Boracay photogs urged to get NBI clearance

BORACAY – Officers and members of the Boracay Photographers Association (BPA) are now required to obtain a clearance from National Bureau of Investigation before applying for a business permit here.

Ernesto Cruz, president of the BPA, said the move is to ensure that working photographers in this resort island are free from the practices of illegal drugs and terrorism.

“We support this new scheme. However, photographers still should go to Roxas City and Iloilo City as there is no NBI Office in Aklan,” Cruz said on Friday.

The BPA has around 250 active members. Their business is to shoot photos on weddings and events. Before, a BPA member is only required to have a barangay and police clearance.

It was gathered that each person engaging into photography in this resort island has to pay around P5,000 worth of government permits. Also, t hey are required to pay another P5,000 as BPA membership.

Jimmy Maming, executive assistant to the Malay mayor, said the BPA i s the sole recognized photographers’ association in this resort island.

“For event photographers outside Boracay, the event organizers are required to include their photographers in the permitting section with an assurance t hat photographers are not engaging i nto terrorism and illegal drugs,” Maming said.