SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has expressed his gratitude to the consortium led by San Miguel CEO Ramon Ang for the bigger OFW lounge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

This lounge would be of great help and comfort for the departing Overseas Filipino Workers.

SMC-SAP & Co. Consortium, of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics, Inc., RLW Aviation Development, Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp bagged the P170.6 billion PPP project aimed at the comprehensive rehabilitation and operation of NAIA.

The Speaker, accompanied by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales and Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, passed by Terminal 3 on Tuesday afternoon to see for themselves the progress in the construction of the planned OFW lounge there.

“Dito sa T3 nakikita natin itong original envisioned OFW lounge kagaya sa Terminal 1. Napakaganda nun pero punong-puno na. Dito naman sa T3 kasi mas maraming pasahero ang darating dito we are very grateful to Mr. Ramon Ang and Mam Cecille (Ang’s daughter) for accommodating not only the OFW lounge here but they want to accommodate a larger space that’s almost double the area,” Romualdez said.

“Mas malaki pa ang gustong ibigay, naliliitan sila sa unang plano sa request. So talagang nakikita natin na mas magiging maayos at maganda ang operation dito sa NAIA,” he added.

The additional space envisioned as OFW in Terminal 3 can accommodate around 200 passengers. Like all OFW lounge, he said it would be provided with amenities so departing OFWs could have a comfortable place to stay before departing the country to go back to their jobs abroad.

“We are also grateful to the management here for coordinating this request to make sure that our migrant workers who are traveling through the NAIA terminals are accommodated as VIPs should be,” Romualdez said.

“Gusto natin na may maayos na lounge area na comfortable at dun sila pwede kumain at kumuha ng refreshements bago sila lumipad sa ibayong dagat at magtratrabaho,” he said.

He said that according to the information he received, the planned OFW lounge in Terminal 3 could be operational by the end of June this year.

Meanwhile, the Office of Speaker Romualdez delivered an initial donation consisting of a 55-inch and a 65-inch television set that would be installed at the NAIA Terminal 1 OFW lounge to provide entertainment for the departing migrant workers staying there.

A subsequent donation of four TV sets will be delivered for use of the OFW lounge in Terminal 3.

Romualdez, who witnessed the signing of the PPP agreement in Malacanang earlier expressed confidence the vital project would bring about substantial improvements in airport facilities and services.

“The rehabilitation and operation of NAIA under this PPP framework demonstrate the unwavering commitment of the administration of President Marcos, Jr. to fostering sustainable growth and innovation in our transportation infrastructure,” said Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives.

As the winning bidder for the PPP project, the SMC-led group is expected to improve the NAIA complex, including facilities such as the runway, taxiway, ramp areas, and firefighting facility. It is also expected to increase the airport’s current annual passenger capacity from 32 million to 60 million.