EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. No. 
S3
a h e
bV THE 5^c7<>.
TIME;
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BY:
BILLS & /NQEX
Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko,, Pimentel HI
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
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article IJ, 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 2018, approximately 2.3 million Overseas Filipino Workers 
(OFWs) were deployed abroad1. From April to September 2018 alone, the 
total remittance sent by OFWs was estimated at P235.9 Billion2. We 
cannot thus take for granted the crucial role played by our OFWs in 
helping sustain the continuous development of our economy through the 
foreign currencies remitted to their families back home.
On its part, the State must make certain that our prevailing 
legislation would help augment not only the lives of our OFWs, but also 
of their families who are left behind.
'Philippine Statistics Authority. 2018 Survey on Overseas Filipinos
2 Philippine Statistics Authority.Retrieved from;https;//psa.gov.ph/contentytotal-number-ofws- 
estimated-23-million-results-2018-survey-overseas-filipinos. Retrieved on; June 25, 2019.


Relatives and loved-ones of OFWs in the Philippines receive 
400,000 balikhayan boxes every month on the average3. For OFWs, the 
balikbayan box is an 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 measure 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 recognition of the 
significant contribution of our OFWs to our national economy, this 
legislation is but a small measure of assistance in view of the tireless 
efforts of our OFWs, who work selflessly abroad and endure long 
separation and loneliness from their loved ones.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
\  V —
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AQUILINO “KOKO” PIMENTEL III
3 GMA News Network News. Retrieved From:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/533558/news/pinoyabroad/boc-balikbayan-boxes- 
being-used-for-technical-smuggling. Retrieved on: July 19, 2018.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
S3
TIME:
BILLS &
Introduced bv Senator Aqiiilino “Koko” Pimentel III
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AN ACT INSTITUTING THE EXPANDED BALIKBAYAN 
PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
N0.6768, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9174, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress Assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 2, sub-section (b) of Republic Act No. 6768 
(R.A. 6768), as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
“(b) THE 
TERM 
“FAMILY” 
SHALL 
INCLUDE 
THE 
FOLLOWING:
(b-1) 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 
BALIKBAYAN BY 
CONSANGUINITY IN THE COLLATERAL LINE WITHIN 
THE FOURTH (4th) DEGREE OF RELATIONSHIP.”
SEC. 2. A new sub-section under Section 2 is hereby inserted to 
read as follows:
“SECTION 2. Defintion of Terms. -  For purposes of this Act:


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(a) 
xxx;
(b) 
xxx;
(c) 
xxx; AND
(d) THE TERM iiBALIKBAYAN 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.”
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SEC. 3. A new sub-section under Section 3 is hereby inserted to read as
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follow s:
“SECTION 3. Benefits and Privileges of the Balikbayan. - The 
balikbayan and his family shall be entitled to the following:
XXX
(H) ONE (1) BALIKBAYAN BOX MEASURING 24 INCHES BY 
24 INCHES BY 30 INCHES (24X24X30), SENT EACH MONTH 
BY A BALIKBAYAN 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 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:
(I) 
WHEN THE CONSIGNOR’S EXPORT DECLARATION 
AND PACKING LIST ARE NOT ATTACHED TO THE 
BALI KB A YAN BOX; OR
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(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 
OTHER RELATED LAWS AND ISSUANCES.”
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. 
-  If any provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by 
such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, executive and administrative 
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the foregoing provisions 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 6. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,