Malacañang on Tuesday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered an immediate investigation into the installation of allegedly substandard bollards at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, following a vehicular crash that claimed two lives.
The bollards, meant to serve as protective barriers, reportedly failed to stop an SUV from crashing into pedestrians at the terminal.
Questions have since been raised about the integrity of the barriers and potential corruption in their procurement.”It’s very unfortunate that lives were lost due to the allegedly defective bollards installed at NAIA Terminal 1,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing.
“These were installed during the previous administration under then-Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, in July 2019,” she added.
Castro confirmed that President Marcos ordered an inquiry into how the bollards were procured, including a review of their specifications.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon was likewise tasked with overseeing the probe and ensuring the swift replacement of the barriers.”The President has instructed a thorough inspection and immediate replacement of these bollards to guarantee public safety,” Castro said.
Meanwhile, the private operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is conducting an audit of all security bollards and redesigning the departure passenger drop-off areas at Terminals 1 and 2 as part of immediate efforts to enhance curbside safety. “This audit will determine where reinforcements—such as deeper foundations or structural upgrades—are needed for existing bollards installed in 2019, along with similar protective barriers, particularly in high foot-traffic areas,” stated New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC).
This action follows a tragic incident last Sunday, where two individuals were killed and four others injured after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) struck passengers and well-wishers at the departure area of NAIA Terminal 1.
The incident is partly attributed to the installation of substandard security anti-ram bollards. In addition, NNIC is modifying the current diagonal passenger drop-off layout at Terminals 1 and 2 to a safer, parallel unloading configuration.
“Together with the planned bollard reinforcements, this adjustment will provide an additional layer of protection for passengers, well-wishers, airport staff, and others who regularly access the terminal curbside,” the company added.
The NNIC began operations at NAIA in September 2024 through a public-private partnership aimed at modernizing and improving the country’s main international gateway.
Since then, the NNIC has focused on addressing long-standing issues and implementing critical upgrades across the airport—from enhancements on the airside and landside to stronger safety measures and an overall improved passenger experience.
“This was a serious incident, and we are treating it with the urgency it deserves. While safeguards were already in place, we recognize there is always room for improvement. We are taking concrete steps to help ensure that incidents like this do not happen again,” the NNIC stated.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos orders probe into NAIA bollards after fatal crash.”