UPDATE, 24 April 2024. Philippine Skylanders Inc. (PSI), the private concessionaire operating the open-air carpark at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, has told the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) that it is willing to assume liability for the 19 vehicles damaged by a fire that broke out in the facility on Monday, April 22.
“Kagabi, nagpadala na sila ng isang sulat sa atin, patungkol po ito sa kanilang assumption of liability,” said MIAA spokes person Atty. Chris Bendijo in an interview with Super Radyo DZBB on April 23.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
EDSA-Kamuning Flyover closure begins May 1; to last 6 months, not 11
Rider enters EDSA Busway, refuses to surrender license: “Dapat may exemption”
Later in the day, Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation confirmed this: “We have already received a letter from the carpark operator informing us that they are willing to absorb or pay for the damages.”
ALSO READ:
On the NAIA T3 incident: Who is liable when a parking lot catches fire?
According to the Bendijo, only six vehicle owners affected by the fire have gotten in touch with him so far. “My office is open for any individual na nadamay sa sunog na ’to. Pwede po silang lumapit sa fourth floor ng MIAA admin building,” he said in the Super Radyo interview, promising to establish a communication line between the carpark operator and the vehicle owners.
“Of course, we’re still waiting for the result of the investigation of the Bureau of Fire Protection, pero nagpanguna naman po sila (PSI) na meron silang inaakong responsibilidad dito.”
Initial reports stated that the blaze had originated from a grass fire. According to Bendijo, MIAA general manager Eric Jose Ines has instructed PSI to weed out all the dry grass in the lot in order to gain clearance to resume operations. The MIAA’s fire truck is on standby to prevent any fire recurrence.
In 2019, PSI was awarded a 15-year lease contract for the lot within NAIA Terminal 3. Originally, it planned to put up a multipurpose commercial building inclusive of parking, but this was put on hold when the lot was eyed as a potential staging area in the construction of the Metro Manila Subway. PSI then secured permission to operate an open-air facility for the time being.
This is a developing story. Check back regularly for further updates.
