Marcos orders release of 130,000 abandoned balikbayan boxes before Christmas

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered the release and delivery of approximately 130,000 abandoned balikbayan boxes before Christmas, with duties and taxes waived by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and port operators.

The government has allocated a P30 million fund, approved by Finance Secretary Frederick Go, to cover trucking and delivery expenses.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will not need to spend any money as the boxes will be delivered directly to their homes, with the BOC targeting completion of deliveries by January 6, 2026.

The BOC will pursue freight forwarders who have failed to deliver or abandoned boxes for up to two years, and has drafted a new regulation requiring a P2 million bond.

Around 144 shipping containers filled with boxes abandoned at the port for eight months to two years were part of the release.