It is a privilege for every Filipino to send BALIKBAYAN BOXES for their families and loved ones back at home. The only thing to consider is that it is slow and takes longer because it is done via SEA and TRANS-HIPMENT.
It takes between 39 and 52 days, plus delays, from the date of departure in Rotterdam and not from the date of pick-up.
The gigantic containership will not go on to the Philippines; it is like going on a flight, it will be transferred to a smaller ship. Like a stop-over, there are also delays, and when that happens, the cargo will have to wait for the next available trip, and the boat’s name will change from what was being planned. When it arrives at the port of destination (POD), CEBU, it is not considered day one because most of the time there is port congestion in the Philippines. They have to wait to be anchored first. Once docked, customs processing will start, it takes from 2 to 10 days. The container will go through a massive X-ray, and when proven to be nothing suspicious, only then will it be released by customs (DOUANE). After that, it will be hauled to the warehouse. The warehouse is like a bus terminal, with plenty of passengers at its different destinations and its own time slots. Other destinations like Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will be transferred by boat via roll-on-roll-off (RORO). When the boxes are ready to be delivered, they will call the number provided on the forms. Make sure that these numbers are active to avoid delays. Above all that, there are also some small issues to consider, like internet problems, unreachable receivers, road closures, weather conditions, engine troubles, holidays, peak season (from November up to the end of February), and worker shortages.
In the Netherlands, we do almost everything by ourselves, but in the Philippines, the local forwarders accept not only our container but also shipments from different parts of the world. There is always a waiting list, and sometimes your box will not be delivered at the same time because there is not enough space in the vehicle, but they still want to accommodate you with whatever space is left. And when you go on a holiday, the “estimated” time of arrival (ETA) is unpredictable and can’t meet your expectations anymore, so we advise you to send your boxes earlier than you are used to, or we would rather not accept it at all to avoid disappointment in the end.
We hope that these explanations will help. Since March 2020, everything has changed, from the container price to bookings to unexpected delays. Enough patience and understanding are all we ask in this trying time. We all have one goal: to deliver your boxes to your loved ones by any means possible.
CEBU within 24 hours upon unloading.
Metro Manila between 7 and 15 days.
Luzon between 9 and 25 days.
Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao between 15 and 35 days. Offshore varies depending on the vessel’s availability. Please consider the holidays and weather conditions.
Offshore is per schedule or meet-up.
