Zubiri slams CAAP over lack of CCTV in air traffic equipment rooms

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday slammed the officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) over the lack of CCTV in the air traffic equipment rooms after the technical issues that shut down Philippine airspace on New Year’s Day.

“Are you trying to tell me, Director General, that in the most sensitive portion of the functions and the navigation equipment of our country, which is the CNS-ATM room, we have no CCTV?” Zubiri said at a Senate hearing, referring to the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC).

CAAP Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo had said that there was no CCTV coverage in the equipment rooms, but that there were cameras covering other areas of the facility. 

Tamayo added that the building has very strict security protocols in the building.

“Not just anybody can enter, in fact they need special ID or key just to be able to have access aside [from] having 24/7 security at all times,” he said.

“Pagnakapasok na yung tao, hindi niyo na namo-monitor kung saan nakakapasok yung tao sa loob ng building niyo, is that correct?” Zubiri then asked.

(If someone has entered, you will not be able to monitor where that person was able to enter the building, is that correct?)

“That is correct but in some areas we do have CCTVs, unfortunately wala po doon [not there],” Tamayo said.

Tamayo said they have the list of names on duty and logs of what happened during that day.

“Yes you may have qualified people to look at these facilities but you know it can also be negligence on their part. They go in there, they make a mistake on what they connect and you will never know because it is word against yours kasi walang [because there is no] CCTV footage. I just can’t believe that there is no CCTV footage in that highly sensitive area,” Zubiri said.

At least 282 flights were canceled, diverted, or delayed on New Year's Day as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) recorded a technical issue at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) at 9:50 a.m. Some 56,000 passengers were affected at the NAIA. — BM, GMA Integrated News