Names of blacklisted ‘Balikbayan boxes’ forwarders bared

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has warned the public especially Filipinos working abroad to be vigilant in sending their balikbayan boxes to the Philippines and check the reliability of foreign principals/consolidators and cargo forwarders as the Christmas holiday season is fast approaching.

This warning aims to help overseas Filipino workers (OFW) that the packages they ship to their families and relatives in the Philippines will be delivered on-time, intact and safe, said DTI Region 1 Information Officer Amelia Galvez.
The DTI, through its Philippine Shippers Bureau (PSB) accredits sea cargo forwarders, she added.
Due to numerous complaints received by the DTI of undelivered balikbayan boxes in the country, the agency is now issuing a list of blacklisted or unaccredited foreign consolidators and cargo forwarders to alert the public especially OFWs and their recipients.
“In Region 1, so far,there were no reported complaints of undelivered balikbayan boxes as of this month,” Galvez said.
DTI has blacklisted the following Foreign Consolidators/Principals: In the United Arab Emirates: Al Rodah Marine Cargo, Cityline Cargo, Dagupan Cargo Packaging Services, Express Link Cargo Services and Smooth Express; United States of America: AAA Cargo Express Inc., ABS-CBN Star Kargo, Aerosend, Alas Cargo, Associated Consolidations Express, FRS Philippine Freight Services Inc., Shipping Express and South Atlantic Cargo; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Cargo Net Worldwide Services (formerly FAL-World Express Cargo), Fil Asia Cargo Forwarders Philippines, Global Cargo, RJM Freight Forwarders (a division of Al-Zagel Cargo), and North and South Express Cargo; Singapore: Hagibis Express Pte. Ltd., and Maru Cargo Logistics LLP; Ireland: Maharlika Enterprise Cargo Services and SCRL Cargo; and other Countries: Bayanihan Express in Malaysia, Dausan International Forwarder in Australia, Ford Cargo International in HongKong and Trico International in Cyprus.
The following are also unaccredited/blacklisted cargo forwarders issued formal charges by the DTI-PSB: Vanwil Cargo Forwarder Inc., Aerosend, Alas Cargo Philippines, Associated Consolidated Express, Dausan International Forwarder, FACF Parcel Delivery, FRS Philippine Freight Services, Inc., International Cargo Forwarder, J.J. Transglobal Brokerage, JAR cargo Forwarders, Mail Plus Cargo Carriers, Manila Broker, Maru cargo Logistics Philippines, R&M Cargo Services, Rodah Cargo Manila, South Atlantic Cargo Inc., trico International Forwarding (Phils) Inc., and VCG Customs Brokerage.
The DTI also released the list of blacklisted accredited freight forwarding companies which were issued show cause orders by DTI and are now subject of complaints regarding balikbayan boxes, which, if found guilty, will be revoked of their accreditation with PSB: D’ Winner Logistics Philippines, Inc., Transtech Global Philippines, Inc., Wide-wide World Express Corp., LCSN Express Movers, Inc.
PSB Director-in-Charge Atty. Victorio Mario Dimagiba advises OFWs who will send their balikbayan boxes and their recipients in the Philippines to book their packages only with reliable and PSB-accredited freight forwarders to ensure that their packages will reach its destination.
OFWs should look for foreign principals and cargo consolidators abroad that have Philippine counterparts accredited by the PSB if it is a sea cargo forwarder and Civil Aeronautics Authority of the Philippines if it is an air cargo forwarder, he said.
On the other hand, they should avoid very low door-to-door rates offered by foreign principals because usually with low rates, the foreign principals do not have funds to their Philippine freight forwarders causing the shipments to be abandoned at the ports thus, could not be delivered to the recipients.
Further, DTI advises senders to verify with the Philippine Sea freight forwarder counterpart at www.dti.gov.ph or visit the Philippine Consulate offices abroad.

They may also instruct their relatives/recipient to monitor advisories from DTI-PSB. Most importantly, senders should secure the documents of the shipment made with the cargo shipper.
Recipients who are expecting packages from relatives abroad should monitor and check with the local freight forwarder about the shipment even before it arrives. They should inspect carefully the wrappings and seal of the package before signing the delivery receipt to ensure that everything is in order. (Miriaflor Rimando)