Photographers buck 'no pay, no shoot' policy

MANILA, Philippines - A group of photographers marched from Rizal Park to the walled city of Intramuros in Manila on Wednesday to protest the no pay no shoot policy of park administrators.

The photo walk-protest was organized by the Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito, a group of photographers and photography enthusiasts calling for freedom to take pictures in public and historic places.

"We declare our Independence Day as a day where every Filipino can freely take pictures. This is in response to the continuing abuse to camera-wielding Filipinos who are discriminated and barred from fully expressing their photography in historic and public sites in our country especially Rizal Park and Intramuro,"Mel Cortez of Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito said.

Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito condemns the act by security personnel in Intramuros and Luneta where Digital SLR camera users are profiled and selectively prevented from taking pictures unless able to secure a permit and pay the administrator.

Unlike foreign nationals who are free to shoot around the historic sites, the group added that professional photographers, photography hobbyists and even Filipino tourists with cameras are discriminatively targeted with the "no pay, no shoot" policy reserved to commercial photo shoots.

The group also condemned the virtual extortion by park guards who allegedly ask photographers P500 to be allowed to take photos in the park.

"In the first place, there is no official policy on not allowing photographers in taking pictures in historic sites. But the unclear policy of charging photographers presents ambiguity that creates loopholes and makes all camera-wielding Filipinos susceptible to abuse" Cortez said.

The group also called on newly-elected lawmakers to propose a law that would declare historic and public sites as photographer-friendly.

"We firmly believe that promoting freedom of expression through photography will be beneficial to the country as it will promote the country's heritage and tourism," Cortez said.