The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has declared that compensation should not shield government agencies from accountability in the May 1 power outage at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Thousands of passengers were stranded as a result of the outage and delayed and cancelled flights, mostly affecting domestic travelers. Although agencies provided food, water, and health kits, and airline companies offered compensation, the CHR argues that vulnerable groups who cannot afford more expensive options are left to tolerate problems in the public transport system. The CHR called on government agencies and airline companies to beef up airport services, facilities, and compensation mechanisms to prevent the widening of social inequalities in times of crisis. To ensure effective prevention measures, the CHR also supports auditing Terminal 3’s electrical systems.
