan boxes Tax exemption raised for balikbayan boxes OFWs urged to be cautious in dealing with freight forwarders Goson and Efren Artillaga, sales executive of Flomic Balikbayan Door to Door Cargo, told ExpatMedia.Net that among the prohibited items recently found in balikbayan boxes were large quantities of glutathione—a supplement for skin whitening—and used clothing intended for sale. Items that also get the immediate red flag are car parts, Artillaga said. “Do not send car parts or spare parts. This includes tyres and rims,” he said. “We can send used items for personal consumption, but when there are large quantities then this will be considered a commercial cargo,” Artillaga said. He also gave do’s and don’ts of sending balikbayan boxes. Watch this video: 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