DTI Sec warns of freight forwarders this X’mas

BANGUED, Abra – Trade and Industry Sec.  Gregory Domingo warned the public against freight forwarders who have been victimizing recipients of balikbayan boxes particularly this Christmas season following reports of these being stolen or pilfered.

Domingo said here he directed all DTI provincial offices to step up  campaign against the practice so families of overseas foreign workers would not be deprived of benefits of their hard-earned gifts or goodies.

Here, DTI-Abra officials requested support of media outfits to  alert families of OFWs  to ensure their packages and balikbayan boxes are secure. 

Abrenios were urged to  remind their OFW family members to be vigilant and seek  services of freight forwarders that were legitimate and accredited with the DTI’s Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (DTI-PSB).

OFWs sending packages should first see the list of accredited sea freight forwarders and monitor alerts and advisories from the DTI before sending their packages to avoid becoming victims of unscrupulous businessmen doing monkey business of taking advantage on the OFWs, Domingo said.

As of Sept. 30, the DTI-PSB  had 600 registered and accredited sea freight forwarders.

There were instances in Abra where OFWs sought assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation to recover their packages sent by relatives abroad  not delivered by freight forwarders.