Poe questions NAIA T3 power outage, cites pattern

Senator Grace Poe questioned whether the recent power outage at NAIA Terminal 3 was accidental or intentional, marking the third such incident in six months.

The latest power interruption occurred on Friday afternoon and was reportedly caused by human error during an ongoing energy audit by MSERV, a subsidiary of Meralco, with generators activated 15 minutes later and power restored in about an hour.

Poe highlighted that these outages consistently happen during peak travel periods, including New Year, Labor Day, and the recent Independence Day long weekend, causing significant flight delays and passenger inconvenience.

She recalled that the DOTr had previously investigated the possibility of sabotage following a May 1 power outage, a probe whose findings remain unclear.

The senator also pointed out the lack of handover of crucial building plan documents by the contractor despite payment and urged the DOTr to consider immediate improvements like adding generators and providing care kits with water and snacks to passengers, especially during hot weather.

Poe stressed that even with NAIA's privatization being explored, MIAA must implement proper maintenance and contingency plans to prevent future disruptions and prepare for all emergency scenarios.