Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan has refuted claims that the OFW Lounges at airports will shut down in 2026 due to budget cuts, assuring migrant workers that the government is instead pushing to expand the service.
“Reports that OFW Lounges will be stopped due to lack of budget are false,” Caunan said in an official statement posted on Friday. She emphasized that the administration remains fully committed to sustaining the facilities that have served more than 1.5 million OFWs since their opening.
According to Caunan, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed OWWA to fight for additional funding during budget deliberations to ensure continued service for overseas workers. “The President has ordered us to fight for the OFWs to make their lives better in the budget deliberations. Our request for additional funds will ensure we can upgrade facilities, expand services, add more lounges, and sustain the free food and amenities that our OFWs deserve,” she explained.
OWWA currently operates lounges at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3, offering 24/7 access to free meals, Wi-Fi, charging stations, and sleeping quarters. These facilities have been particularly vital for first-time travelers and those with long waiting hours before their flights.
Caunan announced that a new lounge will soon open at NAIA Terminal 1, with preparations underway for additional lounges at Cebu and Clark International Airports. “As directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., OWWA is strengthening and expanding the OFW Lounges,” she said.
Her remarks come after a House budget hearing earlier this week, where concerns were raised that the reduced allocation under the 2026 National Expenditure Program might jeopardize the program. Lawmakers, including Agimat party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla, had urged restoring OWWA’s full budget, stressing that OFWs contribute trillions in annual remittances and deserve services that match their sacrifices.
Reaffirming OWWA’s commitment, Caunan said: “OWWA remains fully committed to Serbisyong may Puso, para sa bawat OFW at kanilang pamilya.”
