Manila:Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with connecting flights can now take advantage of the newly opened Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Transit Lounge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
According to Philippines News Agency, OWWA formally launched the facility on Wednesday following a one-month pilot run. The transit lounge offers amenities such as beds, a shower area, and massage chairs, providing a space for OFWs and their families to rest and refresh. OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan stated that over 2,000 OFWs and their families have already utilized the lounge.
Caunan emphasized that the facility is specifically designed for OFWs who are returning or departing and need a place to relax after long journeys. The lounge has a capacity of 26 and operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum usage time of three hours to accommodate more people. After their stay, those with longer waiting times can transfer to the OFW lounge, which offers food and comfortable seating.
The initiative is part of OWWA's efforts to provide accessible services and rest areas for migrant workers, in partnership with the New NAIA Infra Corp. It aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ensuring that OFWs feel supported by the government. The lounge is available to departing OFWs with confirmed international flights and those arriving from international flights with connecting domestic flights to their provinces.
