Duty Free serves over 130k OFWs in 2018

MANILA, Philippines — Duty Free Philippines Corp.  (DFPC) continues to pamper overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as it serviced over a hundred thousand clients in its OFW Center last year.

In a statement, DFPC said it served more than 130,000 clients at the OFW Center at Fiestamall in Parañaque City.

DFPC chief operating officer Vicente Angala said that the establishment of the service center was to further exemplify the agency’s commitment to serve one of its major markets, particularly the OFWs and balikbayans.

“We will continue to strengthen our OFW Center in support of President Duterte’s thrust to make it easier for Filipinos to avail of the frontline services of the government,” Angala said.

The one-stop processing center that has been in operations since 2011 hosts representatives from various agencies with services that are all relevant to OFWs such as Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), National Bureau of Investigations (NBI), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), remittance center and other private institutions.

DFPC said returning Filipino workers may also process their Overseas Employment Certificate, while shopping through a satellite unit of the POEA.

Filipinos who are currently working or planning to work overseas are encouraged to visit the OFW Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding holidays.

For this year, DFPC is targeting to hit $220 million in sales.

Last year, the company fell short of its $225 million sales target as it registered $217 million in sales.

The figure, however, was two percent higher than DFPC’s total sales in 2017 of $213 million.

Based on data from DFPC’s Merchandising Division, Filipino tourists, balikbayans and OFWs remain the company’s top source market with $59.9 million of total transactions, followed by Americans ($4.9 million), Chinese ($1.5) million and Canadians ($1.1 million).

Angala earlier said he remains optimistic of hitting the $220 million sales target as expansion initiatives are boosted this year.

“We are set to open stores in Palawan and at the New Bohol-Panglao International Airport this year. DFPC has also allotted a budget of P27.2 million for the renovation of Duty FreeFiestamall,” the company said.