MCIA opens dedicated OFW lounge, facilitation center in Cebu

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on Friday, June 26, officially opened its dedicated Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Lounge and Facilitation Center, providing enhanced services and a more convenient travel experience for departing and returning overseas workers.

The new facilities were launched through a partnership among the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), Cebu Pacific, and airport operator Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (Acac).

The project forms part of MCIA’s CEB Balik program, an initiative aimed at strengthening support services for millions of Filipino migrant workers.

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Located at Terminal 2 near Gate 16, the OFW Lounge offers comfortable seating, charging stations, refreshments, and on-site Owwa services, including OFW e-Card printing, for departing workers awaiting their flights.

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Meanwhile, the OFW Facilitation Center, situated at the Terminal 2 arrivals level near the pick-up area, serves as a one-stop center for returning and transiting OFWs.

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The facility enables travelers to process essential government transactions, including Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs), without leaving the airport.

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The inauguration was led by DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and Owwa Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, together with Cebu Provincial Administrator Joseph Durano, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia King-Chan, Cebu City Chief of Staff Kenneth Siasar, Mandaue City Councilor Carlo Fortuna, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Julius G. Neri Jr., Acac General Manager Ricia Vinelli Montejo, and Cebu Pacific Vice President for Corporate Affairs Maria Cecilia Natividad.

Airport officials said the facilities reflect a joint effort between the government and private sector to improve services for OFWs by bringing key government transactions closer to travelers while providing them with a comfortable space before departure and upon arrival.

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Cacdac said the initiative is intended to uphold the dignity of every Filipino worker abroad, stressing that OFWs deserve efficient and compassionate services as they leave and return to the country.

Owwa also welcomed the opening, saying it allows OFWs to spend less time on administrative requirements and more time with their families.

Cebu Pacific, one of the project’s key partners, said the new facilities reinforce its commitment to providing accessible and responsive services tailored to the needs of overseas Filipino workers and their families.

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MCIA said the opening of the OFW Lounge and Facilitation Center is part of its continuing efforts to make airport travel more convenient, comfortable, and supportive for Filipino migrant workers. /cb