The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) has reminded departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that they may stay in OFW lounges for no more than six hours. This new policy is now being enforced at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3.
Policy Aims for Fair Access
Owwa Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan stated that the six-hour limit is designed to ensure fairness and allow more OFWs to benefit from the limited lounge space. In a social media post, Caunan explained that some departing OFWs had been entering the lounges between 12 to 48 hours before their flights, causing the facilities to become full and unavailable for others about to depart.
“Because of this, some OFWs, who are about to depart, are no longer given the opportunity to use the lounge because the facility is already full,” Caunan said.
Flexibility in Special Circumstances
Despite the new policy, Owwa remains open to accommodating as many OFWs as possible. Caunan assured that when space is available and there are individuals in need of assistance, the agency will try to give as much consideration as possible based on the situation.
Lounge Services and Capacity
The OFW lounges are part of Owwa’s services, providing free food, internet access, charging stations, and other forms of assistance to departing workers. The NAIA Terminal 3 lounge has a maximum capacity of 216 persons, while Terminal 1 can accommodate 140 individuals.
New Lounge in Cebu
On Friday, June 26, 2026, Owwa opened a new OFW lounge at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which can accommodate up to 80 people. This expansion aims to serve more OFWs across the country.
