Manila investigates 9 KSA-based cargo agents

The Philippine Embassy said Friday that nine Saudi Arabia-based cargo agents were under investigation following complaints of undelivered “balikbayan boxes” (cargo) from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom.
The investigation is being conducted by the Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (PSB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which had issued an advisory of guidelines for Filipinos sending cargo home.
The nine cargo forwarders whose Philippine counterparts are under investigation are the Caravan Cargo Agency, Cargo Net Worldwide Services (formerly FAL-World Express Cargo), Global Cargo, Jonar Cargo, Kabalen Forwarders, North and South Express Cargo, PC Worldwide Cargo, Sir Cargo Forwarders and WRJ Freight Forwarders (a division of Al-Zagel Cargo).
The embassy urged Filipinos to send their cargo only through well-known and reputable cargo agents with reliable counterparts and agents in the Philippines.
Many Filipinos in the Kingdom have complained in the past about undelivered balikbayan boxes to their relatives in the Philippines, which is in violation of PSB Administrative Order No. 6 series of 2005.
A Filipino had called Arab News seeking help to convince a cargo forwarder in Jeddah to pay for the undelivered television set he had sent as cargo. The cargo forwarder eventually paid after 15 days.
The PSB advisory also said that six agents in the United Arab Emirates, six in Kuwait, an agent in Oman and one in Bahrain are also under investigation. The PSB said that consumers or consignees with complaints on undelivered, pilfered, damaged or lost balikbayan boxes may report or submit an affidavit or complaint through fax on [phone] or via e-mail at [email protected] or call DTI Direct [phone].
The Philippine Embassy urged Filipinos to regularly visit DTI’s website (www.dti.gov.ph) or its website (www.philembassy-riyadh.org) to be apprised of cargo-forwarding and to avoid inconvenience when dealing with cargo-forwarding companies.