Who should answer for Naia ceiling collapse?
A lawmaker is demanding accountability from the private consortium managing NAIA Terminal 1 after a portion of its ceiling collapsed during Holy Week, raising serious public safety concerns.
On April 3, 2026 (Good Friday during Holy Week), a section of the ceiling at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1's arrival extension area collapsed around 10:43 a.m., injuring seven individuals including an elderly person. All victims received immediate medical attention and were reported to be in stable condition. The incident occurred during peak Holy Week travel, raising serious public safety concerns about airport infrastructure maintenance.
The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private consortium that has been managing NAIA since September 2024 under a P170.6 billion concession agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), is leading the investigation into the cause of the collapse alongside MIAA. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Banoy Lopez ordered a detailed report and implementation of safety measures. NNIC secured the affected area, ensured normal airport operations resumed, and committed to compensating victims while coordinating with authorities.
ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro Ridon has demanded accountability from NNIC, raising concerns about the consortium's maintenance practices and questioning whether proper pre-Holy Week inspections were conducted amid peak travel. Ridon has urged the House of Representatives to investigate the upkeep standards and determine whether the collapsed ceiling was installed before or after NNIC took over airport management. Senator Raffy Tulfo also weighed in, emphasizing the need for swift and proper assistance to the victims.
As investigations continue, no final determination of cause or liability has been announced. The incident has sparked broader discussions about airport privatization and maintenance standards, with calls for congressional probes into both the specific ceiling collapse and the overall privatization of NAIA that began in 2001. The Department of Transportation continues to monitor the situation while NNIC maintains its commitment to ensuring passenger safety and addressing infrastructure concerns.
Join the discussion
What do you think? Drop your thoughts below.