BAGUIO CITY — City Environment and Parks Management Officer Rhenan Diwas said they are carefully studying their course of action on the case of the elderly women posing for photographs for-a-fee at the Botanical Garden.

The women, referred to as long-time residents by city old timers, have been conducting their business in the park since the late 1970s.

However, their activities gained recent attention as several park goers complained about them photobombing or persistently joining photo sessions, and even demanding payment for their participation.

The complaints reached the city council prompting Councilor Lilia Farinas, chair of the council committee on tourism, special events and parks to call Diwas’ attention during their regular session last July 3, 2023.

According to Diwas, the activities of the elderly women in the park were never officially authorized by the city government.

However, they have been tolerated as a sign of respect, given their status as Cordilleran elders, and their longstanding presence in the area has become intertwined with the park’s identity.

He said it is for this reason along with cultural sensitivity considerations that the city had to tread carefully on decisions concerning them.

“We need to be very cautious on how we are going to treat this issue because of these factors.  We cannot remove them forcibly,” Diwas said.

According to him, the women had from time to time been reminded of proper decorum when concerns were raised by park goers.

City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo said the elderly women’s rash behavior had also been a concern of their office and one solution considered was for them to be included in the sustainable livelihood program of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

However, Diwas emphasized the need to consider that the majority of individuals involved in the activities were not reliant on them for their livelihood.

“We have to consider that most of them are provided for by their families and are not required to work but they go there just the same just to have something to do or because it has become part of their routine,” he said.

He stated that his office intends to reach out to the families of the elderly women for profiling purposes, with the hope of persuading them to cease their activities in the park.

Meanwhile, as they analyze their next steps, he mentioned that they will consistently remind the ladies to adhere to proper conduct.