OFWs line up in a special lane for them at the NAIA Terminal 3 in May 2021. INQUIRER / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker said on Tuesday that opening a lounge for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday was a step in “enhancing the welfare of modern-day heroes.”
According to Zamboanga Sibugay First District Representative Wilter Palma, the lounge, which was a joint project of the House of Representatives, the Department of Migrant Workers, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the Manila International Airport Authority, was shown to reflect the priority towards OFWs.
“The creation is a step in the right direction toward enhancing the welfare of our modern-day heroes. Their support towards these initiatives carries a symbolic weight, signifying the commitment of the 19th Congress to prioritize the well-being of OFWs,” Palma added.
In February 2023, Palma filed House Bill 7065, or the OFW Resting Lounge Act, which aims to create lounges for OFWs in all airports nationwide.
The lounges will have several amenities, such as sleeping quarters, food and drinks, and gadget charging stations.
The House deputy majority leader also looked forward to the creation of more similar lounges for arriving and departing OFWs.
“We should definitely be proud of this achievement, and we hope that we can further create more OFW Lounges within the country to cater to the increasing number of OFWs coming in and out of the country,” he said.