Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has conducted an inspection of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ (CAAP) Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) to ensure its readiness ahead of the All Saints’ Day and holiday travel season.
Lopez said the move aims to prevent a repeat of the New Year’s Day 2023 technical glitch that paralyzed flight operations nationwide, affecting thousands of passengers.
Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for efficient and hassle-free air travel, Lopez instructed CAAP to fast-track repairs and system upgrades. He emphasized the importance of avoiding a recurrence of the 2023 incident, which stemmed from a power outage at the ATMC and resulted in the loss of communication, radar, and internet services.
During the inspection, Lopez reviewed the facility’s critical systems and was briefed on measures already in place, including the acquisition of new uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units and upgrades to the Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system to enhance redundancy.
Lopez thanked CAAP and its board for their continued support and urged sustained efforts to ensure reliable aviation operations, especially during peak travel periods.
