Sobrang nabulabog ang mga OFWs dito sa Europa at maging sa America at iba pang bahagi ng daigdig sa balitang papatawan na ng karampatang buwis ng Bureau of Customs ang mga Balikbayan boxes. Bakit pagbabawian ang mga maliliit na manggagawang Pilipino sa abroad na tanging kaligayahan nila ay makapagpadala ng mga regalo para sa mahal nila sa buhay sa Pilipinas? Alam ba ni Commissioner Alberto Lina kung gaano pinaghihirapang ipunin ng mga tinaguriang bagong bayani ng ating bayan ang laman ng bawat kahon hanggang sa mapuno ito? Alam ba niya kung anong sakripisyo ang dinaranas ng mga OFWs na ito, makapagpadala lamang sa mga mahal na magulang, anak at mga kapatid ng mga simpleng bagay na lubhang makapagpapasaya sa kanila? Ngayon ay pagbubuwisan na ang bawat balikbayan boxes na ito? Napakalupit naman yata ng aksyong ito. Bakit di niya pagbawiang kunan ng buwis ang mga smugglers ng imported cars at iba pang luxury items? Bakit ang mga simpleng OFWs ang nakita niyang pagbawian ngayon?
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Pakibasa mga kababayan ang balitang ito na napalathala na sa maraming pahayagan at napanood na rin sa mga news channels sa Pilipinas. Just want to share this with you, courtesy of ofw.com and Evelyn Macairan of Philippine Star.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015
BALIKBAYAN CARGO BOXES, RANDOM CHECK BY CUSTOMS
The bureau of Customs are starting to check the Balikbayan boxes. In a news report by GMA News 24 Oras, the BOC will add additional cost to those balikbayan boxes with taxable materials. They said only P23,000 is the total amount allowed cost of one Balikbayan box.
According to Manila Bulletin news: “Reliable sources at the waterfront said Lina initially had approved an increase of the duties and taxes covering all shipments in a consolidated container from P80,000 to P180,000.”
According to another report, the Bureau of Custom under the management of Commissioner Alberto Lina planned to double the taxes for consolidated cargo and shipments. This will greatly affect the balikbayan boxes of the OFWs because cargo forwarders gather and consolidate the shipment of boxes in one container to save money and tax, thus the payment of a balikbayan is also a little cheaper.
WHAT ARE ALLOWED IN “BALIKBAYAN BOXES”?
Non-commercial goods or goods not in commercial quantity strictly for personal use only, such as: wearing apparel, clothing, foodstuffs/grocery items/canned goods; the value of which must not exceed US$500.00.
HOW OFTEN CAN FILIPINOS RESIDING OR WORKING ABROAD SEND A “BALIKBAYAN BOX” TO THEIR FAMILIES AND RELATIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES?
One consignor/sender is allowed to send one (1) box during a six (6) -month period. They will hold and ask those owners to pay taxes, if they can’t pay, they will hold it in favor of the government.
www.ofwako.com
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BOC eyes higher duties, taxes on balikbayan boxes
By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) | Updated August 19, 2015 –
MANILA, Philippines – The government is losing approximately P600 million in taxes per year due to technical smuggling through balikbayan boxes, a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official said yesterday.
BOC deputy commissioner for assessment and operations coordinating group Agaton Teodoro Uvero said balikbayan boxes are used to transport commercial items for businesses, including watches, bags, perfumes and other imported goods.
Uvero said they found 11 brand-new LED television sets inside a specially sized box during a spot check conducted recently.
“We do not have an exact figure on the losses, but we are estimating that there is around P50,000 in underpayment for every shipping container (carrying balikbayan boxes). If there are 1,000 containers coming in every month, that means a rough estimate of P50 million lost (by the) government,” he said.
If this is not immediately resolved, he said monthly losses were expected to double or triple, especially due to the volume of balikbayan boxes being sent to the country during the Christmas season.
Uvero said the BOC is planning to implement higher duties and taxes on packages.
At present, a container loaded with balikbayan boxes is charged about P80,000. The BOC said it may increase the amount to about P120,000.
The regulations on the new taxes will be released before Oct. 1.