By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
To make their homecoming delightful and exciting, Duty Free Philippines provides exclusive discount for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and balikbayans.
In a statement sent to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Duty Free Philippines Chief Operating Officer (COO) Vicente Pelagio A. Angala announced that both Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and balikbayans will be entitled to a 10-percent discount on all regular priced items when they shop Duty Free Philippines Fiestamall from February 1 until March 14, 2020.
“It’s paying it forward. That is the reason why we at DFPC would like to express our gratitude to our OFWs and balikbayans who have been our major market for the past 32 years,” the COO of Duty Free Philippines explained.
“Being away from home is no joke. The sacrifices they have endured while working in other countries to support their families is a heroic act. That is why we thought returning their sacrifices for their family and oour country. They are our Bagong Bayani who deserve more benefits aside from their exclusive duty free shopping privilege,” Angala added.
Duty Free makes the mechanic simple. Arriving OFWs and balikbayans who want to avail just need to present their Balikbayan Plus Card upon registration along with their passports and any proof of their overseas employment (for OFWs) such as Seaman’s Record Book or OFW Electronic Identification Card.
To know more about the Balikbayan Plus Card Program or how to avail, visit https://www.dfp.com.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/dutyfreephils.
According to the Republic Act No. 9174, otherwise known as the Balikbayan Law, the term “balikbayan” is a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year, a Filipino overseas worker, or former Filipino citizen and his or her family who had been naturalized in a foreign country and comes or returns to the Philippines. The said law also states that balikbayans and OFWs are entitled to USD 1,500 purchase limit on top of the USD 1,000 as international traveller plus USD 2,000 worth of livelihood items.
Duty Free Philippines Corporation as the country’s sole operator of the duty-and tax-free merchandising system, is mandated to satisfy the duty-free shopping needs of international travelers including balikbayans and OFWs. Being an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, DFPC contributes its earnings to the development of the country’s tourism infrastructure, programs, and projects.
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