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Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has issued an apology for the power outage that occurred at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) on June 9. The incident was caused by an employee of Meralco subsidiary MServ, and the company expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public.
In a statement, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga acknowledged the disruption and assured the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the Department of Transportation, and the commuting public that steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Zaldarriaga explained that MServ, under the supervision of MIAA personnel, was conducting testing activities to improve NAIA-3’s electrical system as part of a comprehensive technical audit.
During the testing activity, an MServ employee unintentionally left grounding conductors attached to an electrical equipment, resulting in an electrical fault and subsequent power interruption at 12:50pm. However, Meralco promptly isolated the affected facilities and power was restored by 1:29pm. On-site crews were deployed to assist MServ and MIAA in resolving the issue.
To avoid such occurrences in the future, the incident report submitted to the airport authorities included specific recommendations. These recommendations highlight the importance of conducting toolbox meetings between MIAA, MServ, and Meralco before any activity, as well as thorough joint inspections of the work area prior to the energization of the tested facilities.
Zaldarriaga emphasized Meralco’s commitment to collaborating with the government in its transportation infrastructure development endeavors. The company aims to ensure the reliable and efficient operation of NAIA-3’s electrical system, prioritizing the convenience and safety of airport personnel and passengers.
