Power fluctuations hit NAIA

MANILA, Philippines —  Passengers sweltered as power fluctuations hit the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 at around 10 a.m. yesterday.

The fluctuations were caused by a circuit breaker tripping, according to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) spokesman Chris Bendijo.

The elevated heat index outside the terminal led to high power loads that caused the circuit breaker to trip, he noted.

Other potential causes are being investigated.

Electrical engineers worked for an hour to calibrate the circuit breaker, he added.

NAIA’s power generators kicked in, continuing operations at check-in counters and X-ray machines, but the cooling system was a problem.

The airport’s power is now back to normal after more than three hours of limited power supply.

Passengers reported that escalators were not working at the NAIA Terminal 3.

Energy utility provider Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said it is ready to provide support to MIAA following the power fluctuations.

MIAA said the power fluctuations affected the air handling units at the departure area, but no flight delays or cancellations were reported.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and MIAA general manager Eric Ines inspected the airport prior to the fluctuations.

The MIAA is upgrading the airport’s electrical system and assured the public that this would cause no significant impact on flight operations.

Scheduled maintenance activities are being conducted by MIAA at NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3, International Cargo Terminal, MIAA administration building and the airfield to upgrade NAIA’s electrical systems.

Meanwhile, the campaign against rats at the airport was proven effective, Bendijo said.

“We cannot discount the fact that we have food concessionaires which necessarily attract rodents. Numerous traps were set up and the number of trapped (rats) decreased both in numbers and sizes, which is a sign that the measures are effective,” he said.

He also noted that based on a Bureau of Quarantine report, the bed bugs that infested some lounge chairs at NAIA did not come from the Philippines.

“I am only relying on the statement of the Bureau of Quarantine about the possibility of infestation (of