New hotel in Manila caters to returning OFWs

Manila: The government has opened a cheap, comfortable and secure bed and bath hotel for arriving overseas Filipino workers and visiting merchants from the provinces.

Called Gwapotel (Handsome Hotel), it was built by the government-run Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on the refurbished four-storey building of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) along Manila's port area, at the Bonifacio Drive.

Good-looking

"It was President Gloria Arroyo who called for the immediate establishment of a good-looking, affordable, hospitable, secure and clean bed and bath hostel for arriving OFWs and businessmen from the provinces," said MMDA head Beyani Fernando.

"Now, the OFWs can have a good place to stay before they go home to their provinces. Businessmen from the provinces can have a decent place to sleep, eat and take a bath when then arrive in Manila to leave their products," Fernando said.

Gwapotel has two-deck bunkbeds which can accommodate 1,000 transient bed spacers. It has lockers for personal belongings, located at the building's security office. It also offers breakfast and brunch.

Reservations are not allowed and admission is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Gwapotel's rates are low: P20 (Dh1.50) for a night's stay and P5 (about 40 fils) for an eight-minute use of the bathroom. Extended use of the bathroom can be done with additional payments, which are made with tokens slipped into vending machines.

"With P15 one can have a real good bath at Gwapotel. That costs like a can of Coca Cola," said a Gwapotel personnel.

Gwapotel's bunks, however, have no pillows and bed sheets.