A scheduled power interruption affected Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City early Tuesday morning, causing disruptions in some establishments and arrival areas. According to security personnel at the airport, the outage was part of a planned maintenance operation from midnight to 3 AM.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) released a statement explaining that the power interruption was necessary for upgrading the terminal’s electrical systems. This maintenance work, which began on April 2 and concluded today, May 28, involved replacing parts of medium circuit breakers in eight electrical substations at NAIA Terminal 3.
MIAA emphasized that these upgrades are conducted only during early morning hours to avoid peak operational times. Most of the terminal, including the departure area, retained adequate lighting and air conditioning. However, the south side experienced reduced lighting in hallways and lobbies, surface parking, and elevators and escalators.
The airport’s generator sets were ready for use if needed during the ongoing electrical systems upgrade, ensuring minimal disruption.
Despite these measures, some passengers experienced inconvenience due to the power interruption. Edlyn Nardo, an overseas Filipino worker returning from Bahrain after five years, expressed frustration: “Mainit, sobrang walang kuryente at ang haba ng pila. Tapos wala pang cart sa loob naubusan,” she said.
The Tolentino family, returning from a vacation in Japan, was also caught off guard by the situation. “Nagulat lang kami kasi sobrang bakit ganun, brownout ba, ganun or what…tapos ang haba ng pila. Like ‘yung mga nasa likod namin, mga galit na. Tatawagin tapos pababalikin naman nila,” shared Zen Tolentino, who traveled with her child.