18 November 2013) – Two representatives from the Philippine Shippers Bureau (PSB), Mr. Marceliano P. Bernas, Jr. and Mr. Eduardo S. Quizon, visited Saudi Arabia and held a “Roadshow talk on Balikbayan Box Shipments” last Friday,  November 15 at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Thirty-two (32) representatives from the different Filipino communities in Riyadh were invited by the DTI to participate in the forum. The objective of the roadshow is to explain how a balikbayan box is being shipped from the Middle East to its destination anywhere in the Philippines. Since 2009, the PSB has received numerous complaints from OFWs in the Middle East on the problems they encounter in sending their balikbayan boxes to their families in the Philippines.

The facilitators discussed the practical tips in sending balikbayan boxes as well as the background and measures taken on the problems encountered by overseas Filipino workers with regard to undelivered balikbayan boxes. 

Labor Attaché Rustico Dela Fuente gave the Welcome Remarks during the activity while Mr. Remegio L. De Guzman, General Manager of Skyfreight Forwarders, Inc. gave a short talk on the actual best practices in balikbayan box consolidation and shipping.

The Middle East, which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Qatar, ranks first with respect to the number of packages sent through balikbayan boxes. END