Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with confirmed domestic connecting flights within 24 hours of their international arrival may use the OFW Lounge at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) clarified.
The agency issued the clarification after a returning cruise ship worker said she was denied entry to the lounge because her domestic flight was more than six hours away.
OWWA explained that the six-hour limit refers to the maximum length of each lounge visit. It is not a rule limiting entry to passengers whose flights are within six hours.
“The 24-hour period is the basis for eligibility and does not mean a continuous 24-hour stay in the lounge,” OWWA said.
OFW questions 6-hour access rule at NAIA lounge after long journey from Miami
The worker, known online as Miss Apple, arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 on August 5 after traveling from Miami through Qatar. She was scheduled to take a domestic flight from Terminal 2 at 4 a.m. the next day.
She said lounge personnel initially refused to let her enter because her connecting flight was more than six hours away.
OWWA apologized for the added stress caused by the incident.
“We apologize for the exhaustion and disappointment this added to the homecoming of our fellow Filipino,” the agency said.
OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan and other agency officials later visited the Terminal 3 lounge to inspect its operations, speak with OFWs and frontline workers, and ensure that the guidelines were understood.
OWWA said extensions beyond six hours may be considered depending on available space and verified special circumstances. These include medical needs, senior citizen status, disability, and other conditions requiring assistance.
The agency said around 4,000 to 6,000 OFWs depart from NAIA each day. The OFW Lounge at Terminal 3 can seat 216 people, while the Terminal 1 facility has 140 seats.
OWWA said the six-hour limit is needed to allow more workers to use the facilities.
A real-time monitoring system tracks the number of lounge users and available seats. A display outside each facility also shows how many slots remain.
When a lounge reaches full capacity, personnel will implement a queue and inform waiting OFWs about the current occupancy, estimated waiting time, and available assistance.
OWWA also reminded frontline workers to apply the rules with patience, respect, and understanding, particularly when dealing with passengers tired from long trips or those with special needs.
The agency said it would coordinate with New NAIA Infra Corp. to study possible improvements and address the limited capacity of the lounges.
