By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered a separate probe into procurement and technical specifications of the bollards installed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after it failed to prevent the SUV from ramming into people at Terminal 1 – Departure West area claiming the lives of two individuals.
In a press briefing at Malacañang on Tuesday, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the bollards were installed in 2019 under the leadership of former Transportation chief Arthur Tugade.
The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) assumed operations of NAIA in September 2024 through a public-private partnership aimed at modernizing and improving the airport.
“Pinaiimbestigahan na po kung paano po ang naging procurement pati iyong specifications, iyon po ay sa pag-uutos po ng Pangulo at ito po ay tutugunan kaagad-agad ni Secretary Vince Dizon,” Castro said.
“At pati po ang pag-i-inspect sa mga bollards at ang mabilisang pagpapalit po dito para sa safety po ng [nakararami],” she added.
The President earlier directed concerned government agencies to reform the country’s transport system and hold accountable those responsible for the tragic incident.
NNIC audits bollards, redesigns drop-off areas
In a press release, the NNIC announced that it is conducting an audit of all security bollards at NAIA and will redesign the departure drop-off areas at Terminals 1 and 2 to determine the adjustments needed and to enhance curbside safety.
The NNIC said it is also modifying the current diagonal passenger drop-off layout at both terminal departure areas into a safer, parallel drop-off configuration.
“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. We are taking concrete steps to help ensure incidents like this do not happen again,” NNIC assured.
-jpv
