Poe camp: Naia-3 power outage a national embarrassment

The bag carousel area at the NAIA Terminal 3 is enveloped in darkness in this photo taken at 12 am, Sunday, April 3, 2016. Only one carousel is working. PHOTO BY ‪@sheenapedrieta THROUGH MIGUEL CAMUS / INQUIRER BUSINESS

The camp of leading presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe described the five-hour power outage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 from Saturday to early Sunday morning as “another embarrassment” for the country.

Poe’s spokesperson Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said that the power outage at the said terminal highlights the supposed incompetence of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) led by Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

“The five-hour power outage last night in NAIA 3 is once again another embarrassment for the country. The power outage clearly manifests the incompetence in the airport authority and DOTC, airport facilities management. Our people deserve better,” Gatchalian said in a statement on Sunday.

He said that the power outage is another entry to the list of issues plaguing the country’s transportation sector such as flight delays due to runway congestion, bullet planting, and ill-maintained terminal infrastructure.

Gatchalian said that their camp is asking the transportation department and airport officials to “shape up.”

READ: Power restored at Naia-3 after 5-hour outage

“The Filipino flying public’s taxes and airport fees must be put to good use to avoid such incidents from happening again. Sen. Poe is calling on DOTC and airport officials to shape up and deliver the services our people deserve,” he said.

According to the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), a Meralco substation tripped and caused the power outage which began at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday. Full power was supposedly restored at 2:00 a.m.

Cebu Pacific has cancelled 80 flights during and after the power outage. JE

READ: Cebu Pacific: 80 flights cancelled due to Naia 3 power outage