Precious brought two balikbayan boxes from San Francisco, California for her family and relatives in the Philippines. She felt relieved that customs officers did not go through her belongings. The new changes was trigged due to the soon-to-be implementation of a new policy when it comes to bringing Balikbayan boxes to the Philippines. The new policy is set to be implemented this coming December but Customs officers are already implementing the said changes as of the moment.
The Bureau of Customs is expecting more number of Balikbayan boxes as the Christmas season approaches. These boxes are guaranteed to get through Customs as long as you are following their regulations and limitations. Many OFWs coming home for their families felt totally happy upon the implementation of the new policy.
The new policy states that OFWs who stayed in another country for six months to 5 years are allowed to bring different products amounting to P150,000.00 without paying for the tax. For OFWs who stayed for 5 years but not less than 10 years abroad, they are allowed to bring Balikbayan boxes amounting to P250,000.00 while P350,000.00 is the limit of Balikbayan boxes brought by OFWs who stayed 10 years and above in another country. For tourists, they are allowed to bring Balikbayan boxes worth P150,000.00.
The only condition: Products with too many same variants are not allowed.
Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs, Atty. Althea Acas, appealed to the public not to abuse this new policy.
In addition to the new policy, hand-carried souvenirs from other countries amounting to P10,000 or less is not subjected for tax payment.
Watch below video from ABS CBN
