The lounge dedicated to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 is now functional, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Arnell Ignacio said on Monday, January 15.
Ignacio added that an OFW whom they asked to test the lounge could not help her tears, hoping that her parents and siblings who were also migrant workers got to see it.
“May OFW na pina-test namin, medyo pagbigyan niyo na kami bum-bwelo pa lang pero operational na. Akala ko magrereklamo kasi umiiyak. Sabi niya, sana natikman ng kanyang magulang at kapatid na OFW ang ganito,” he said.
Arnell Ignacio, Administrator, OWWA, sa OFW lounge: Siyempre, 'yan ang utos ni Presidente at nakabantay talaga si Speaker [Romualdez].#DosPorDos#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 14, 2024
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Every OFW could visit the lounge, according to Ignacio.
“Basta ikaw ay OFW na paalis. Dito, pwede silang mag-coffee,” he said.
The OWWA administrator said they would still fix some things around the lounge.
“We are really doing a wonderful job together, aayusin ang elevators kasi mataas ang hagdan [...] Pinadagdagan na namin ang aircon para comfortable sila. May WiFi na rin. Sa capacity, pwede rito ang 50 na OFW,” Ignacio said, adding that they have been planning the lounge since last year.
“Last year pa namin nasa isip ito [OFW lounge]. Dahil may naiiwan ng mga eroplano dahil nalilito sa military time. Nilagyan na namin ng full guide,” he said.
