Photographers celebrate temporary reprieve at Luneta

Photographers from the Bawal Mag Shoot Dito (BMSD) group marched from the National Press Club in Intramuros to Fort Santiago to Luneta Park, celebrating the National Parks Development Committee’s (NPDC) agreement to temporarily stop charging photographers a permit fee for shooting in public parks and historical sites. A dialogue between the two groups last Saturday resulted in the NPDC lifting the permit fee for one month starting Dec. 15 while they continue to negotiate photography guidelines that are acceptable to both parties. The BMSD welcomed this development but continued to protest the fee. “Ang sinisingil nilang P2000 ay napakabigat niyan. Hindi naman ito mga commercial. Nakita niyo naman lahat ang gaganda ng camera no. Pero lahat yan ay mga hobbyist lang," said BMSD founder Mel Cortez. The NPDC had issued a joint statement with the Intramuros Administration stipulating that “those intending to use both venues for commercial advertisements, video infomercials, events (such as prenuptial, etc.), and other similar events, are encouraged to secure a permit, and coordinate with the respective agencies, to facilitate the documentation of activities." But the BMSD believes that the government will be able to earn more from the tourism that their photographs generate, instead of charging them for shooting in public places. Cortez underscored the potential of photographers to boost local tourism: “Ang panawagan ni Sec. Jimenez na ang bloggers at photographers ay tumulong, kami po ay handing gawin yan, na palaganapin ang magagandang litrato sa buong Pilipinas, Hindi lamang dito sa Luneta at Intramuros." — AVTL/ELR, GMA News