SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. B. No. 
11G8
t§ff*re of fheif'crrrt.'ifi
•16 
SEP 21 
P 5 :3 0
R1
RY:
Introduced by Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III
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 //, 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 2015, approximately 2.377 million Overseas Filipino Workers 
(OFWs) were deployed abroad1. Aecording to the Bangko Sentral ng 
Pilipinas, personal remittances by OFWs reached $2.7 billion in March 
2016, which was higher by 4.3% compared to the first quarter of last 
year.2 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.
1 Philippine Statistics Authority. 2015 Survey on Overseas Filipinos
2 
,
Retneved from http://www.rappler.eom/business/economy-watcli/l 33262-ofw- 
remittances-march-ql-2016. Retrieved on September 19, 2016.


Relatives and loved-ones of OFWs in the Philippines receive 
400,000 balikbayan 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 thus earnestly sought.
I 
vr
AQUILINO' “KOKO’ PIMENTEL III
GMA 
News 
Network 
News. 
Retrieved 
From: 
http://www.gmanetwork.comynews/story/533558/news/pinoyabroad/boc- 
balikbayan-boxes-being-used-for-technical-smuggling. Retrieved on: August 24, 
2015.


SEMi:NTEENTII CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. B. No. 11G8
.^rnatp
‘16 
SEP 21 
P 5--29
»>Y:
/
Introduced by Senator Aqnilino “Koko” Pimentel HI
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2
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5
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 the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress Assembled:
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Section 1. Section 2, sub-section (b) of Republic Act No. 6768
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(R.A. 6768), as amended by Republic Act No. 9174, is hereby further
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amended to read as follows:
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(b) THE TERM “FAMILY” SHALL INCLUDE THE 
FOLLOWING:
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(b-1) The spouse and children of the balikbayan who are not 
balikbayans in their own right traveling with the latter to the 
Philippines;
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(b-2) THE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, BROTHERS 
OR SISTERS (WHETHER BY WHOLE OR HALF- 
BLOOD) OF THE BALIKBAYAN; AND
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(b-3) THE RELATIVES OF THE BALIKBAYAN BY 
CONSANGUINITY IN THE COLLATERAL LINE 
WITHIN 
THE 
FOURTH 
(4th) 
DEGREE 
OF 
RELATIONSHIP.”


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Section 2. A new sub-section under Section 2 is hereby inserted to
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read as follows:
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“SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. -  For purposes of this Act:
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(a) 
xxx;
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(b) 
xxx;
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(c) 
xxx; AND
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(d) 
THE TERM ^ BA LI KB A VAN BO.Y^ SHALL MEAN THE 
RECEPTACLE 
OE 
PERSONAL 
AND/OR 
HOUSEHOLD EFEECTS, INCLUDING LIVELIHOOD 
TOOLS, IN NON-COMMERCIAL QUANTITY WHICH 
ARE SENT BY BALIKBAYANS TO THEIR FAMILY 
AS DEFINED IN THIS ACT.”
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Section 3. A new sub-section under Section 3 is hereby inserted to
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read as follows:
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“SECTION 3. Benefits and Privileges of the Balikbayan. - The
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balikbayan and his family shall be entitled to the following:
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XXX
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(II) ONE (1) BALIKBAYAN BOX MEASURING 24 INCHES
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BY 24 INCHES BY 30 INCHES (24” X 24” X 30”), SENT
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EACH MONTH BY A BALIKBAYAN TO HIS OR HER
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FAMILY SHALL BE EXEMPTED FROM ALL DUTIES
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AND 
TAXES 
IMPOSED 
UNDER 
THE 
NATIONAL
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INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 
1997 (NIRC), AS
24 
AMENDED, AND THE TARIFF AND CUSTOMS CODE OF
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THE PHILIPPINES (TCCP), AS AMENDED.
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UPON 
ENTRY 
AT 
EACH 
GOVERNMENT 
PORT,
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BALIKBAYAN BOXES SHALL ONLY BE SUBJECTED TO
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NON-INTRUSIVE METHODS OF INSPECTION BY THE
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BUREAU OF CUSTOMS (BOC) PERSONNEL, THROUGH
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THE 
USE 
OF 
TRAINED 
CANINE 
UNITS, 
X-RAY
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DETECTION AND INSPECTION SYSTEMS, OR OTHER


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SIMILAR 
TECHNOLOGIES 
AND 
SHALL 
NOT 
BE
OPENED BY BOC PERSONNEL.
BALIKBAYAN BOXES CAN ONLY BE OPENED BY BOC
PERSONNEL IN THE EOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
(1) 
WHEN 
THE 
CONSIGNOR’S 
EXPORT 
DECLARATION AND PACKING LIST ARE NOT 
ATTACHED TO THE BALI KB A YAN 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 OTHER RELATED LAWS 
AND ISSUANCES.”
Section 4. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this Act 
or part hereof be deelared 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,