San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has launched an investigation into the effectiveness of the safety bollards installed outside Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, following a tragic incident where an SUV plowed into pedestrians after crashing through the barriers.
Despite the presence of the bollards meant to prevent such incidents, they failed to stop the vehicle, allowing it to continue and strike people outside the terminal.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed in a press briefing that NAIA’s current management, along with SMC, is now reviewing how the bollards were installed and why they failed under impact.
Initial findings point to the possibility of shallow installation, which may have caused the barriers to dislodge easily when the SUV hit them. Had they been securely and properly embedded, the bollards could have absorbed the vehicle’s momentum and potentially prevented the crash.
Dizon noted that the safety infrastructure around the airport is now under full review to avoid a repeat of the incident. He emphasized that the bollards should have been able to withstand a strong vehicle collision if correctly installed.
The incident has raised questions about public safety measures in one of the country’s busiest airports and whether current standards are being met to protect travelers and pedestrians alike.
Further updates will follow as the investigation progresses.
