By MONTESA GRINO-CAOYONAN

This Valentine’s Day, commercial and freelance sex workers are targeting loveless or outgoing individuals who want to celebrate the day in an ‘extraordinary’ way.

Jorge Duron, chairman of the city’s Task Force on Moral and Values Formation, said they are currently monitoring 40 identified pimps, most of whom are homosexuals, who have direct contact with these sex workers.

The city government has created Ordinance No. 2002-237 which aims to regulate the sex industry in the city.

Based on the records of TFMVF, there are 479 registered sex workers working in nine massage parlors and 25 night clubs. However, only 184 sex workers have renewed their working permits as of the first quarter of this year.

Also, there are around 200 freelance sex workers working in seven red houses or ‘casas’ while others are just roaming around the city’s main streets, particularly in Arroyo, Ledesma and Mabini and district of Villa.

TEST

The task force requires female sex workers to undergo a smearing test at the City Social Hygiene Clinic in Tanza Esperanza before receiving their pink card. A pink card indicates that a sex worker has passed the test.

The smearing test will determine if a sex worker is positive for sexually transmitted infection (STI) or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Once positive, the clinic will hold the patient for treatment until she is fully cured.

They are also required to undergo a one-hour seminar on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and AIDS.

A sex worker who is caught working without a pink card will be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense and last warning; and for the final offense, the establishment will be made to pay P3,000 and undergo 15-day closure or revocation of license to operate.

He added that pimps also engage in sexual services thus they are also urged to voluntarily undergo smearing test weekly just like the female sex workers.

CONDOM USE

The ordinance also requires sex workers to use condom during sexual intercourse.

Duron said night clubs and massage parlors should have a supply of condoms at the cashier or information desk.

“If, during our surprise inspection, we see that management failed to follow the rules, they will be fined,” he said.

NO MINORS

The ordinance prohibits minors from engaging in this industry. Duron said the establishment will be held liable if minors are allowed to work with them, even if they are just dancers or food handlers.

Violators may be fined with P3,000 for the first offense and closure or revocation of business permit for the second and last offense.

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING

Around 30 sex workers have availed the literacy program being implemented by the city government under its alternative learning system.

Duron said the program had benefited sex workers because most of them are in the high school level. He also said the program will give sex workers a chance to proceed to the next academic level after passing the test.

Duron said this will give elementary level graduates the chance to go to high school, while those who graduate in the secondary level, can go to college.

Most of them came from the neighboring provinces of Iloilo, Cebu, Davao and Manila.