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Advocates Philippines
June 9 NAIA Power Outage Due To Testing Activities - Meralco Spox
Photo credit: Joe Zaldarriaga
Meralco Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga addressed the power outage that occurred at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on June 9. Zaldarriaga confirmed that the outage was a result of testing activities conducted by MServ, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meralco, aimed at improving the terminal's electrical system.
According to the statement, MServ, in the presence of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) personnel, was performing a comprehensive technical audit of NAIA Terminal 3's electrical facilities. During the testing activity, an MServ personnel inadvertently left grounding conductors attached to an electrical equipment, which led to an electrical fault at 12:50 p.m. and subsequently caused the power interruption.
Immediate action was taken to rectify the situation, with the affected facilities being isolated and power restored by 1:29 p.m. Meralco promptly dispatched a crew to the site to assist both MServ and MIAA in resolving the issue. Furthermore, a comprehensive incident report was submitted, accompanied by specific recommendations to prevent similar incidents during future audit and testing activities at NAIA Terminal 3.
The recommendations outlined in the report include the strict implementation of toolbox meetings between MIAA, MServ, and Meralco prior to any activity, as well as thorough joint inspections of the work area before energization of the facilities being tested.
Zaldarriaga expressed sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused by the power interruption and emphasized that measures are being undertaken to ensure that a similar incident does not occur in the future. He also assured MIAA, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the commuting public that Meralco remains committed to working with the government in its transportation infrastructure development efforts.
The power outage at NAIA Terminal 3 serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous testing procedures and close collaboration between stakeholders to maintain the reliability of critical infrastructure. The incident highlights the need for ongoing improvements to the electrical system at NAIA Terminal 3, as well as a commitment to preventing disruptions that impact both travelers and airport operations.
According to the statement, MServ, in the presence of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) personnel, was performing a comprehensive technical audit of NAIA Terminal 3's electrical facilities. During the testing activity, an MServ personnel inadvertently left grounding conductors attached to an electrical equipment, which led to an electrical fault at 12:50 p.m. and subsequently caused the power interruption.
Immediate action was taken to rectify the situation, with the affected facilities being isolated and power restored by 1:29 p.m. Meralco promptly dispatched a crew to the site to assist both MServ and MIAA in resolving the issue. Furthermore, a comprehensive incident report was submitted, accompanied by specific recommendations to prevent similar incidents during future audit and testing activities at NAIA Terminal 3.
The recommendations outlined in the report include the strict implementation of toolbox meetings between MIAA, MServ, and Meralco prior to any activity, as well as thorough joint inspections of the work area before energization of the facilities being tested.
Zaldarriaga expressed sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused by the power interruption and emphasized that measures are being undertaken to ensure that a similar incident does not occur in the future. He also assured MIAA, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the commuting public that Meralco remains committed to working with the government in its transportation infrastructure development efforts.
The power outage at NAIA Terminal 3 serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous testing procedures and close collaboration between stakeholders to maintain the reliability of critical infrastructure. The incident highlights the need for ongoing improvements to the electrical system at NAIA Terminal 3, as well as a commitment to preventing disruptions that impact both travelers and airport operations.
Jun 12, 2023
