The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) are launching a joint investigation into the security bollards at NAIA Terminal 1 after an SUV breached the barrier and crashed into the passenger area on Sunday.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said that the bollards, designed to stop vehicles from entering pedestrian zones, failed to perform as intended during the incident.
“It was immediately clear that the bollards weren’t strong enough—the vehicle was able to break through,” Dizon noted at a press briefing. He added that both the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and SMC are now reviewing the structural integrity of the barriers.
“I personally spoke with Mr. Ramon Ang, and they committed to looking into the issue. Most likely, the current bollards will be replaced,” Dizon said.
The bollards’ failure raised concerns about passenger safety at the country’s busiest airport. The New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), the consortium managing NAIA, includes San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp.
Authorities are also reviewing surveillance footage and online videos of the crash while conducting further safety assessments at the terminal