SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go is looking to help find solutions to improve the country’s air traffic control following a severe power outage that temporarily disrupted air traffic control at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, delaying nearly 300 flights, and stranding tens of thousands of travelers on January 1.

In a statement, Go said that there is an urgent need to enhance further the equipment and facilities at NAIA which is the gateway to the country for investors, tourists, overseas Filipino workers, and travelers. This prompts him to support proposals to investigate the incident.

“Kaya suportado ko na magkaroon ng Senate hearing hinggil sa insidenteng ito, hindi upang magsisihan kundi para alamin kung ano pa ang pwedeng gawin upang mas lalong mapabuti ang mga serbisyo at maiwasan na mangyari ito muli,” said Go.

“Ano ba ang talagang nangyari? Ano ang timeline para ma-normalize ang operations at ma-minimize ang domino effects sa mga flight schedules? Meron bang dapat managot? At paano ito maiiwasan? Ilan lang ito sa mga katanungan ng mga kababayan natin,” he added.

Go continued that it is unacceptable to simply leave Filipinos and other travelers lying around the airport, with some of them even having to pay for new tickets due to the urgency of their travel.

He also urged the recently established Department of Migrant Workers to help affected Overseas Filipino Workers.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap para sa akin na makitang nakahiga na lang kung saan-saan sa airport ang ating mga kababayan, napipilitang gumastos muli upang kumuha ng panibagong tickets, at mga nag-aalalang OFWs na baka mawalan ng trabaho dahil hindi nakabalik kaagad sa kanilang pinagtatrabahuhang bansa,” said Go.

“Kaya diyan rin po papasok ang ating Department of Migrant Workers. Dapat alalayan nila ang mga OFWs na apektado ng insidenteng ito,” he added.

On New Year’s Day, aviation authorities halted all flights into and out of Manila due to a problem with air traffic control. This also deterred international airlines from using the country’s airspace.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Sunday, 282 flights had been either delayed, cancelled, or diverted to other regional airports, affecting approximately 56,000 passengers at the NAIA.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview on Monday, January 2, Go also requested the Department of Transportation to explain the incident to the Filipino people and those affected by it, pointing out the disruptions it had caused.

“Kailangan po marinig ng taumbayan ‘yung explanation ng DOTr dito dahil I think first time itong nangyari for the longest time. Hindi lang po apektado kahapon ‘yung mga kababayan natin.

Hanggang ngayon marami pong nagsa-suffer,” said Go.

The senator noted that the incident would have a “domino effect,” negatively impacting the lives of many travelers and the country’s air transport system.

“Bagama’t sinasabing normal na po ngayong araw na ito ang mga flight, marami pa rin pong apektado. Domino effect ‘yan eh. Ibig sabihin, ‘pag na-cancel ‘yung isang flight, magsisiksikan ‘yan sa susunod na flight. Magsisiksikan ‘yan bukas,” said Go.

Go emphasized that the glitch was a significant issue and has serious implications for the country’s national security.

“Very serious po ito dahil para sa akin, national security implications ang pinag-uusapan dito. Dahil sa technical issue na ito, down po ang buong Philippine air space, paralyzed agad tayo,” said Go.

“Kung makikita ninyo kahapon sa monitoring po ng eroplano, ‘yung airspace na lang po ng Pilipinas ang walang lumilipad. ‘Yung iba, naglanding pa sa Taiwan. Eh, papaano po kung kukulangin tayo sa pasilidad, kukulangin ‘yung fuel ng mga eroplano… ‘yung mga eroplanong galing sa ating airspace, (posibleng) disgrasya ‘yan,” he added.

Go then reiterated his support for a proposal to launch an investigation to ascertain responsibility and identify the steps required to prevent system failures in the future.

“Kami po sa Senado, kahapon nakita ko po sa aming Viber group, ako po sang-ayon ako kung kailangang ipatawag, imbestigahan natin sa Senado at pakinggan, hindi naman para sisihin,” said Go.

“Pakinggan kung ano ho ba ang totoong nangyari at anong solusyon ang pwede nating gawin para hindi na po maulit ito. Ano ho bang mga equipment ang kailangang bilihin ng gobyerno para hindi po maulit itong nangyaring ito,” he added.

Go also said that it may be too early to say that privatizing NAIA will solve the problem. According to him, such proposals need to be thoroughly studied further taking all aspects into consideration. However, he stressed the urgent need to enhance further the equipment and facilities at NAIA.

“And as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense, I believe that this incident has possibly huge national security implications. It appears that all it takes to paralyze the entire Philippine airspace is just one technical glitch,” Go lamented.

“Kaya bilang isang senador, handa akong tumulong at sama-sama nating hanapan ng solusyon ito para maproteksyunan ang interes ng bansa at buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he added.