{
  "id": 9891894,
  "title": "‘We just want our families to be happy’: Filipinos in Dubai face losses as balikbayan boxes remain undelivered",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/we-just-want-our-families-to-be-happy-filipinos-in-dubai-face-losses",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/people/we-just-want-our-families-to-be-happy-filipinos-in-dubai-face-losses-as-balikbayan-boxes-remain-undelivered-1.500687931"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai's overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are experiencing unease as balikbayan boxes meant for their families remain undelivered, resulting in financial losses and uncertainty. Makati Express Cargo, which handles such shipments, has been the subject of a February warning from the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to OFWs and their families. The DMW cautioned against transacting with Makati Express Cargo or its associates to protect workers and prevent illegal operations associated with balikbayan boxes.\n\nRosalie Aquino Peralta, a sales assistant in Dubai, sent her balikbayan box to her mother in February. She was informed by Makati Express Cargo that the cargo was held at a port due to the regional situation. Peralta was then asked to pay an additional Dh290 to reroute the box via Oman. The box, containing essential items such as adult diapers and milk for her 91-year-old mother, is crucial for her family. Despite the extra cost, Peralta hopes the box will eventually reach her family.\n\nTina, a sales executive in Dubai, had sent two boxes through Makati Express Cargo in May. Both boxes contained gifts for her relatives and items to support her family's future livelihood. She has been trying to follow up on her shipments since August, but Makati Express Cargo's main WhatsApp account went offline in September, and calls and messages were not being answered. Tina's sister in the Philippines reached out to the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) and learned that shipments were held due to pending cases. The situation has disrupted Tina's plans for the Christmas season, and she fears missing the crucial Christmas shopping window. She is worried about missing out on items bought on sale, which she hopes will arrive before the end of October.",
  "summary": "Dubai: For overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), a balikbayan box is more than a package. It is often a collection of carefully chosen gifts, household essentials, and items bought with months of hard-earned savings for families back home. For some Filipinos in Dubai, however, boxes sent through Makati Express Cargo have remained undelivered, leaving families waiting and senders facing financial…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}