NAIA 3 passengers endure 'Saudi-like' heat due to 12-hour aircon shutdown

Passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Wednesday morning had no choice but endure the heat as the air conditioning system was temporarily shut down for 12 hours.

The centralized air conditioning system was shut off at 9 p.m. on Tuesday night and won't be operational until 12 hours later at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Passengers said the heat was similar to the temperatures in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

"Grabe kainit. Nakita niyo ang pawis ko. Grabe naligo. Tapos pangalawang palit ko na ng damit. Nakaka-stress din sa sobrang init," said Maria, who traveled from Saudi Arabia to Manila then will go home to Davao. She arrived early Wednesday morning and was surprised the heat was like that in Saudi Arabia, according to a report by EJ Gomez on Unang Balita.

(The heat is too much. You could see I'm sweating. I changed clothes twice. The heat is stressful.)

"Sobrang init. Parang nasa Saudi tayo, nasa Middle East tayo kasi first time kong naranasan ito eh na nagkaganito 'yung system ng airport natin," said Michael, who was at NAIA to send off a relative to Japan.

(It's too hot. It's like we're in Saudi, Middle East. It's the first time I experienced this at the airport.)

"Sobrang init tapos sobrang unexpected siya. Actually hinatid lang namin ang ate ko dito. Hanggang ngayon nakapila siya. Na-experience din niya ang inconvenience doon," said Rosh, who was also at the airport to send off her sister to Dubai.

(It is so hot and it's unexpected. Actually I just brought my sister here. She's still in line up to now. She experienced the inconvenience too.)

The temporary shutdown was necessary to allow workers to change the old cooling towers, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said.

"The upgrades are intended to bolster the terminal's capability to maintain ideal temperatures efficiently thereby ensuring a more pleasant experience for all airport users," it added.

The MIAA placed electric fans and blowers in strategic areas at NAIA Terminal 3 to help alleviate passengers' discomfort. Some standalone aircon units were also operational.

“Approximately 27,000 arriving and departing passengers on 117 flights may experience discomfort due to reduced air circulation during the 12-hour interruption. MIAA’s medical team will be on high alert and ready to respond to any medical emergency,” the MIAA said in an earlier advisory.

MIAA general manager Eric Jose Castro Ines appealed to passengers for their understanding for the inconvenience brought about by the temporary shutdown of the aircon system.

Passengers were urged to bring handheld fans and water to cope with the heat. —KG, GMA Integrated News