Who should answer for Naia ceiling collapse?

MANILA, Philippines — The collapse of a portion of the ceiling at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 1 over the Holy Week raises questions whether the private consortium managing the airport has been up to the task of maintaining its facilities, according to a lawmaker.

Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said the incident, which injured seven persons, including a senior citizen, must be investigated to determine when the ceiling was built and to establish liability and accountability.

READ: 7 hurt as ceiling at Naia terminal 1 collapses on Good Friday

“New Naia Infra Corp. (NNIC) must […] clarify whether the collapsed ceiling panel was part of an old or newly installed structure, as this will determine whether liability is shared with the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), the previous airport operator,” Ridon, chair of the House committee on public accounts, said in a statement on Friday.

“Nonetheless, as the current airport operator, the NNIC bears ultimate responsibility for this incident — especially in light of increased terminal and airport fees under the new management,” he added.

The NNIC took over Naia operations in September 2024 after it signed a concession agreement worth P170.6 billion on March 18, 2024, with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the MIAA.

Under the NNIC, Naia terminal fees were increased in 2025 to P950 from P550 for international passenger service charges, and to P390 from P200 for domestic fees.

Thorough checks

Ridon said the NNIC should have conducted thorough checks ahead of the Lenten season.

READ: Ridon: Collapsed Naia ceiling sparks concern over NNIC upkeep

The incident occurred at Terminal 1’s extended arrival area around 10:43 a.m. on April 3, Good Friday.

“That this incident occurred on Holy Week — one of the busiest travel periods of the year — raises serious concerns regarding the level of maintenance of Naia terminals under the new airport operator,” Ridon said.

“We expect the House committee on transportation to conduct an inquiry into this matter at the soonest possible time,” he added.

The ceiling collapse was caught on camera by a Facebook user, as passengers scrambled to get away from debris that fell onto the airport’s waiting chairs. NNIC general manager Lito Alvarez said on Friday that the area was immediately cordoned off, and their engineering team inspected the surrounding section. He said the team later declared the terminal “safe for normal operations.”

“We are extending all necessary assistance to those affected. The safety and well-being of passengers, airport workers, and visitors remain our top priority,” Alvarez said.

He said the victims had received medical attention and “all are in stable condition.”

Immediate assistance

Ridon said the NNIC should ensure that the injured individuals are not only taken care of but also given financial compensation.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo echoed the concern. A statement issued by his office on Friday said that as chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, Tulfo immediately coordinated with Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez to check on the victims’ condition.

Lopez, according to Tulfo, confirmed that one of the victims suffered a forehead injury and requested to be transferred to Makati Medical Center.

Normal operations

The DOTr said it had directed the Miaa to coordinate with the NNIC for an investigation of the incident.

“Transportation Secretary [Giovanni] Banoy Lopez has immediately instructed Miaa and NNIC to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and airport personnel and to submit a detailed report explaining the cause of the incident,” the DOTr said in a statement on Friday.

The agency said operations at Naia Terminal 1 remained normal, and that it expected the Miaa and NNIC to implement appropriate measures to avoid a repeat of such incidents. — With reports from Mary Joy Salcedo and Dianne Sampang