Filipinos abroad have been urged to be more careful in choosing freight carriers when sending "balikbayan packages" to their relatives at home.
This, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) noted that it has blacklisted 18 local and 28 foreign cargo carriers for complaints of undelivered packages.
Filipinos, especially overseas workers should book their packages only with reliable and accredited freight forwarders and agents to make sure that deliveries will reach their destination, DTI said in a statement.
It noted that sea cargo forwarders must be accredited with DTI's Philippine Shippers Bureau (PSB) while air cargo forwarders must gain Civil Aeronautics Authority of the Philippines accreditation.
Senders may verify the company name of Philippine sea freight forwarder counterpart through the DTI website or visit consulate offices abroad.
Extremely low door-to-door rates offered by cargo carriers should also be a red flag for senders, DTI noted.
"With low rates, they (foreign principals) do not have enough funds to bear the cost of transporting cargo..." said PSB acting head Victorio Mario Dimagiba.
They may also "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," he added.
DTI also urged the public to monitor alerts from government agencies such as the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration, Bureau of Customs and DTI regional offices.
Filipinos abroad may meanwhile inquire through embassies and consulates, Philippine Trade and Investment Centers and foreign governments' consumer agencies.
The following local carriers have not been accredited and are being investigated due to several complaints of undelivered packages:
2GO Express Inc
Aerosend
Alas Cargo Phil.
Associated Consolidation Express (ACE)
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)
VCG Customs Brokerage
Blacklisted foreign firms meanwhile include:
Al Rodah Marine Cargo
Cityline Cargo
Dagupan Cargo Packaging Services
Express Link Cargo Services
Smooth Express
AAA Cargo Express Inc
ABSCBN Star Kargo
Aerosend
Alas Cargo
Associated Consolidations Express-Ace Cargo
FRS Phil. Freight Services Inc
Shipping Express
South Atlantic Cargo
Cargo Net Worldwide Services- formerly FAL World Express Cargo
Fil Asia Cargo Forwarders Phil
Global Cargo
RJM Freight Cargo Forwarders
WRJ Freight Forwarders
North and South Express Cargo
Hagibis Express Pte. Ltd
Maru Cargo Logistics LLP
Maharlika Enterpise Cargo Services
SCRL Cargo
Bayanihan Express
Dausan International Forwarder
Ford Cargo International
Trico International
