Bernie Anabo Jr.
For years, thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were left asking the same painful question: Nasaan na ang padala ko?
Balikbayan boxes — packed with sacrifice, love, and hard-earned money — sat abandoned in ports, gathering dust while families waited in frustration.
That ends now.
On February 18, 2026, the government fired a clear warning shot: the era of neglect is over.
At the Bureau of Customs grounds in Manila, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick D. Go and BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno personally led the distribution of the first batch of the final wave of long-delayed balikbayan boxes. Twenty-eight OFWs and their families finally received what should have reached them long ago.
But this was more than a photo op.
This was a statement.
GO: MONEY WITH MUSCLE
Behind the operation is the financial green light from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. — and the firm hand of DOF Secretary Frederick Go, who ensured funding was secured to finish what many thought would drag on forever.
Go’s message was clear: the government will not allow OFWs to be victims of broken systems and abusive freight forwarders.
Under his watch, this is not just cleanup — it’s correction.
The first wave, launched December 18, 2025, covered 68 containers. That’s 20,944 balikbayan boxes. So far, 14,305 have already been delivered door-to-door.
Now comes the final push:
72 containers.
An estimated 24,536 boxes.
Fourteen containers have been released. Fifty-eight more are under processing, and the Bureau says they will move once all clearances and waived port charges are settled.
Translation? The bottleneck is being crushed.
NEPOMUCENO: RESTORE TRUST, ENFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY
If Go brings the fiscal muscle, BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno brings the enforcement hammer.
“This is about restoring trust and protecting our OFWs,” Nepomuceno declared — and the tone was unmistakable.
Under his leadership, the Bureau is not just releasing boxes. It is tightening procedures, strengthening documentation, and coordinating aggressively with logistics partners to ensure every shipment is properly inspected, documented, and released transparently.
More importantly, the government is helping affected OFWs file criminal complaints before the National Bureau of Investigation against erring freight forwarders.
That’s a shift from sympathy to sanctions.
And it sends a chilling message to shady operators: your days are numbered.
NO MORE EXCUSES
For too long, loopholes, unpaid port charges, and questionable freight operators turned ports into storage warehouses of broken promises.
Now, reforms are being laid out — streamlined processing, tighter monitoring, better coordination, and a renewed push for accountability.
OFWs are also being warned: transact only with licensed and verifiable freight forwarders. Keep receipts. Keep tracking numbers. Verify registrations. Be wary of suspiciously low rates.
Because while the government is cleaning house, vigilance must be shared.
THE BIGGER MESSAGE
Balikbayan boxes are not just cardboard packages.
They carry school supplies for children.
Medicine for parents.
Christmas gifts are sent months in advance.
Years of sacrifice sealed in tape and hope.
By personally leading the distribution, Secretary Frederick Go and Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno made it clear: this administration intends to finish the job — and fix the system.
The final wave has begun.
The message to OFWs?
You are not forgotten.
The message to abusive freight forwarders?
You are being watched.
