Quake halts 17 GenSan flights

SEVENTEEN flights at General Santos International Airport were canceled by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sarangani.

In a statement on Monday, CAAP said it is currently assessing air navigation facilities, equipment, and operational capabilities to ensure safety of airport operations.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez has ensured continued operations at the General Santos International Airport, lifting the temporary suspension of airport operations to allow military aircraft, government and humanitarian flights at the airport.

“Passengers are advised to coordinate with their respective airlines for updates on the status of their flights,” CAAP said.

Of the 17 flights on June 8, 11 were operated by Cebu Pacific, two were operated by Philippine Airlines (PAL), and four were operated by its unit, PAL Express.

In separate statements, budget carrier Cebu Pacific said it is providing free rebooking or rerouting of any flights bound for General Santos (GenSan). The carrier is also providing travel fund conversion and refund for all affected passengers.

PAL said all affected passengers may rebook their flights for free, opt for travel fund conversion, or request a full refund.

PAL also advised passengers of longer customer support wait times following the temporary closure of its contact center in Mindanao, which was affected by the recent earthquake.

Separately, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said that it is closely monitoring telecommunications and connectivity situations in affected areas.

Globe Telecom, Inc.’s services remain fully operational, while Smart Communications, Inc. reported weak signals in General Santos City despite overall normal status, and DITO Telecommunity Corp. recorded 54 offline sites across parts of Mindanao, according to DICT. — Ashley Erika O. Jose