Manila: Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac dismissed reports circulating online that overseas Filipino workers (OFW) lounges in airports will cease to operate. Instead, he assured that the facilities will be expanded and upgraded in more airports nationwide.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cacdac stated in a virtual press briefing that rumors about the cessation of OFW Lounge operations are false. He emphasized that these lounges have already served 1.5 million OFWs. He further mentioned that the President ordered the expansion and enhancement of these facilities during the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) to ensure greater comfort and protection for OFWs during their travels.
The first OFW Lounge was launched at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Para±aque City in January 2024, with a second facility opening six months later. These lounges provide comfortable spaces, free meals, and services such as free internet connection.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan affirmed that the government is not only sustaining the lounges but also improving them. She highlighted the ongoing efforts in collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers to beautify, expand, and identify other potential airport locations for additional lounges.
Future OFW Lounge locations are being considered at other international gateways, including Cebu, Clark in Pampanga, and Davao City. Caunan also announced that an upgraded Terminal 1 lounge, equipped with DMW and OWWA booths, will allow OFWs to print their e-cards before departure, with a launch expected in the coming weeks.
A pilot run conducted earlier this year at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City received positive feedback from OFWs. On October 1, the Terminal 3 lounge will open its rest area or sleeping quarters for OFWs who arrive early or need to rest before their flights. This area will feature 12 double-deck beds for women and 14 for men, along with a shower area and massage chairs donated by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp.
Guidelines for using the sleeping quarters will be published on OWWA's website and social media pages. To further enhance the experience, meal offerings at the lounges will also be upgraded. Cacdac assured that sustainability will be managed as part of the overall costing of airport operations, not as an additional burden.
