These centers recognize the vital contributions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) not only to their families, but also the country.
On Friday, June 26, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has opened two new facilities inside the airport — the dedicated OFW Lounge and Facilitation Center — which were both launched in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and budget carrier Cebu Pacific.
According to the airport, these new facilities “aim to provide a more comfortable and seamless travel experience for millions of Filipinos working abroad,” adding that both are core components of MCIA’s initiative called CEB Balik program, which has been designed to establish a comprehensive support system for OFWs right at the airport.
Both located inside Terninal 2, these are strategically located to assist OFWs at both ends of their journey, according to the MCIA.
The OFW Lounge, which is at the Departures Level near Gate 16, is a dedicated space for departing OFWs waiting for their flights.
Available inside are comfortable seating, charging stations, and refreshments, with OFWs also able to access OWWA programs and services on-site, including OFW e-Card printing.
Meanwhiel, the OFW Facilitation Center is on the Arrivals Level near pick-up area, and was established in partnership with Cebu Pacific.
The center serves a one-stop-shop for returning and transiting OFWs, as they can process essential government transactions, such as the processing of Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs), right at the airport.
Present during the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Atty. Hans Leo J. Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Atty. Patricia Yvonne Caunan, as well as officials of the airport like MCIAA General Manager and CEO Julius Neri, Jr., Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC) General Manager Ricia Vinelli Montejo, and Cebu Pacific Vice President for Corporate Affairs Atty. Maria Cecilia Natividad.
Montejo said, “We witness the profound dedication and invaluable contributions of our OFWs to their families and our country. Through our CEBBalik program, the opening of these facilities demonstrates our commitment to providing compassionate service and a comfortable experience here at Mactan-Cebu International Airport.”
She also added, “We (MCIAA) are more than just an airport; we are their gateway to new opportunities and their first embrace when they return. Our goal is to ensure that our services consistently reflect that care and elevate their airport experience.”
For his part, Neri expressed his gratitude to the different partners who made this initiative possible, recognizing the immense contributions of the OFWs to our country.
“This project is a testament to what we can achieve when the government and the private sector work hand-in-hand. By centralizing these critical services needed by OFWs and providing a dedicated space for them, we significantly ease the burden of their travel,” he told.
For Cebu Pacific, its Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Candice Iyog highlighted: “The opening of this facility reflects our ongoing efforts to provide more accessible and responsive services that address the unique needs of OFWs and their families.”
As for DMW Secretary Cacdac, he emphasized lifting dignity to the journey of every OFW as well as the success of public-private partnerships.
“At the heart of this milestone is a fundamental goal: bringing dignity to the journey of every OFW. Every Filipino who leaves our shores to work abroad is an ambassador of our nation’s talent, resilience, and character. They deserve nothing less than a dignified departure and a dignified arrival. They should never feel like second-class citizens in their own land,” stressed the Migrant Workers chief.
Meanwhile, OWWA Administrator Caunan noted, “Our OFWs work tirelessly across the globe, carrying the hopes of their families and our country. They absolutely deserve a dedicated space where they can feel our immense gratitude and care.“
“The opening of this beautiful lounge and the integration of crucial OWWA services here at MCIA means less time worrying about administrative tasks and more time resting or spending precious final moments with their loved ones,” the official added.
