KM Viray
Netizen Mhelody Olga was astounded to find out that she had to pay almost P16,000 just to claim a package that was sent to her from London.
Mhelody went to the post office in Tondo, Manila to claim her package. Once she got there, a woman from the post office opened the box and saw that it contained a Gucci bag. The woman complimented Mhelody on the bag, but told Mhelody that she had to pay taxes before she could claim the item.
The woman went online to try to find the model and price of the bag, but was unable to do so. Instead, she looked for the most similar style and design and said it was the cheapest on the website costing $1,200. This, the woman said, would be the amount they could declare in computing the lowest tax price as possible, as if doing Mhelody a favor. After the computations, Mhelody found out she had to pay P15,969.
Mhelody was suprised she had to pay anything at all, let alone the price given to her.
Is this how the Philippine Post Office and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will continue to treat Filipinos who await packages sent by their loved ones from abroad? Just recently, news came on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will charge higher fees in claiming balikbayan boxes.
Filipinos abroad are already voicing their dismay over the additional fees and intense inspection of packages meant to bring cheer to their families far away. We can only wait and see how the BOC responds to the growing clamor.
