The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking for solutions that will address recurring problems affecting the country’s transportation systems and commuters, according to Secretary Jaime Bautista.
At the House briefing Tuesday on the airspace shutdown on New Year’s Day, Bautista assured lawmakers the DOTr is committed to coming up with permanent solutions to the recurring transport problems, especially issues affecting the country’s air traffic navigation system.
“We sincerely apologize to all those affected by the technical glitch, which disrupted hundreds of flights and brought inconvenience to thousands of passengers, not just at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), but other major airports as well,”
Bautista told members of the House Committee on Transportation chaired by Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop.
According to Bautista, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had been immediately informed that 90 percent of the operations at NAIA was recovered within 24 hours since the incident.
An intra-agency investigation is being conducted on the source of the air traffic navigation system glitch, Bautista said.
The House hearing will also give the DOTr an opportunity to highlight the critical need for technical and financial support in upgrading the facilities at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), NAIA and other regional airports throughout the country, Bautista said.
The technical glitch at the CAAP’s Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management System resulted in 361 canceled flights and over 60,000 affected passengers.
