November 24, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — A task force handling the balikbayan box concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should be formed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as the holiday season nears, according to Agimat party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla.
The BOC earlier announced its plan to form the task force to address delays, excessive duties and unclear regulations, which “often result in frustration and financial burden for balikbayans.”
“Every Christmas, there is always a deluge of balikbayan boxes,” Revilla, chairman of the House overseas workers affairs committee, said.
“We should make sure that scammers or abusive forwarders will not make life difficult for OFWs,” he added.
Critical support programs for OFWs include the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan or Aksyon Fund, Revilla said.
At a recent awarding ceremony in San Pedro, Laguna, 100 OFWs received aid packages of up to P100,000, with a total disbursement of P9.8 million.