(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES)
MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th District Rep. Ralph Recto said that while he supports a full scale check-up of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) instead of a mere power audit, the airport’s large income should be tapped to finance the same.
Recto, in a statement on Wednesday, said that the government, by all means, should go for a power audit of Naia and possibly a new electrical system, especially since the last two major incidents that stalled the airport were connected to power supply issues.
On May 1, Labor Day, Naia Terminal 3 operations were stalled for at least eight hours after a power outage led to flight cancellations and delays. The Manila Electric Company said that a “fault current” triggered the outage.
“Sabi ng Department of Transportation (DOTr), magkakaroon ang Naia ng electrical system audit. Kung maraming sakit, bakit hindi gawing complete check-up, para malapatan ng tamang lunas?” Recto asked.
(According to the DOTr, Naia would have an electrical system audit. But if there are numerous ills, why not opt for a complete check-up so we can have the right remedies?)
“And whatever work to be done should be submitted as one package, so the remedies will not be several Band-Aid of cures, but a wellness package,” he added.
READ: 8-hour outage hits Naia 3; flights delayed, canceled
READ: Meralco exec: ‘Fault current’ triggered power outage in Naia Terminal 3
On Tuesday, Naia Senior Assistant General Manager Bryan Co said they would need around P1 billion for the purchase of power generators to ensure that Terminal 3’s backup power requirements are met.
This was questioned by Senator Grace Poe, who asked why Naia’s management is raising this just now.
READ: MIAA needed P1 billion for generators; why request just now? Poe asks
Recto stressed that having Naia operate properly is essential to the country’s economy as financial losses pile up every time the airport shuts down.
Hence, he said such requests are urgent but must still observe due diligence in procurement.
“Even if this light bulb moment had come too late after the airport had been hit with electrical crashes, it should be treated as an urgent request. Every time NAIA is hit with a blackout, the nation gets a blackeye,” he said.
“So if the promised power system audit would validate that request, then the government should buy it, but not necessarily in the amount floated. Panic buying is the number one procurement sin. May pera naman kasi (They have the money). NAIA is a corporate profit center for the government. It is not a charity,” he added.
According to Recto, the gross revenues of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) which operates Naia was at P15.2 billion in 2019.
He said that P1.8 billion of which was remitted to the Treasury as government profits, while P2.2 billion was set aside for tax payments.
Despite the deductions, the lawmaker noted that MIAA still had a net income of P5 billion.
The power outage at the Naia was not the first this year.
Last January 1, New Year’s Day, all Naia terminals were forced to stop sending out and receiving flights, after its Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) conked out, forcing the airport to rely on backup power. However, the backup UPS likewise failed.