Passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 faced sweltering conditions on Wednesday morning as the air conditioning system was temporarily shut down for 12 hours. The centralized air conditioning was turned off at 9 p.m. on Tuesday night and was scheduled to resume operation at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
The shutdown, intended for the replacement of old cooling towers, left many passengers comparing the heat to temperatures in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
“Grabe kainit. Nakita niyo ang pawis ko. Grabe naligo. Tapos pangalawang palit ko na ng damit. Nakaka-stress din sa sobrang init,” said Maria, who had traveled from Saudi Arabia to Manila and was en route to Davao. She arrived early Wednesday morning, surprised to find the heat reminiscent of Saudi Arabia.
Michael, who was at NAIA to send off a relative to Japan, shared a similar sentiment: “Sobrang init. Parang nasa Saudi tayo, nasa Middle East tayo kasi first time kong naranasan ito eh na nagkaganito ‘yung system ng airport natin.”
Rosh, also at the airport to send off her sister to Dubai, expressed her frustration: “Sobrang init tapos sobrang unexpected siya. Actually hinatid lang namin ang ate ko dito. Hanggang ngayon nakapila siya. Na-experience din niya ang inconvenience doon.”
To mitigate the discomfort, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) placed electric fans and blowers in strategic areas throughout Terminal 3, along with some standalone aircon units. The MIAA had earlier advised passengers that approximately 27,000 arriving and departing passengers on 117 flights might experience discomfort due to reduced air circulation during the shutdown. The authority assured that its medical team would be on high alert for any emergencies.
“The upgrades are intended to bolster the terminal’s capability to maintain ideal temperatures efficiently thereby ensuring a more pleasant experience for all airport users,” stated the MIAA.
MIAA General Manager Eric Jose Castro Ines appealed for understanding from passengers regarding the inconvenience, urging them to bring handheld fans and water to help cope with the heat.
