After the unprecedented technical glitch that affected airport operations on New Year’s day, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday disclosed that the country’s Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance for Air traffic Management (CNS/ATM) is already “outdated.”

In an interview during DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the CNS/ATM system was conceptualized in the late 1990s, but it was completed and became fully operational only in 2019.

The CNS/ATM system provides computer-aided safety measures in Air Traffic Control and enhances safety through the reduction of controller or pilot workloads and human errors.

“Sa ngayon, ang nakita naming issue ay kailangan dapat mapalitan [ang CNS/ATM system],” he said.

Apolonio said they already procured some spare parts for the system and awaiting the equipment's arrival.

On Sunday at 9:55 am, the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) halted all flights to and from Manila after experiencing a technical glitch in the CNS/ATM system due to a power outage.

At least 361 international and domestic flights were either delayed, canceled, or diverted to other regional airports, affecting about 65,000 passengers.

Partial flight operations with limited passengers resumed at 4:00 pm on the same day.

Apolonio explained that the CAAP personnel tried to use backup power supplies but these also failed.

"Unfortunately, hindi nag-workout lahat. Actually, dalawa 'yung UPS [uninterruptible power supply] na ginagamit natin diyan kasama ang circuit breaker kaso ang problema diyan ay ang power outage. Minabuti namin na i-shutdown," he said.

In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the power supply problem is "still being determined and is subject for investigation."

“The CAAP’s Aerodrome and Air Navigation Safety Oversight Office (AANSOO) will be tasked to investigate the incident,” it said.

The DOTr extended its apologies to the affected passengers and asked for their patience.

Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has distributed malasakit kits containing water and food for all affected passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), on the other hand, provided medical assistance and food.