MIAA vows to bring down electricity consumption

Besides implementing tighter security measures, the country’s premier airport will have to tighten its financial belt by cutting fuel and electricity costs.

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Alfonso Cusi, through MIAA Memorandum Circular No. 07 issued early this week, laid down strict measures to cut fuel and electricity consumption under a national energy conservation program.

MIAA officials and rank-and-file personnel have been asked to switch off air conditioners in all MIAA offices except for the "passenger movement areas" at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals I and II and the Manila Domestic Airport (MDA) after office hours; air conditioners will be shut down during weekends and holidays; elevator use will be limited at the MIAA Administrative Building to weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; incandescent bulbs will be replaced with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights in all offices at the MIAA complex, except at the passenger and cargo terminals; and MIAA officials’ average monthly staff car gasoline consumption must be reduced by 10 percent, among other measures.

Cusi also directed MIAA assistant general manager for engineering Elpidio "Pidiong" Mendoza to monitor compliance with these conservation measures.

The MIAA’s average monthly electricity bill before these energy-saving measures were outlined was pegged at P40 million.

However, it will be recalled that Mendoza is under investigation by an MIAA special task force headed by Robert Uy, Cusi’s head executive assistant, after Mendoza’s house near the MIAA complex was found to have a "jumper" or illegal connection to the MIAA’s power grid.

Mendoza’s house was one of 22 "households" not including a Catholic church — the Our Lady of the Airways Parish church — which were found to have illegal connections to MIAA’s power grid in an anti-jumper operation conducted by the MIAA early last August.

"The AGM for Engineering (Mendoza) is directed to institutionalize an Energy Management Committee in the engineering bloc, to undertake the following duties and responsibilities: monitor the prudent use of electricity and power in the entire NAIA complex; report to the undersigned (Cusi) all illegal connections and/or fraudulent/unauthorized use thereof by employees of MIAA, concessionaires, contractors, and other tenants using the terminal and other facilities, buildings, and equipment owned by the Authority," Cusi said in his memorandum.

Mendoza had presented a supposedly duly-approved letter request for free electricity, water and telephone from then MIAA general manager Eduardo Carrascoso way back in 1989 to defend his illegal tap when questioned about it last month.

He said that, with the exception of Cusi, he had presented the approved letter request to the succeeding MIAA general managers and all had verbally approved its extension over the years.

MIAA sources said that during Uy’s investigation, Carrascoso’s approval of the free electricity, water and telephone for Mendoza was also examined.

When contacted by MIAA officials at his home in the United States, Carrascoso admitted to approving Mendoza’s request for free utilities.

Carrascoso said Mendoza’s request was granted during his time because a power crisis had besieged the country and Mendoza’s presence was needed round the clock at the airport.

He added that he had not intended for the approval of Mendoza’s request to continue after his tenure.

For his part, Uy refused to discuss the ongoing investigation of Mendoza, saying only that they were pursuing the investigation and that Mendoza was not yet off the hook.