DFA Thanks BOC for Suspending Balikbayan Box Measure
The Department of Foreign Affairs today welcomed the decision of the Bureau of Customs to suspend the implementation of the duty- and tax-free privileges of consolidated balikbayan boxes, saying this is good news for the hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipinos.
"We would like to thank the Bureau of Customs and also the Department of Finance for being sensitive to the needs of our kababayans abroad and for listening to their appeals," Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said.
"This is an early Christmas gift which we are sure the more than 10 million Filipinos and their families in the Philippines surely appreciate," Secretary Cayetano said.
The Secretary said Philippine embassies and consulates general in the United States and other balikbayan box-sending countries abroad have been receiving requests for assistance from members of Filipino communities who will be affected by the orders.
On Thursday, customs authorities announced ithe temporary suspension until 31 March 2018 of Customs Administrative Order 05-2016 and Customs Memorandum Order 04-2017.
With the suspension, Filipinos abroad are no longer required to present proofs of purchase for items they place inside balikbayan boxes that they send to their families in the Philippines.
Under both orders, Filipino citizens who send balikbayan boxes to the Philippines are also required to submit a photocopy of their Philippine passport to avail of the government's tax exemption.
Customs authorities said the decision to suspend the orders was in response to the appeals of Filipinos abroad who would be affected by the new tax policy. END