The software program for the nation’s communications, navigation, and surveillance/air visitors administration (CNS/ATM) has not been upgraded for 2 years regardless of the recommendation of the contractors who put in the system, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo admitted Thursday.
The CAAP chief disclosed this in the course of the Senate investigation into the New Year’s Day airspace shutdown after Senator Grace Poe requested if there’s a software program that ought to be up to date usually.
“There is, ma’am. We are advised of the software upgrade requirements coming from them [Thales and Sumitomo],” Tamayo mentioned.
Asked if CAAP has already carried out the updating, Tamayo responded: “Never. Not for the past two years.”
Country consultant Harry Nuske of Thales—one of many corporations within the three way partnership that put in the CNS/ATM—confirmed that they’ve suggested CAAP to improve their software program.
“That is correct, madam chair. The software we recommend is updated at least yearly to maintain at pace with international standards…The last upgrade was in 2020,” Nuske mentioned.
Poe expressed her disappointment and requested Tamayo what saved the company from updating the software program for the CNS/ATM.
“How can you go on like that? Are you just weighing it, Director Tamayo? Since 2020, kailangan ng upgrade niyan, hindi niyo inaa-upgrade? How can you be compatible with other systems?” the chairperson of the Senate committee on public providers requested.
Tamayo defined that that they had funds for the improve but it surely was part of the problems that they’ve been negotiating with the three way partnership.
“That’s still part of the issues between Thales and DOTr. We have the funds for the upgrade,” Tamayo mentioned.
Tamayo was referring to the virtually P1 billion claims that Thales and Sumitomo three way partnership is searching for from the Department of Transportation as a result of delay within the implementation of the venture.
At the early a part of the listening to, Transportation Undersecretary for Aviations and Airports Roberto Lim mentioned the Thales-Sumitomo three way partnership’s claims contain a complete quantity of P986,653,157.81 which was divided into three various kinds of claims:
- Suspension claims price P477 million. This is a consequence of the suspension of contract as a result of a discover of disallowance in 2011 which was finally lifted in 2013.
- Prolongation declare price over P387 million. This is the consequence of the delay as a result of suspension of the contract and the delay of the implementation of the work instruction by the Department of Transportation.
- Price escalation declare price over P121 million which is a consequence of the delay of the venture contractors
On the opposite hand, the DOTr additionally has P644 million price of claims towards the three way partnership. Lim mentioned that is for the delay within the supply of the system.
Tamayo mentioned they’re negotiating with Thales to function CAAP’s third celebration auditor for the upkeep of the CNS/ATM. However, Thales wished the federal government to first settle the claims earlier than getting into into a brand new contract.
CAAP Air Navigation Service Assistant Director General Arnold Balucating defined that the appliance that they’re presently utilizing continues to be “sufficient” and it could actually present all of the required providers.
“So far po yung application na ginagamit ng air traffic service ay sufficient naman po na ma-provide ‘yung required service,” Balucating mentioned.
Poe identified that this was the identical motive that the CAAP gave for the failed uninterruptible energy provide which supposedly led to the airspace shutdown on January 1.
“‘Yung isang UPS system ninyo ‘di umano e naririnig niyong maingay na, nasira ang blower, pero sinabi niyo umaandar pa naman so tinuloy-tuloy niyo hanggang ito na nga ‘yung mga nangyari. Tapos ito sasabihin mo e kasi okay pa naman. So at what point will you say ‘No, it’s really crucial that we update it already’ until something like this happens?” Poe mentioned.
Balucating then mentioned that updating the software program would additionally entail {hardware} upgrading.
“It could be now a blessing in disguise that this thing prompted us to focus on the deficiencies of CAAP and your equipment. Thankfully, there were no deaths involved because of the skills of our operators, air traffic control operators and some of our engineers but the fact is you are just weighing it, you are just hoping against hope that nothing will go wrong,” Poe quipped.
“Since you are doing not just the bare minimum but not even the minimum of what is required,” she added.
Poe then suggested Tamayo to claim CAAP’s fiscal autonomy after studying that the government-owned and managed company has remitted P22 billion from 2016 as much as the current to the nationwide authorities.
“That could have secured all of the necessary services and upgrades that you needed,” Poe mentioned.
The Senate public providers committee on Thursday launched an investigation into the fiasco that occurred within the nation’s essential gateway final January 1.
Philippine airspace successfully closed on New Year’s Day as a result of technical points on the CAAP’s Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC).
At least 282 flights have been canceled, diverted, or delayed, and a few 56,000 passengers at NAIA have been affected. —NB, GMA Integrated News
