City to intensify drive against sex workers

Pagadian City – The city hall is now forming anew a joint team to take strong action against unregistered commercial sex workers operating in different videoke and night bars and spots in the city.

According to Edward M. Arao, who will lead the group composed of the Philippine National Police, the City Health Office and the City Social Welfare and Development Office, the team would crack down some so-called guest relations officers (GROs) who have not secured clearance from the Social Hygiene Clinic of the City Health Office.

The intensified drive stemmed from reports that more and more women in the city are involved actively in sex trade. Arao did not disclose specific target spots in Pagadian but hinted they would strike early next month.

Arao stressed the regular crackdown aims to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s)  to be passed on from one to another, particularly to the children and to the youth.

Arao also revealed that child prostitution in Pagadian is rising at alarming rate. He disclosed that some girls, aging 14-16 are now engaging in sex trade.

“We pity those children who sell themselves to earn,” said Arao. He also noted that the city hall is running after pimps who lure minor children to prostitution.

“In addition to bars and night clubs, we will also target the urban barangays of Balangasan, Gatas, Kawit, Lumbia, San Francisco, San Pedro, Sta. Lucia, Sto. Niño, Santiago, Dumagoc and Bulatoc,” stressed Arao, adding that they would politely invite suspected prostitutes who work on the streets.

“The city government requires commercial sex workers to undergo testing and hygiene every week to determine possible sexually transmitted infections,” he added.

Arao, who had been cracking sex workers for the past six years, revealed that the most common sexually transmitted diseases are gonorrhea, syphilis and other non- gonococcal infections determinable in a weekly cervical smear.

Accordingly, the City Health Office would issue sex workers yellow cards (formerly called blue cards) to signify health clearance.

Health officials estimated that more than 300 sex workers roam around the city and only 40 regularly submit for cervical smear at health centers. The figure does not include visiting prostitutes coming from nearby cities and towns.

It was learned that sex workers would not care to be tested as prices of antibacterial drugs, in case the patients are tested positive for infections, are so expensive that some patients could not afford. Nevertheless, local government units are providing portion of the required drugs for complete medication.

City Mayor Co has been coordinating with the Local Health Board to address concerns of the commercial sex workers in the city.

Reports said that the police have arrested several illegal commercial sex workers in the past few months. Identified prostitutes are also invited regularly to the City Health Office for testing and hygiene.