Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon has called on New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC) to ensure that the seven individuals injured in the ceiling collapse at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Good Friday, April 3, receive proper compensation.
The incident occurred at the West Arrival Curb C of Terminal 1, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into its cause.
“The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) must ensure that the seven injured individuals remain in stable condition and are provided with adequate financial compensation for the injuries they sustained as a result of the incident,” Ridon said in a statement to House reporters.
The lawmaker also pressed for swift congressional action.
“We expect the House Committee on Transportation to conduct an inquiry into this matter at the soonest possible time,” he added.
Ridon stressed that the collapse raised “serious concerns” about the maintenance of NAIA facilities, particularly during peak travel periods such as Holy Week. He argued that NNIC should have carried out thorough inspections ahead of the surge in passenger traffic.
He further noted that NNIC must clarify whether the collapsed ceiling panel was part of an older structure or a newly installed one, as this would determine whether liability is shared with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the former operator.
“Nonetheless, as the current airport operator, NNIC bears ultimate responsibility for this incident,” said Ridon, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts.
NNIC officially assumed operations of NAIA in September 2024 under a mandate to manage, upgrade, and modernize the country’s main gateway.