MCIA soon to set up OFWs facilitation center at Terminal 2 by June 2025

LAPULAPU CITY – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Cebu Pacific established an OFW Facilitation Center at Terminal 2 to streamline essential documentation processes, including the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) for a more seamless departure and arrival experience for OFWs.

“As a key international gateway, MCIA recognizes the critical role OFWs play in the Philippine economy. With 35 percent of OFWs coming from the Cebu catchment and a significant portion traveling to and from different areas of the world particularly the Middle East, we see this initiative as an important step in making MCIA their preferred transit point,” Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC) Chief Executive Officer, Athanasios Titonis said.

Construction of the center is scheduled to begin this March with operations expected before the end of the second quarter of 2025. The center is part of the Ceb-Balik Project, an initiative that aims to boost connectivity and ease of travel for returning OFWs, Titonis bared.

The MCIA’s role in the project is to provide an OFW assistance kiosk at the airport to guide workers who may need support in processing travel documents.  MCIA also encourages OFW recruitment agencies to establish Cebu-based operations, allowing new workers to complete pre-departure formalities without traveling to Manila.

The airport also wants to expand direct flights between Cebu and the Middle East, catering to the majority of returning workers, with 28 percent of total Middle East arrivals visiting the Visayas in 2023—and pre-pandemic levels averaging at 47 percent.

MCIA sees an opportunity to further solidify Cebu as a strategic hub for OFW travel and the enhanced connectivity via Cebu is expected to drive further traffic growth, including tourism from international visitors linking through the airport.

“This initiative is a step towards a more accessible, efficient, and welcoming travel experience for them. We are committed to make MCIA a hub not only for travelers but also for the hardworking OFWs who contribute immensely to our nation’s progress,” Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager/CEO, Julius Neri Jr., added.

Titonis said that MCIA is continuously collaborating with government agencies and airline partners to enhance services for OFWs, reinforcing its position as a vital link between the Philippines and the global workforce. (Photos: MCIA/Christine Villanueva)