Marcos orders probe of Naia barriers deal
President Marcos has ordered an investigation into the bollards or vehicle barriers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 1 that gave way during the tragic vehicle crash on Sunday that left two people dead, including a 5-year-old girl who was there to see her father off, and four others injured.
Malacañang said the protective bollards were installed during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.
“It is heartbreaking that people died because of these allegedly defective bollards installed at the Naia Terminal 1. These were installed in July 2019 during the past administration and the term of ex-Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Tuesday.
The contract for the P8-million installation of bollards in the curbsides of all four terminals of the Naia complex was signed on March 27, 2019, and the project was completed four months later on July 26.
In a press briefing, Castro said the investigation into the bollards would include its specifications and the actual procurement process for the protective devices.
“As ordered by the President, there will be an investigation on how the procurement process went and the specifications. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon will promptly act on this,” the Palace official said. “This also includes the inspection of the bollards and the immediate replacement of the bollards to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Dizon on Monday said he “immediately noticed” that the bollards failed to stop the sport utility vehicle (SUV) from crashing into the departure area.
“It’s not sturdy, obviously, because the [SUV] was able to pass through,” he noted.
Ideally, the bollards should be strong enough to withstand the impact of a crash and stop a vehicle from entering the area it is protecting.
Dangerous
On Monday, Dizon said the Manila International Airport Authority and New Naia Infra Corp.—the private consortium among San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp. that runs the airport complex—already launched an investigation into the faulty bollards.
However, a retired airport engineer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, warned that installing purely metal or metal-and-concrete combination bollards at the departure area could pose more danger to people.
“The departure curbside is practically a flyover, and it could not host plenty of ‘real’ bollards. Such bollards found on roads are lengthy and heavy and sometimes connected to each other below ground,” he said.
“You don’t want them bursting into the arrival area during an earthquake or when the curbside above gets weak, and hitting people and vehicles below,” he added.
While he agreed with Dizon’s plan to institute parallel parking on the departure curbside, he suggested that the secretary consider instead banning all parking from the area for security reasons.
Dizon announced changes in the curbside parking after visiting on Tuesday afternoon the wake in Lipa City of the 5-year-old victim.
New measures
The airport vehicle accident came three days after a multiple vehicle collision along Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) that killed 10 people and hurt 37 others on May 1.
The Land Transportation Office has permanently revoked the driver’s license of the bus driver involved in the deadly SCTEx collision, while the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered regular and mandatory drug tests for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, the reduction of driving hours for public utility buses from six to four hours, strict road safety checks for all vehicles, and the immediate 90-day suspension of the driver’s licenses of abusive motorists.
The transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) appealed for a reconsideration of the mandatory drug tests for PUV drivers, while some senatorial candidates warned that it might end up as a money-making scheme. (See related story on Page A3.)
However, Castro pointed out that the mandatory drug testing is meant to protect passengers and other road users, including motorists themselves.
“Although this will be studied, please do not judge this at this time as a mere money-making strategy,” she said.
Decisive action
The twin tragedies also prompted the President to address the issue in a recorded message on Monday afternoon, in which he ordered the DOTr to “move decisively” and prevent a repeat of the recent road accidents.
Mr. Marcos said the road accidents “should never have happened” and assured the public that the government will “act not only with sympathy, but with resolve” so that these tragedies will never happen again.
He tasked the DOTr to identify and to hold accountable those responsible and to put in place the necessary reforms to prevent further loss of life.
Among the measures that the President cited included the review of the driver’s license issuance process and a nationwide audit of compliance by bus operators with safety and maintenance standards. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
