NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "The State affirms labor as 
a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their 
welfare."  
In 2014, approximately 1.832 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were 
deployed abroad which resulted in personal remittances from OFWs accounting for 8.5 
percent of country's gross domestic product (GOP) in 2014.  
Relatives and loved-ones of OFWs in the Philippines receive 400,000 balikbayan 
boxes every month on the average. These balikbayan boxes serve as the enduring testament 
of their sacrifice and hard work abroad in order to secure a better future for their families back 
home. It represents the love and care of OFWs for their families, who have to bear months or 
even years of separation from each other.  
This legislation seeks to mandate the "NO OPENING OF BOX" Policy of balikbayan 
boxes by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel and to exempt from taxes and duties one 
(1) balikbayan box per month, regardless of the total dutiable value of its contents.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
January 11, 2023
6:18 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS   
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING THE EXPANDED BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6768, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9174, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Section 2, sub-section (b) of Republic Act No. 6768 7 (R.A. 6768), As Amended, 
is hereby amended to read as follows:  
"(b) THE TERM "FAMILY" SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 
(b-I) The spouse and children of the balikbayan who are not 
balikbayans in their own right traveling with the latter to the 
Philippines;  
(b-2) THE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, BROTHERS OR 
SISTERS (WHETHER BY WHOLE OR HALF-BLOOD) OF 
THE BALIKBAYAN; AND  
(b-3) THE RELATIVES OF THE BALlKBAYAN BY 
CONSANGUINITY IN THE COLLATERAL LINE WITHIN 
THE FOURTH (4TH) DEGREE OF RELATIONSHIP."  
Section 2. A new sub-section under Section 2 is hereby inserted to read as follows: 
"SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act: 
(a) xxx;
(b) xxx;
(c) xxx; AND
(d)
THE TERM "BALlKBAYAN BOX" SHALL MEAN THE
RECEPTACLE 
OF 
PERSONAL 
AND/OR 
HOUSEHOLD
EFFECTS, 
INCLUDING 
LIVELIHOOD 
TOOLS, 
IN 
NON-
COMMERCIAL QUANTITY WHICH ARE SENT BY BALIKBAYANS
TO THEIR FAMILY AS DEFINED IN THIS ACT."
Section 3. A new sub-section under Section 3 is hereby inserted to read as follows: 
"SECTION 3. Benefits and Privileges of the Balikbayan. - The 
balikbayan and his family shall be entitled to the following:  
XXX  
(H) ONE (1) BALlKBAYAN BOX MEASURING 24 INCHES BY 24
INCHES BY 30 INCHES (24X24X30), SENT EACH MONTH BY A
BALlKBAYAN TO HIS OR HER FAMILY SHALL BE EXEMPTED
FROM ALL DUTIES AND TAXES IMPOSED UNDER THE
NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997 (NIRC), AS
AMENDED, AND THE TARIFF AND  CUSTOMS CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES (TCCP), AS  AMENDED.
UPON ENTRY AT EACH GOVERNMENT PORT, BALIKBAYAN
BOXES SHALL ONLY BE SUBJECTED TO NON-INTRUSIVE
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METHODS OF INSPECTION BY THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS 
(BOC) PERSONNEL, THROUGH THE USE OF TRAINED CANINE 
UNITS, X-RAY DETECTION AND INSPECTION SYSTEMS OR 
OTHER SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES AND SHALL NOT BE 
OPENED BY BOC PERSONNEL.  BALIKBAYAN BOXES CAN 
ONLY BE OPENED BY BOC PERSONNEL IN THE FOLLOWING 
CIRCUMSTANCES:  
(1) WHEN THE CONSIGNOR'S EXPORT DECLARATION AND 
PACKING LIST ARE NOT ATTACHED TO THE BALIKBAYAN 
BOX; OR  
(2) WHEN THE BOC IS IN RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN 
DEROGATORY 
ALERT/INFORMATION 
FROM 
LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, OR 
PRIVATE SOURCES, PROVIDED THAT IN THE LATTER CASE, 
THE INFORMATION IS EMBODIED IN A SWORN STATEMENT 
ALLEGING THAT THE BALIKBAYAN BOX CONTAINS BANNED, 
PROHIBITED, OR REGULATED IMPORT COMMODITIES AS 
LISTED UNDER THE TCCP OR RELATED LAWS AND 
ISSUANCES."  
 
Section 4. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this Act or part hereof be declared 
unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and 
effective.  
 
Section 5. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions thereof: 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly.  
 
Section 6. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,