No more liberty passes

A fter the initial shock over the increased rates in -parking fees at the NAIA T3 that has turned around into public appreciation and positive feedback towards NNIC, the next thunder roll will come from the announcement that all "special IDs and access passes" issued to politicians, government officials, religious entities, media personnel, travel agencies and hotels, even MUP officials, will be cancelled.

- CITO BELTRAN

All individuals or companies will have to reapply but from what I heard, the NNIC might no longer issue short-term or long-term passes but instead limit everything to "Day Pass" within restricted areas and no longer "Access To All Areas" passes. After many meetings, NNIC officials have decided to cancel all ID/access passes because there is no reliable count on the number of IDs and special passes that are out there.

Just about every other congressman has a travel agency or an assigned military or PNP liaison. The same goes for senators, Cabinet secretaries as well as those in various levels of the Judiciary. Every branch of the AFP and the PNP has personnel going in and out of airports, often to accompany or provide security to their VIPs.

Hotel representatives, drivers, as well as tour guides go deep inside the airport to herd tour groups.

There are also the airline representatives and employees holding office there, locators and employees of the many restaurants, stores, banks, etc., all of them requiring access IDs.

Anumber of foreign airline consultants were actually interested to know if the number of IDs/passes were in the thousands and how soon this next level of security upgrade will be implemented. The airline operators and foreign executives are clearly supportive of tougher restrictions and security measures at the NAIA.