Bureau of Customs clears cargo forwarder

The Bureau of Customs has cleared 2GO Express Inc., a cargo forwarder whose accreditation had been briefly revoked by the Philippine Shippers Bureau amid complaints mainly from overseas Filipino workers about undelivered balikbayan boxes.

In an advisory, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon yesterday said the Pasay City-based company had been removed from his agency’s watch list.

“Upon verification and confirmation of 2GO Express Inc.’s exclusion from the Philippine Shippers Bureau’s roster of blacklisted cargo forwarders, the Bureau of Customs has effective immediately delisted 2GO Express Inc. from its watch list,” Biazon said.

The PSB is a Department of Trade and Industry-attached agency.

Biazon said “earlier reports that mentioned 2GO Express Inc. as one of the Philippine agents and freight forwarders blacklisted by the PSB and the BOC stemmed from the Oct. 12 PSB Cargo Forwarders Blacklist that was distributed by PSB Director Victorio Mario Dimagiba during the Oct. 15 Kapihan sa Aduana media forum of the Customs Press Corps. Dimagiba was one of the guests during that forum.”

“As clarified by the PSB, 2GO Express was included in its list of blacklisted freight forwarders as of Oct. 12. However, it was taken off the list on Oct. 19 after it complied with certain requirements. According to PSB officials, 2GO Express, upon its request, was issued a Certificate of Good Standing on Nov. 14,” Biazon said.

2GO Express counsel Virgilio Lagunilla furnished the Inquirer  a copy of the PSB certification, where Dimagiba said the company “has been removed from the blacklisted Philippine agents and freight forwarder companies issued formal charges by this office for having complied with all the requirements for accreditation.

“As such, 2GO Express Inc. is in good standing and may transact business with the BOC and other government and private offices effective Oct. 19,” Dimagiba added.

The PSB had also cleared four other freight-forwarding firms for taking swift action on the complaints of their customers.

On Oct. 25, it accredited anew Wide Wide World Express, LCSN Express Movers Inc., MC Plus Inc. and Transtech Global Philippines Inc.