The operator of the parking lot at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, which caught fire on Monday, has offered to compensate the owners of the 19 wrecked automobiles.

Speaking at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on state television on Tuesday, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) official Chris Bendijo stated that Philippine Skylanders International Inc. (PSII) has shown a desire to accept responsibility for the damaged vehicles.

Later that day, Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation confirmed: “We have already received a letter from the carpark operator informing us that they are willing to absorb or pay for the damages.”

Seven car owners in touch with concessionaire,
incident triggered by grass fire

Only seven car owners have gotten in touch with the concessionaire to inquire about compensation, according to Bendijo. He went on to say that the others were most likely travelers who had left their flights at Naia Terminal 3 and hadn’t yet returned.

Although Bendijo said the MIAA is still awaiting the official assessment from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the incident is thought to have been triggered by a grass fire.

“It’s really like a wildfire that happened. Just to mention, that’s just a 12-minute duration —from the time it was reported to our fire team to the time it was [declared] fire out. That’s how quickly the fire spread,” Bendijo said.

Bendijo further stated that the wind and afternoon heat may have played a role in the fire.

“It appears that it’s really grass fire but again, we’ll just wait for the report from the BFP,” he added.

A 15-year lease agreement for the property inside NAIA Terminal 3 was granted to PSII in 2019. The land was initially intended to be used for a multipurpose commercial structure with parking, but this project was shelved when the Metro Manila Subway was being built. PSII then obtained authorization to temporarily run an outside facility.

Pay parking temporarily closed – MIAA

The parking lot has been temporarily blocked by airport officials to allow the operator to remove dry grass. A fire truck is also on standby to avoid further incidents.

Bendijo stated that PSII was preparing to remove the dry grass from the parking lot and cover it with gravel and broken pebbles as dry grass could be the likely reason for the blaze.

“For this particular area, the general manager has given strict instructions that they cannot operate until all the grass has been removed and covered with crushed rocks and gravel. In the meantime, while they are complying with that, our firetruck owned by MIAA will be stationed near this area to really make sure that nothing similar will [happen],” Bendijo said.

According to Bendijo, MIAA general manager Eric Ines also gave the order for larger fire extinguishers to be given to security personnel at airport parking lots. Bendijo observed that when responding to the first automobile they spotted on fire, a sport utility vehicle, the guards stationed at the PSSI parking lot utilized four tiny fire extinguishers.

Additionally, given the high heat index in the airport complex, he urged drivers not to keep flammable items like alcohol and lighters inside their parked cars.

Following complaints from firetrucks arriving from outside the airport on the inaccessibility of the site, Bendijo stated that the MIAA will investigate specific traffic controls, including counterflow points, to provide these vehicles with easier access in the event of an emergency.

📷 Marie Antoinette Mangubat – Atienza