Several celebrities and personalities resorted to social media to express their feelings on the recent Ninoy Aquino International Airport air traffic disaster, which caused massive aircraft delays.
Thousands of flights were delayed, canceled, or diverted on January 1 due to technical challenges and system faults in the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) caused by a power outage, causing inconvenience for thousands of passengers.
The system was inaugurated in 2018, according to a report by ABS-CBN News’ Jacque Manabat.
This the building that houses the Air Traffic Management Center that encountered the ‘technical issue.’
The air navigation system is used to monitor the location of planes and airspace capacity within and near NAIA.
The system was inaugurated in 2018. pic.twitter.com/YyNQXz8DN0
— Jacque Manabat (@jacquemanabat) January 1, 2023
Social media personality Poy Claudio, meanwhile, called out the continued lack of accountability from government agencies as if the situation was born out of sheer bad luck.
He tweeted “Can you just imagine the humiliation? An entire territory of air space becoming inaccessible. Due to faulty and outdated equipment. Affecting NUMEROUS international flights. With no apology nor accountability. In 2023. But it’s the Philippines, of course no one’s at fault again.”
Can you just imagine the humiliation? An entire territory of air space becoming inaccessible. Due to faulty and outdated equipment. Affecting NUMEROUS international flights. With no apology nor accountability. In 2023.
But it’s the Philippines, of course no one’s at fault again.
— Claudiopoi #StopKillingPalestinians!!! (@claudiopoy) January 2, 2023
Former PBB housemate Justin Dizon also ranted about the situation, pointing out the inconvenience it brought to the affected families who had their flights through NAIA.
Kakasimula pa lang ng 2023, the NAIA fiasco happened. Thousands of families were severely affected.
Furthermore, ang mahal pa rin ng necessities (special mention ang sibuyas). Dagdag mo pa yung Maharlika Fund.
Our nation’s trajectory is terrible. Hanggang kailan tayo magtitiis?
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) January 2, 2023
Actress Cherry Pie Picache also shared their experience when their flight got canceled and they had no choice but to accept the airline’s offer to rebook or refund.
“Expectedly our flight got cancelled. Sad part, no assistance of what so ever was given by our airline provider @CebuPacificAir, and the airfare’s as good as a long-haul flight. Only a message to rebook, earliest was Jan. 5, travel fund or refund, receiving after 2mos?!! (face palm emoji) #nochoicetayo?”
https://twitter.com/Yescppicache/status/1609563777355374592
Comedian-host and talent manager Ogie Diaz on the other hand slammed a Marcos supporter who gaslighted Kakampinks with regard to the NAIA fiasco issue.
Diaz reminded the apologist in his tweet that the navigation system malfunction affected everyone who had flights on that day, not just Kakampinks.
Gagah, di lang mga kakampink ang apektado. Kahit di kakampink, apektado! Kundi ka ba naman taran ___. https://t.co/way59nhh5n
— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) January 2, 2023
Business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, meanwhile, also tweeted, offering help to the DOTr and CAAP with their connectivity and power supply protection.
If our Group could be of any help to DOTr/CAAP, we’d be happy to participate – colocation of 2nd, even 3rd, redundancies in our nationwide data centers, required connectivities – fiber, satellite, wireless – robust even redundant power supply protection etc.Let’s all support.
— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) January 1, 2023
Around 5:50 p.m., the ATMC was also able to resume normal operation after fixing the issue.
