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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Is an apology enough? Cong Yamsuan says Meralco could be in trouble for latest NAIA outage

Is an apology enough? Cong Yamsuan says Meralco could be in trouble for latest NAIA outage

Published Jun 13, 2023 08:18 am
(MANILA BULLETIN)


The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), which distributes power to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), ought to exercise “extraordinary diligence” in rendering its services to the country's main gateway. Thus, said Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan after Meralco apologized for a recent "procedural lapse" it made at NAIA Terminal 3. "Exercising extreme caution or extraordinary diligence should not be forgotten by Meralco when it comes to providing its services to the public. Meralco is a business imbued with public interest. It cannot be lax or reckless in doing its job,” Yamsuan said in a statement Tuesday, June 13. Meralco had admitted over the weekend that a personnel of Meralco Energy Inc. (MServ) accidentally caused the 37-minute power outage at NAIA 3 last June 9. MServ, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meralco, was testing NAIA 3’s electrical facilities when one of its employees accidentally left grounding conductors attached to an electrical equipment, which triggered the outage that started at 12:50 PM and lasted until 1:29 PM. Seven flights were delayed due to the power interruption. There were no canceled flights. Yamsuan said that an apology may not be enough to get Meralco off the hook. He noted that if it is proven that the “procedural lapse” was due to Meralco’s negligence or failure to exercise extraordinary diligence, it could be held liable under the law. Under the provisions of the New Civil Code, an establishment or enterprise is held responsible for damages caused by their employees "on the occasion of their functions". “We have been pounding at MIAA officials and blaming them for the power outages at the airport during the congressional hearings held on this issue. Now that Meralco is at fault, is an apology enough?” Yamsuan asked. MIAA stands for Manila International Airport Authority, the operator of NAIA. Two more serious--and embarrassing--power outages have occurred at NAIA this years. The first, on Jan.1, and the second on May 1. Both incidents happened in the middle of long weekends, when the airport had more airline passengers.

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Meralco NAIA Bicol Saro Party-list Brian Raymund Yamsuan
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