MIAA, Meralco begin NAIA T3 electrical audit

FILE: Passengers at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City queue at the check-in counter as it resumes its operation after Air Traffic Management Center of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines experienced a technical issue on Sunday (Jan. 1, 2023) (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), with the assistance of power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), has started on Friday the electrical audit of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co said the audit is expected to be completed in three weeks.

Co added that once the audit is concluded, the MIAA will be able to determine the various equipment needed to be upgraded, rehabilitated or purchased to make NAIA Terminal 3’s power system reliable and resilient.

The MIAA will then determine the timeline as well as the required budget for the procurement of critical components of its electrical facilities, generator sets and implement the necessary power systems upgrade at Terminal 3.

“Yes, kailangan naming bumili or mag lease ng (we need to buy or lease of) additional generators and we are discussing with stakeholders and that’s the time na madetermine kung magkano ang kailangang budget (we will be able to determine how the budget),” Co said in a news release.

As an immediate move, the MIAA is exploring the option of leasing generator sets to increase the capacity of Terminal 3’s back-up power.

The audit is expected to assist MIAA in ensuring reliability of its power supply and prioritize major components for the system upgrade of its existing electrical facilities.

A power outage hit the NAIA Terminal 3 on Monday, affecting several flights.