MANILA, Philippines — Filipino migrant workers arriving at Manila’s main airport may use designated government lounges if they have a confirmed domestic connecting flight within 24 hours of their international arrival, but their usual stay remains limited to six hours, officials said.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said the 24-hour period determines eligibility for lounge access at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, not the amount of time a passenger may remain inside.
The clarification addresses confusion among overseas Filipino workers, or OFWs, who face long waits for domestic flights after arriving from abroad.
An OFW whose domestic connection departs within 24 hours of landing on an international flight may enter the lounge, OWWA said. However, the agency said visitors generally may stay for up to six hours per visit.
Extensions may be granted in verified special circumstances, including medical needs, senior-citizen status or disability, subject to available space.
OWWA said the limit is necessary because demand for the facilities far exceeds seating capacity. Between 4,000 and 6,000 OFWs depart from NAIA daily, while the lounges have seating for 216 people at Terminal 3 and 140 at Terminal 1, according to the agency.
The lounges provide free temporary rest areas, refreshments, charging stations and access to government services for OFWs, regardless of their OWWA membership status. They are intended as welfare facilities rather than long-term waiting areas, the agency said.
OWWA uses a real-time occupancy system to monitor available seats, with displays outside the lounges showing capacity. Travelers may be placed in a queue when the facilities are full.
The agency said workers should confirm their actual international arrival time and domestic flight schedule before seeking access. The key rule, it said, is that the domestic flight must be within 24 hours of international arrival, while normal lounge access is limited to six hours.
