THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has blacklisted 32 local cargo forwarders and their 28 foreign counterparts following rising complaints of undelivered balikbayan boxes. The DTI on Oct. 16 identified the following local freight forwarders as having no accreditation with the department’s Philippine Shippers Bureau, and as having been the subject of complaints on undelivered packages: - 2GO Express Inc.; - Aerosend - Alas Cargo Phil - Associated Consolidation 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 Phil - R&M Cargo Services - Rodah Cargo Manila - South Atlantic Cargo Inc - Trico International Forwarding (Phils) Inc - VCG Customs Brokerage The following companies, while accredited, have been blacklisted and subject to DTI show cause orders because of complaints on undelivered balikbayan boxes: - D’ Winner Logistics Phil. Inc - LCSN Express Movers Inc - MC Plus Inc - Transtech Global Phil Inc - Wide wide World Express Corp On Oct. 31 the DTI blacklisted eight more Philippine firms: - ABS-CBN Global Cargo Corp - Gen Ex Cargo - Jonar Cargo - Joseph Glenn L. Galo - Pacific Logistics International Cargo - Pentfast - RDN Marketing & Cargo Forwarder - REN International Services Accredited cargo forwarder RRG Freight Services, meanwhile, is now one of two companies that have been issued show cause orders by DTI-PSB due to complaints regarding balikbayan boxes. The PSB also advised OFWs to stop doing business with the following foreign principal/cargo consolidators for reports of undelivered balikbayan boxes and other violations. United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Al Rodah Marine Cargo - Cityline Cargo - Dagupan Cargo Packaging Services - Express Link Cargo Services - Smooth Express United States of America (USA) - AAA Cargo Express Inc. - ABS-CBN Star Kargo - Aerosend - Alas Cargo - Associated Consolidations Express (ACE Cargo) - FRS Philippine Freight Services, Inc. - Shipping Express Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) - Cargo Net Worldwide Services formerly FAL-World Express Cargo - Fil Asia Cargo Forwarders Philippines - Global Cargo - RJM Freight Cargo Forwarders - WRJ Freight Forwarders (A Division of Al-Zagel Cargo) Singapore: - Hagibis Express Pte. Ltd. - Maru Cargo Logistics (s) LLP Ireland: - Maharlika Enterprise Cargo Services - SCRL Cargo Other countries: - Bayanihan Express in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Dausan International Forwarder in Australia - Ford Cargo Internationaal (FCI) in Hong Kong On Oct. 31 the DTI added six more foreign principals/consolidators to the blacklist: - Jasim Yaseen Al-Delam Air Cargo Services (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) - Pacific Logistics International Cargo (Kuwait) - Philand Ynterlink Ltd (United Kingdom) - Pentagon Cargo Inc (United States of America) - REN International (United States of America) - Star Xpress Forwarders (United States of America) “Overseas Filipino workers who will send their balikbayan boxes and their consignees in the Philippines should book their packages only with reliable and PSB-accredited freight forwarders and Philippine agents to ensure that their packages will reach their destinations,” said Victorio Mario Dimagiba, DTI-PSB director-in-charge, in a statement. “Senders may verify the company name of the Philippine sea freight forwarder counterpart at www.dti.gov.ph, or they may visit our Philippine Consulate offices abroad,” he said. Dimagiba said foreign principals and cargo consolidators overseas must have local counterparts that are accredited by the DTI-PSB if it is a sea cargo forwarder and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines if an air cargo forwarder. He also warned cargo senders from abroad against very low door-to-door rates that some foreign principals offer. “With low rates, they [foreign principals] do not have enough funds to bear the cost of transporting cargoes, and they fail to remit delivery funds to their Philippine freight forwarders, causing the shipments to be abandoned at the ports and not being delivered to consignees,” the DTI official said. “For consignees in the Philippines who have not received their packages from freight forwarders, they may contact DTI (02-751-3330) or go to PSB office to file an immediate claim or complaint,” he added. Source:- http://planetphilippines.com/current-affairs/gov’t-blacklists-32-local-‘balikbayan’-box-forwarders
I am getting my first empty balikbayan box delivered this evening. I will check with the agent to see what forwarding company they use.
How exciting :vhappy: I remember the very first one filled. We had what they now call a Jumbo box. By gosh it was big. I think around a cubic meter. Just take a little care with your packing and everything will arrive OK There's quite a good bit of very useful info on the internet on to best pack many items. Well worth informing yourself about that. Remember that these boxes are not always moved/transported in the same orientation in which they were packed. I'm sure you know that the only restriction in filling that volume is that of weight. If it can be moved/rolled then it's OK Finally, just make sure that the assembled box can fit through any doors,hallways, bends stairs etc. Hope you'll have many hours of fun filling it. I'm sure the recipient(s) will have great fun delving into it. Ahh, yes, be sure the forwarder is OK. Are you able to track the shipment? Most of the bigger forwarders have this facility. Do be aware that these sea-shipments can take some time. Especially in this current economic environment where the ships never go full speed ahead and given some of the lengthy diversions around trouble spots. Expect 6 - 8 weeks
I was not sure whether to get the small or medium box but the agent said a medium box was much better for him, so a medium box it is. The driver did have to make a detour over a toll bridge to deliver the box after all. A medium box is just under 6 Cubic feet. If your box really was a cubic metre that is six times the size of the box I got. The agent is Lilley (as recommended on here) Not sure if I can track the box. I have just put everything in the box and it is not even half full! I do have food in the box but only dried food, it seems pointless filling it with tinned food - most of that is just water! I will fill the outer edges with towels, pillows and cushions I think - I have some spare ones lying around. Much of the other content is just from the pound shop - semi luxury items that would probably cost more there. Oh, it seems that I have to list the inventory of the box and it must not exceed £200. That means no computers or Android phones then, unless I just chance it.
