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DTI mulls insurance coverage for balikbayan boxes

DUBAI: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is working with the recently-formed League of Freight Forwarders (LFF) to have balikbayan boxes insured to compensate senders in cases of delivery failure or damage to the goods.

“Isa sa mga advocacy ng LFF is to have an insurance. Actually, para dun sa kundi naipadala or may damage (ang boxes) – sometimes hindi naman ginusto at di inaasahan – ay mako-compensate yung mga nagpadala nating mga kababayan,” Commercial Attaché Charmaine S. Yalong said.

“So, we have DTI and LFF working together to make sure na hindi na mangyayari yung mga ganyan,” she added.

Commercial Attache Charmaine S. Yalong
Commercial Attache Charmaine S. Yalong

Yalong, whose office spearheaded LFF’s creation, also provided an update on the group’s membership so far: “Last naming meeting nitong November, meron silang 14 members at merong nakapila for processing ng documents for 6 other new members.”

Yalong said LFF is aiming to have 20 members by end of the year. “Mukhang mari-reach ang target na iyon,” she said, explaining that DTI has a list of over 30 freight forwarders accredited to send balikbayan boxes. “So, 20 of out the 30-plus in the list is still a very good number for LFF.”

The LFF was created to address concerns about fly-by-night cargo forwarders whose operations are being blamed for delayed deliveries and burglarized boxes.

Yalong urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to check DTI’s website for the list of accredited freight forwarders. “Kung wala dun yung (freight forwarder na pinagpapadalhan), malaki ang tsansa (na fly-by-night), di lahat baka yung iba di pa nakapag-accredit or walang partner sa Pilipinas. So, pumili na lang nung nasa list,” she said.

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