The Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs in the House of Representatives is investigating the issue of abandoned balikbayan boxes. House Resolution no. 499, authored by Rep. Marissa Del Mar-Magsino of the OFW partylist, aims to address fraudulent activities by international freight forwarders. However, the use of the term “fake” in the resolution’s title indicates a lack of understanding, as all international freight forwarders must have proper government permits. Local counterparts of these businesses, such as Cargoflex owned by Mr. Arlie Tero, also suffer when their partners fail to pay for delivered boxes, leading to abandoned containers.