Metro Manila, Philippines – The heat is on – at least in the country’s main international gateway which shut down some of its chillers that malfunctioned on Friday, Aug. 23, in time with the volume of travelers for the long weekend.

In a statement, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said it has observed “high operational temperatures” on three chillers at Terminal 3, prompting it to switch off cooling facilities.

MIAA said troubleshooting may last until tomorrow morning, but temperature in the terminal may only improve by noon.

“Descaling, cleaning, and swabbing procedures were also conducted on the affected chillers to ensure optimal operational conditions,” the airport management said in a statement.

MIAA added cooling fans have been deployed in some areas to address passenger discomfort.

The management also asked travelers for patience as it determines the cause of trouble.

“We humbly advise our T3 (terminal 3) users to wear light clothes, bring fans, and to hydrate, to further mitigate the expected warm temperature at the terminal,” MIAA General Manager Eric Ines was quoted as saying in a press release.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report