Transport chief says sorry for NAIA's sudden closure

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 2, 10:57 a.m.) — Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Tuesday repeatedly asked for apology for the temporary emergency closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday evening.

Tugade explained that he was forced to declare closure of the NAIA Runway 06-24 when the asphalt got peeled off and required immediate repair to ensure passenger and aircrafts' safety.

"Sa lahat po ng mga mananakay, please accept my sincerest apologies sa mga na-perwisyo na-discomfort. Ito ho ang isang pangyayaring wala hong may gusto," Tugade told reporters in an video interview posted by the Transportation department's spokesperson Cherie Mercado.

DOTr Sec Tugade apologizes for NAIA emergency closure last nt. Says SOPs will be put in place pic.twitter.com/k05fgHJgcA

— Cherie Mercado (@cheriemercado) July 19, 2016

"Natuklap po 'yung aspalto, kailangang bigyang atensyon. Ayaw ko hong isugal 'yung seguridad ng mga sasakyang panghimpapawid. Ayaw kong isugal yung safety at security ng mga pasahero kaya nagdecide ho kami na ayusin muna at kumpunihin yung runway. Alam ko at alam namin na maraming naperwisyo humihingi ako sa inyo ng dispensa at pangunawa," he added.

The Department of Transportation announced sudden closure of NAIA runway on Monday afternoon due to a soft spot on main Runway 06-24 to avoid damage to aircraft. The closure delayed about a hundred flights and diverted some of them to Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

Tugade admitted the department's reputation was again tainted by another incident at NAIA, once dubbed the world's worst airport by a travelers' website.

He also apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte and vowed to monitor the NAIA runway situation to avoid travel interruption in the future.

"Mr. President, sorry ho ako ho ang nakaupo ditto. Hindi ho ako titingin sa nakaraan ako po ang nakaupo rito, responsibilidad namin iyang nangyari hong iyan. Please accept our apologies and we will do our outmost best that a repeat will never happen," Tugade said.

The DOTC chief said the incident served as a lesson to the agency, vowing to take precautionary measures.

"Nagbigay ng aralin ito sa amin na kailangang sundan namin magkakaroon ho kami ng standard operative procedure na kung saan we shall be proactive and not reactive. Titignan ho namin lahat yung mga runways magbuhat ngayon para yung mga pangyayaring ganito ay hindi na maulit," he said.

The  NAIA Runway 06-24 opened at 10:45 p.m., according to the Manila International Airport. However, airlines advised passengers that some diverted flights delay arrivals and departures.