Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday filed separate resolutions which seek to launch an investigation into the supposed power outage that caused flight disruptions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on January 1.
In filing proposed Senate Resolution 390, Villanueva said failure to address airspace traffic management will continuously impact the facilitation of cargo via air and it may also hinder the continuous promotion of tourism in the country whether to local or foreign tourists.
The lawmaker noted that NAIA has been regarded as the worst international airport for three years from 2011 to 2013, fourth in the world in 2014, and fifth worst in the world in 2016.
This, he said, affects both the airport and the country’s reputation to travelers.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate of the Philippines, that the appropriate Committee/s of the Senate of the Philippines conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the recent technical glitch in the country’s air traffic management system, with a view to improving the Philippines’ overall air traffic services, utilizing it as an engine of further economic growth, and aligning the relevant agencies’ plans with the goals of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to spur the economy, revitalize the tourism sector, and create more opportunities for job generation,” Villanueva wrote.
Villanueva said that the 2023 to 2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) indicated the need to strategically develop airports to address future demands and meet aerodrome design safety standards, develop and connect gateway airports to feeder airports to facilitate access to various tourist destinations, adopt level of service standards in all airports to quantitatively measure the adequacy of facilities and plans for interventions, and to continue the “night-rating” of airports to alleviate traffic congestion, among others.
Meanwhile, Estrada stressed in proposed Senate Resolution 392 that the latest incident “aggravates the already unpleasant image of the NAIA” which was regularly labeled as one of the worst and most stressful airports in the world.
The lawmaker raised the need for remedial legislation and urgent action from the authorities to “save it from becoming a national disgrace.”
“The latest mess becomes yet another stumbling clock for the recovery and revitalization of the tourism industry, which is among the most severely affected sectors during the onslaught of the novel Coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
“The ten-hour technical glitch spells massive losses for the national economy, not limited to the immediate aftermath of the fiasco, but hurts the overall image of the country as a viable tourism destination, commercial and investment hub,” he added.
Further, Estrada said there is a need for the installation of more sophisticated technologies, effective backup mechanisms, and competent manpower and experts to man the facilities to ensure uninterrupted airport operations and to defend it against cybersecurity attacks, sabotage, disasters and other threats.
“There is a need to properly and comprehensively identify the needed infrastructure and government-and/or private sector support to modernize and fully equip the country’s main gateway at the soonest possible time to ensure the highest quality of service for all its users and transform it as one of the world’s best,” Estrada said.
In an interview on PTV’s public briefing, CAAP Deputy Director General Edgardo Diaz said the agency is ready for any inquiries.
“Kami po ay nakahanda. We welcome all the inquiries na gagawin ng anumang sektor ng ating gobyerno… mapa Senado o sa ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno,” Diaz said.
(We are ready. We welcome all the inquiries to be conducted by any sector of our government… be it the Senate or any of our colleagues in the government.)
“We are willing to talk with them and to show them whatever they want,” he added.
Compensation
Meanwhile, a transport group on Tuesday called on passengers to file for damages against the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) after their flights were delayed and canceled due to technical problems at the agency’s facility.
Commuter network The Passenger Forum convener Primo Morillo said in a statement that passengers cannot receive compensation because the Air Passenger Bill of Rights only provides compensation when airlines are at fault.
“…Worse, as airlines are not to blame, they cannot get any compensation,” he said.
“With this airport glitch, we cannot blame anyone but the government institutions in charge of ensuring the smooth operations of air traffic in the country. As the CAAP is a GOCC, they have their own funds and thus, they must pay for the damages incurred by their shortcomings,” he added.
According to Morillo, the delayed and canceled flights resulted in additional expenses for hotel accommodation and food, among others.
“These are clearly things that demand damages,” he said.
On the issue of compensation, CAAP’s Diaz said that the matter is still being discussed as a full assessment of the incident is still ongoing.
On Sunday, January 1, flights to and from Manila were put on hold due to technical issues with CAAP’s air navigation facilities. Flights were delayed, diverted or canceled.
Around 65,000 passengers were affected by the closure of the Philippine airspace that transportation officials attributed to an “outdated” system.
Malacañang on Monday said a thorough probe is being done by concerned agencies following the incident. —with Joviland Rita and Ted Cordero/KG/VBL, GMA Integrated News
2 Senate resos filed seeking probe into NAIA air traffic mess
Source: Balita News
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