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.

“Pinabubulaan na natin ‘yung lumalabas sa social media na mahihinto ‘yung operation ng OFW Lounge. Hindi po, 1.5 million na po ang napagsilbihan nitong lounge na ito (We are denying what is circulating on social media that the OFW Lounge will stop operating. No, these lounges have already served 1.5 million),” Cacdac said in a virtual press briefing on Friday.

“At syempre, pinag-utos ng ating mahal na Pangulo noong kanyang 2024 SONA (State of the Nation Address) kaya talagang determinado po kaming ipatupad ‘yung pinag-utos para sa greater comfort, protection of our dear OFW sa kanilang pagbibiyahe (And of course, our dear President ordered it during his 2024 SONA, so we are truly determined to implement his order for the greater comfort, protection of our dear OFWs during their travels),” he added.

The first OFW Lounge opened at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Parañaque City in January 2024 while the second facility was opened after six months.

The OFW lounges offer comfortable spaces with free meals and dedicated services, like free internet connection.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the government is not only sustaining the lounges, but also improving them.

“Instead of closing, kami po ay nasa proseso ng pagpapaganda, pagpapalaki at paghanap pa ng iba pa pong lugar, kasama of course ang aming mother department, ang Department of Migrant Workers, na maghanap pa ng iba pa pong airports na kung saan pwede tayo magkaroon ng lounge (Instead of closing, we are in the process of beautifying, expanding and looking for other locations, with of course our mother department, the Department of Migrant Workers, to look for other airports where we can have a lounge),” she said.

Eyed as OFW Lounge venues are other international gateways in Cebu, Clark in Pampanga and Davao City.

Caunan said that among the upgrades set to be launched in the coming weeks is a newly expanded Terminal 1 lounge, complete with DMW and OWWA booths to allow OFWs to print their e-cards before departure.

She said that a pilot run at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City earlier this year received positive feedbacks from OFWs

On Oct. 1, the Terminal 3 lounge will open its rest area or sleeping quarters for OFWs who arrive early or need to recover before their flights.

Caunan said the sleeping quarters, equipped with 12 double-deck beds for women and 14 for men, will also have a shower area and two massage chairs donated by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp.

The guidelines for the use of the quarter will be published on OWWA’s website and social media pages.

Meanwhile, to further enhance the experience, she said the lounges will soon upgrade meal offerings.

“Sustainability won’t be an issue. It won’t be treated as an additional burden but rather part of the overall costing of airport operations,” Cacdac said. (PNA)