{"version":"1.0","schema":"https://entitymap.org/spec/v1.0","publisher":{"name":"Lawrence Hitches","url":"https://www.lawrencehitches.com","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-hitches/","https://searchengineland.com/author/lawrence-hitches","https://twitter.com/lawrencehitches","https://github.com/lhitches","https://seo-conferences.com/speaker/lawrence-hitches/"]},"generated":"2026-07-18T00:00:00Z","profile":"core","verificationStatus":"self-declared","entities":[{"entityId":"e_001","@type":"WebSite","name":"Balikbayan Box Guide","description":"Directory of balikbayan box sea freight forwarders serving the Filipino diaspora in the USA, built on the official Philippine DTI-FTEB accreditation list. Maintains accreditation status and expiry per forwarder: 162 US forwarders across 20 states and territories as of the 2026-05-31 list.","audienceType":"general","relations":[{"predicate":"CITES","targetId":"e_002","targetName":"DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau"},{"predicate":"ABOUT","targetId":"e_003","targetName":"Balikbayan box"},{"predicate":"PUBLISHED_BY","targetId":"e_004","targetName":"Lawrence Hitches"}],"hasChunks":[{"chunkId":"c_001","text":"Every forwarder here appears on the Philippine DTI-FTEB accreditation list (as of 2026-05-31): 137 active accredited forwarders across 20 states and territories. Check yours before you hand over a box.","sourceUrl":"https://www.balikbayanboxguide.com/","pageTitle":"Balikbayan Box Forwarders in the USA: DTI-Accredited Directory","publisher":"Balikbayan Box Guide","retrieved":"2026-07-18T00:00:00Z","relevanceScore":0.97,"contentType":"evidence","audienceType":"general"},{"chunkId":"c_002","text":"Philippine law requires sea freight forwarders consolidating balikbayan boxes to be accredited by the DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau, and DTI publishes the list of accredited forwarders and their foreign agents. Accreditations expire, so a lapsed badge means the listed expiry date has passed on the current list; 25 companies on the current list have lapsed.","sourceUrl":"https://www.balikbayanboxguide.com/check","pageTitle":"Is My Balikbayan Box Forwarder Legit? Official DTI Accreditation Check","publisher":"Balikbayan Box Guide","retrieved":"2026-07-18T00:00:00Z","relevanceScore":0.95,"contentType":"evidence","audienceType":"general"}]},{"entityId":"e_002","@type":"GovernmentOrganization","name":"DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB)","description":"Bureau of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry that accredits sea freight forwarders authorized to consolidate and ship balikbayan boxes, and publishes the official list of accredited forwarders and their foreign agents (source of this site's data: dti-usa-2026-05.pdf).","audienceType":"general","relations":[{"predicate":"CITED_BY","targetId":"e_001","targetName":"Balikbayan Box Guide"}],"hasChunks":[]},{"entityId":"e_003","@type":"Thing","name":"Balikbayan box","description":"A door-to-door sea cargo box (usually 18x18x24 to 24x24x24 inches) that Filipinos abroad send home tax-free under Philippine law, through licensed freight forwarders accredited by the DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau.","audienceType":"general","relations":[{"predicate":"REGULATED_BY","targetId":"e_002","targetName":"DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau"}],"hasChunks":[]},{"entityId":"e_004","@type":"Person","name":"Lawrence Hitches","description":"AI SEO consultant and Chief of Staff at StudioHawk. Publisher of Balikbayan Box Guide. Entity home: lawrencehitches.com.","audienceType":"general","relations":[{"predicate":"PUBLISHES","targetId":"e_001","targetName":"Balikbayan Box Guide"}],"hasChunks":[]}]}