PHILIPPINES: The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has responded to an incident at the OFW Lounge in NAIA Terminal 3 involving a worker who had just arrived from Dubai and was bound for Romblon.
In a statement on its official Facebook page, the agency said it understands the fatigue and needs of returning Filipinos.
According to OWWA, CCTV footage, incident reports, and staff statements show the OFW was admitted to the lounge. Personnel helped with registration and baggage. The traveler had no onward domestic flight and was heading home to Romblon by land and sea. OWWA said staff still granted entry as a courtesy and told the worker food and drinks were available.
The agency noted that the lounge, located in the departure area, mainly serves OFWs with departing or connecting flights. Arriving OFWs in distress can visit the OWWA Airport Arrival Assistance Desk past Customs at Terminals 1 and 3. The desk can help with transportation, food, and temporary accommodation.
OWWA said its fact-finding review is still underway. The agency pledged to fix any lapses and share verified findings fairly once the review is complete.
Full Statement from OWWA Below:
𝐏𝐀𝐇𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐆 𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐖𝐖𝐀 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐅𝐖 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐀 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝟑
Nauunawaan ng OWWA ang pagod at pangangailangan ng ating kababayang dumating mula Dubai.
Batay sa CCTV footage, incident reports, at statements ng mga personnel na naroon, nakapasok ang concerned OFW sa OFW Lounge at na-assist ng ating personnel sa kanyang registration at mga bagahe. Wala siyang connecting domestic flight dahil magpapatuloy siya patungong Romblon sa pamamagitan ng land and sea travel, ngunit bilang tulong ay pinayagan pa rin siyang makapasok sa lounge at inabisuhang maaari siyang kumuha ng pagkain at inumin.
𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐅𝐖 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐦𝐠𝐚 𝐎𝐅𝐖 𝐧𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚 𝐦𝐠𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐅𝐖 𝐧𝐚 𝐝𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐨𝐧, 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐤𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐎𝐖𝐖𝐀 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐤 𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐬 𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐬𝐚 𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐀 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝟏 𝐚𝐭 𝟑.
Patuloy naming kinukumpleto ang pagsusuri sa pamamagitan ng CCTV, service records, at statements ng mga personnel at witnesses upang malinaw ang buong sequence of events.
Kung may pagkukulang, aayusin natin. At kapag nakumpleto ang pagsusuri, ilalabas natin ang verified facts nang maayos, patas, at may respeto sa lahat.