Christmas shopping abroad? Bring these home hassle-free

MANILA -- The Bureau of Customs has released a list of items that Filipino Christmas shoppers can bring back to the country without prior clearance from health authorities.

The common "pasalubong" and the corresponding allowable quantities are as follows:

    1. Perfumes (5 pieces)
    2. Lipstick (10 pieces)
    3. Shampoo (2 kilos)
    4. Lotion (2 kilos)
    5. Bar soap (2 kilos)
    6. Assorted cosmetics (1 kilo)
    7. Toys (10 pieces)
    8. Childcare articles (5 kilos)
    9. Detergents, fabric conditioners, fabric softeners, dishwashing liquid (5 kilos)

The limits are applicable to passenger baggage, balikbayan boxes and parcel sent via mail or delivery services.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Migrante stages 'No Remittance Day' protest in Mendiola

MANILA - Despite the government's move to stop the Bureau of Customs' (BOC) random inspection of balikbayan boxes, around 30 members of Migrante held a protest in Mendiola Friday to support an earlier call by some OFWs of a "No Remittance Day."

Migrante chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said they want BOC chief Alberto Lina and other "corrupt officials" of the bureau to resign over their alleged unreasonable anti-OFW plan of randomly inspecting balikbayan boxes.

She said instead of going after OFWs who send hard-earned remittances and balikbayan boxes back home, the BOC should go after big-time smugglers of rice, sugar, cars, and other contraband items.

The group also called on the BOC to shelve its plan of a P600-million revenue target from balikbayan boxes and stop imposing illegal fees, placement fees, and tax fees on OFWs.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com