The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has opened its third international OFW Lounge at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), providing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) departing from Cebu and other parts of the Visayas with a more comfortable and convenient travel experience.

The new facility follows the successful launch of OFW Lounges at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3 in Pasay City.

Established through a partnership among OWWA, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), the lounge brings government services and passenger amenities closer to Filipino migrant workers.

The lounge has a seating capacity of 80 and offers complimentary food and beverages, comfortable resting areas, free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and assistance desks for OFW-related concerns.

It also serves as a one-stop center for OWWA frontline services, including membership registration and renewal, OWWA E-Card issuance, and other welfare and social protection services.

Coinciding with the opening, OWWA and SSP Mactan Cebu launched a partnership granting exclusive dining and retail discounts to OWWA E-Card holders at participating establishments inside MCIA.

Initial partner establishments include Burger King, Ritazza, Asian Kitchen, Nippon Ramen, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, BonChon, and Cabin Kitchen + Bar.

The opening also coincided with the launch of the DMW OFW Facilitation Center at MCIA, which will provide immediate assistance to OFWs, particularly for Overseas Employment Certificates and other travel-related documentation.

OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the new facility reflects the government's continuing commitment to strengthen social protection for OFWs and make public services more accessible.

"We believe our OFWs deserve a lounge of their own in one of the country's finest international airports here in Cebu. It is a simple but meaningful way of honoring their sacrifices and recognizing their invaluable contributions to our nation," Caunan said.

"Through this OFW Lounge, we are bringing OWWA and DMW services closer to our migrant workers, ensuring they receive the care, protection, and support they deserve at every stage of their migration journey," she added.

Caunan also thanked Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation and SSP Mactan Cebu for supporting the initiative.

"Their support goes beyond providing a space. It is a meaningful recognition of the sacrifices and contributions of every Filipino migrant worker. This partnership demonstrates what government and the private sector can accomplish together when we place our OFWs at the center of our efforts," she said.