ILOILO CITY – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Western Visayas (OWWA-6) and the Philippine Airlines (PAL) partnered to offer domestic travel discounts for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) coming from Iloilo until July 31 this year.
“This initiative is being piloted in Iloilo because we recognized that this is one of the regions where we have a very big OFW population. This is our small way of recognizing their hard work and sacrifices,” PAL regional head for sales-Philippines Leonard Bryan Sansolis said in a press conference here Saturday.
Sansolis described the effort as “a labor of passion,” adding that the program has a potential for expansion, depending on the results of the pilot.
Under the program, OFWs whose travel originates from Iloilo can enjoy discounts of up to 10 percent on unlimited domestic trips, provided they submit valid documentation.
Economy Saver tickets come with a 5-percent discount and a 10kg baggage allowance.
Economy Value and Economy Flex offer a 10-percent discount with 20kg baggage, while Comfort Class and Business Class travelers get 25kg and 35kg allowances, respectively.
The pilot offering will last until July 31 to give the airline ample time to review whether the program is feasible and can be expanded.
At present, Region 6 has around 400,000 OFWs.
In 2024, there were 30,019 OFW departures and 26,018 arrivals in Iloilo.
“Region 6 has one of the largest OFW deployments. We have one of the oldest sea-based schools,” OWWA-6 officer-in-charge Director James Mendiola said.
To avail of the discount, OFWs must provide a copy of any of the following: Overseas Employment Certificate, certificate of employment or seaman’s book.
The airline reminded OFWs that the discount could not be applied simultaneously with other discount programs, such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, students, military, and national athlete/coach discounts.
They may purchase tickets from the PAL office in Iloilo or from participating authorized agents in the city and province.