Anyone recently sent balikbayan box to Tacloban or nearby?

[RandR333 9]

I'm thinking of sending a couple of boxes from Cleveland to Tacloban this weekend using Forex. I just wondered if anyone had sent there and how they were received. Thank you!

[Bill & Ivy 6]

I send 3-4 boxes a year to Davao on Mindanao. I use Manilla Forewarders, but you pretty much have to use whatever is in your area. They usually take about 3 months to actually get what I send, if there going to Manila or areas around Manila, its about 2 months, because they have to transport them by container from Manila to Davao or CDO, it takes about 1 month extra. I have never had one item that I have heard about anyway, that was damaged in any way at all, but if you send glass, pack it well, and if you send any kind of liguids, put it in something that would contain it, should it leak. There is no weight limit on the box, so you can put as much as it will hold. Remember also that it will be in high heat for long periods of time. I always send lots of chocolate, but it is never been damaged that anyone has told me about. For Christmas delivery, we send it in Sept. so it will get there in time. One thing to remember though, customs can and does open boxes at random sometimes, and they could care less what damage they cause, because they are not responsible for anything,, in there eyes, I have read from others that if customs opens the box they pretty much destroy everything in it, cause they just dont care, and the shipping company will take no responsibility either, since its not there fault. I think it a very small percentage of the boxes that get opened though, but it can happen.

[RandR333 9]

Thanks. We have sent several boxes with Forex over the past several years. I'm just a little concerned about sending to Tacloban because of the typhoon damage and many businesses still being closed. I haven't heard of anyone sending yet. I suppose we'll just take the chance because I'm tired of looking at the boxes sitting here.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I use UMAC, excellent service, took roughly 30 days to metro Manila. I checked the DTI website for which forwarders are approved and which aren't, not approved means there are MANY complaints and little satisfaction

http://www.dti.gov.ph/dti/index.php?p=653

[sweet cakes 326]

I use UMAC, excellent service, took roughly 30 days to metro Manila. I checked the DTI website for which forwarders are approved and which aren't, not approved means there are MANY complaints and little satisfaction

http://www.dti.gov.ph/dti/index.php?p=653

This is awesome information, Hank! Thanks!

I just sent a card to my parents last month, costs us $40 for DHL.. and then my dad told me, they had to pay PhP500 ++ for customs, because it has 3 pictures & ribbons from the wedding. Weighed like 12 ounces. Very frustrating!

[RandR333 9]

I use UMAC, excellent service, took roughly 30 days to metro Manila. I checked the DTI website for which forwarders are approved and which aren't, not approved means there are MANY complaints and little satisfaction

http://www.dti.gov.ph/dti/index.php?p=653

Good website. Thanks!

[Dean_De 61]

I just sent boxes to Tacloban City End of March through LBC. It says online that the estimated arrival on port is May 4 which I hope by this time it wont be as long time as the last package I sent on October 2013 that took 3 months before it was delivered ( delivered Jan 2014 ) My family received the box I sent last October 2013 ok tho, nothing missing and nothing was destroyed. I am now eager to see how much time will my latest box take to be delivered.

Edited May 1, 2014 by Dean_De

[Hank_ 9,174]

Here is the UMAC site

http://www.umaccargo.net/

[RandR333 9]

Thanks guys. I'll file UMAC for future reference, They don't have any near us.

We might switch to LBC after we ship these Forex. LBC has pick-up for us and Forex stopped picking up in our area.

[Hank_ 9,174]

UMAC (luckily) is in our area so we get the box ready and they come to the door. Gotta like it!!

[RandR333 9]

UMAC (luckily) is in our area so we get the box ready and they come to the door. Gotta like it!!

[dvc 11]

LBC's warehouse near Tacloban was pretty much flattened. We had a box in transit from Japan when Yolanda hit and it got stuck in a warehouse in Alabang for 2 months. It took daily calls with shouting matches to the Japan office for a week to get it forwarded to Leyte.

[Michael and Milahjean 0]

My wife' s family just north or Ormoc took a direct hit from Yolanda, no life lost praise God, but desperate situation. We jumped into action immediately since we knew that relief would be slow to arrive. We had 2 boxes already in motion in October that did arrive just after Christmas. Very surprised they arrived at all. Beginning in early December we've shipped 15 boxes via UMAC in 5 box batches and all have arrived in great condition within roughly 10-12 weeks. Highly recommended. Price is $75 to Visayas. Our agent in St Mary's picks up at our door just north of Dayton. He travels quite a broad range for pickups. Let us know if you'd like contact info.

M&M

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I just sent boxes to Tacloban City End of March through LBC. It says online that the estimated arrival on port is May 4 which I hope by this time it wont be as long time as the last package I sent on October 2013 that took 3 months before it was delivered ( delivered Jan 2014 ) My family received the box I sent last October 2013 ok tho, nothing missing and nothing was destroyed. I am now eager to see how much time will my latest box take to be delivered.

Something going on with LBC. The delivery times have gotten longer. Manila to Cebu use to be a week . Now it can be a month

[Hank_ 9,174]

Look them up on the DTI listing