THE New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) has launched a full audit of all security bollards at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) following the fatal crash that killed two people near Terminal 1 over the weekend.
NNIC said the audit will determine whether reinforcements—such as deeper foundations or structural upgrades—are needed for bollards installed in 2019, particularly in high foot-traffic areas.
“We are assessing the integrity and placement of all existing protective barriers to identify critical areas for improvement,” the NNIC said in a statement.
The project cost P8 million, based on the 2019 accomplishment report of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which was then operating NAIA.
As part of its response, NNIC will also redesign the current diagonal drop-off configuration at Terminals 1 and 2, replacing it with a safer, parallel layout to minimize the risk of vehicles hitting pedestrians.
“This was a serious incident, and we are treating it with the urgency it deserves. While safeguards were already in place, we recognize that there is always room to improve,” the NNIC said.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also ordered an investigation to determine whether the bollards were substandard and if procurement processes followed airport safety standards.
“Ang tatanungin lang naman dito, simple lang, sumunod ba ang MIAA nung binili nila ito noong 2019 sa standards para sa mga airport? Kailangan talaga sumunod tayo sa international standards,” said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon. “Kung merong pagkakamali diyan ay merong pananagutan.”
A 4-year-old girl and a 29-year-old man were killed in Sunday’s crash. The SUV driver is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple counts of homicide, physical injury, and damage to property.
