Duration and Tips
It is a privilege for every Filipino families to send BALIKBAYAN BOXES for their loved ones back at home. The only thing to consider is that, this is such a long process and very slow because it is done via SEA and thru TRANSSHIPMENT.
A short explanation of the delivery system;
It takes between 39 to 49 days or longer from the date of the departure in Rotterdam and not the dates of pick up.
Sending a container is like going to have a flight in an airport full of planes. The massive container ship will not go on to the Philippines and just like any flights it will be transferred to a smaller ship. It is like a stop over and when the arrival get delayed for the connecting boat the cargo will have to wait for another available vessel thus sometimes a longer lay over and cancellations and a change of the name of the vessel than what was scheduled. When it arrived to the final destination is not considered as day one because they have to wait to be anchored first, most of the time there is a port congestion in the Philippines, only then that they can unload containers and we are talking international so it is not just a hundred but thousands of containers not only from Europe.
Once docked in Manila and the container has been unloaded from the ship it has to go in line to be processed by the customs, correct papers, then it will go through under a giant X-RAY machine and when there is nothing suspicious then it will be cleared and can be hauled to the warehouse. The warehouse is like a bus terminal, with it’s own destination and time slot this time with plenty of passengers waiting in line from different other companies from all over the world.
In the Netherlands we almost do everything by ourselves but in the Philippines the forwarders is like DHL and LBC they also accept different shipments not only your boxes or our container. That is why there are waiting lists and sometimes your box will not be delivered on the same time as the others even if they were pick up on the same time. They will deliver the boxes according to the order of the arrivals hence the first come first serve basis and ‘vol is vol” it means that sometimes they will deliver your boxes twice when there is not enough space in the vehicle but still want to accommodate you. And above all that, there are also some small issues to consider like computer disturbance, traffic, road closures, weather conditions, engine troubles and workers shortage. We neither accept any kinds of vehicles, boats and commercial amount of goods nor sending from the Philippines to the Europe. And when you go for a holiday the ETA never meet it’s schedules anymore so we advice to send your boxes earlier than what you are used to or we would rather not accept it all to avoid disappointment in the end.
We hope that this explanations will help, since March 2020 everything has changed from the container price, booking and unexpected delays, somehow we still managed. Patient and understanding is all what we ask in this trying time, we all have one goal, to deliver your boxes to your loved ones in any means possible.
Upon arrivals customs processing takes from 2 to 10 days
Segregation upon unloading and deliveries will start ASAP
Metro Manila between 5 to 9 days
Luzon between 9 to 25 days
Visayas, Palawan and Mindanao between 15 to 35 days. Offshore varies depending on the vessel availability. Please consider the holidays, weather conditions, port congestion and at the moment some restrictions.
TAPE ALL BOXES COMPLETELY for protection in transports against rain and snow during loading and unloading process.
We are not responsible for damages during shipping when the boxes that are overweight and not fully taped. Tape you can buy from us at 1.50 euro per roll, if you need more. Do not use expensive gray duct-tape which can not withstand the heat, it will tear/unravel easily during transport and then your goods are not protected. Please do not put very fragile items in the balikbayan boxes, such as wine glasses, drinks in can, drinks with bubbles, paints and motor oils, as much as possible not too much liquids, we are in no way responsible for broken materials in the boxes especially when they are not packed safely and properly. Please limit the weight and think on the people who especially to those that will be delivered from far, since the Philippines is consists of thousands of islands.
