The OFW Partylist has welcomed the adoption of the Committee Report by the House of Representatives, aimed at addressing corruption and anomalies in the sending of balikbayan boxes by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). In the sponsorship speech of Party List Representative Marissa Del Mar Magsino, findings and recommendations were presented to tackle the systemic issues related to the shipment of balikbayan boxes by OFWs.
These issues include the lack of adequate regulations and accountability for foreign consolidators and local de-consolidators. House Resolution 499, filed in October 2022, served as the basis for the investigation conducted by the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA) in December 2024 and February 2025.
Among the key recommendations is the issuance of a Joint Administrative Order that establishes regulatory mechanisms to hold forwarders accountable and create grievance mechanisms for affected OFWs to voice their complaints. As Chairperson of the Technical Working Group (TWG), Rep. Magsino emphasized that these reforms are not merely a response to the problems faced by some of our countrymen abroad but a stand for the dignity of every OFW.
The lawmaker expressed hope that this initiative will restore the proper value of the balikbayan boxes sent by our OFWs and serve as a reminder that each box carries a story of care and responsibility for their families.
