OFW Lounge at Naia-3 gets wide public acclaim
After the wonderful public reception of the OFW Lounge at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the Overseas Welfare Administration (OWWA) is going to build more of its kind in other international airports, specifically in Clark Pampanga, Cebu-Mactan, and Davao City.
The New Naia Infra Corp (NNIC) constructed the OFW Lounge and turned it over to OWWA, which now operates it. There is another OFW Lounge, this one built by OWWA itself, at Terminal 1.
However, the NNIC-built OFW Lounge is by far the larger, more modern of the two. Completed in September last year, it has comfortable chairs and tables for departing overseas Filipino workers to rest while they are awaiting flights. It is equipped with Wi-Fi access, mobile phone charging docks, and power outlets. It serves food buffet style for free.
There is an information desk available at all times to answer questions of workers on the customs and traditions in their country of destination, the dos and don’ts in their job postings. Here, new hires can hang out and exchange notes with other, more experienced workers and learn from their experience.
In addition to the OFW Lounge, the NNIC is deploying eight more internal shuttle buses around the clock to serve passenger who are taking connecting flights at other terminals, not only for OFWs but for all passengers,
“Naia is operating well beyond its capacity, and while major infrastructure upgrades are in progress, expanding our shuttle fleet is an invaluable step to ensure accessibility and convenience [of passengers],” said Ramon Ang, president of NNIC and San Miguel Corp (SMC).
It will be remembered that NNIC, a consortium headed by SMC, took over the management of NAIA in September 2024. A major partner is Incheon International Airport Corp. of South Korea.
SMC and IIAC have committed P170 billion to elevate Naia to world class standards. The modernization program includes plans to increase passenger capacity from 43 million to 62 million annually. The number of planes landing and taking off will increase from 42 to 48 per hour, all executed in a safe and seamless operation.
Although the OFW Lounges are a minor, even minuscule part of the Naia, they help assuage the pain and anxiety of the workers, who can hope to come back to their families only after years of toil in a foreign land.
The makeover work comes not a minute too soon. Naia has gained the dubious distinction of being the world’s worst international airport.
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