1

STATUS OF SEX SECTOR WORKERS IN BATANGAS PROVINCE

Tourism is a very complex industry encompassing a wide range of

economic activities in every tourist destination in the country (Vizconde &

Felicen, 2012). Tourism means more jobs for the people and improvement of

their standard of living (Buted, et al, 2014).

The Philippines, much visited for its friendly, hospitable people and breath

taking natural resources has also now taken the unfortunate reputation like some

other Southeast Asian countries for prostitution and sex tourism. It has become a

huge industry domestically with an estimated 800,000 men, women and sadly,

children working in the trade. The country’s initial international image as a sex

destination was largely as a result of the military presence here during and after

World war II when “go go” or “girlie” bars flourished around the bases of Clark

and Subic Bay.

But with the influx of tourists and an economy which invites both

foreigners and locals alike to travel and enjoy life, the prospects of it’s more fun

in the Philippines”, another entertainment came to be- that of sex tourism.

Philippine Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez stated that official statistics show

55% of tourists arrive in the Philippines for shopping and beaches, contrary to the

claim of US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. that 40% of male

foreign tourists to the country visited only for sex (Adriano, 2011).

Sexual Tourism involves travel across national or international borders in

order to take part in a non-reproductive sexual encounter. Adriano further cited

that the sexual encounter maybe with an adult or minor, man or woman,
 2

transexual or transvestite. It involves an exchange of money or material goods

for a sexual. A recent Deutsche Welle special report claimed that the Philippines

sex industry was the fourth largest contributor to Gross National Product.

Sex workers include “female, male and transgender adults and young

people who receive money or goods in exchange for sexual services, either

regularly or occasionally…” Sex work varies between and within countries and

communities. Sex work may vary in the degree to which it is more or less “formal”

or organized, and in the degree to which it is distinct from other social and sexual

relationships and types of sexual-economic exchange (UNAIDS, 2012).

The Child Protection in the Philippines (cpu-net.org.ph) estimates that

almost half the prostitutes in the Philippines are underaged, many of them street

children lured from the provinces by the promise of work or simply food and

water, this, thanks to paedophiles who take advantage of such dire situations.

This was the message of a weeping 12-year-old girl, who told the Pope in

his visit to Manila in January 2015 asking how God could allow children to

become prostitutes. This moved Pope Francis to hug her and appeal for

everyone to show more compassion. She cried, “Many children are abandoned

by their parents. Many children get involved in drugs and prostitution,” Palomar

told the Pope as she stood on stage alongside a 14-year-old boy who also used

to be homeless. “Why does God allow these things to happen to us? The

children are not guilty of anything.”

Prostitution or sex work is, in principle illegal as it sells or procures sex,

but the trade operates under the guise of entertainment. Sex workers are
 3

employed as singers, dancers, waitresses or “guest relations officers” in clubs

and bars where they are expected to leave with any client who pays for a fee.

Then there’s what are euphemistically dubbed “freelancers”, prostitutes that

independently cruise bars looking for paying customers (www.roughguides.com)

The Church believes that one cause for prostitution is poverty of which the Pope

has made a theme of his visit to perhaps point that this brutal poverty destroys

human dignity.

Much as sex work is seen taken for granted, there is great concern for it

as the work is not publicized and whatever news there is does not take front

pages. Some news remain in the dark and so the many questions that need to be

answered and addressed about female sex workers remain undisclosed. And

likewise, although the sex trade is seen to make workers or their families survive

or materially improve themselves, there are concerns which trail the sex industry

such as acquisition and transmission of diseases, and the dangers of trafficking

or even violence and drug use. This paper then would like to look into the status

of female sex workers in and document their social, health and safety concerns

and determine why they remain in the trade with the perceived risks they face in

this kind of work.

The core of this study is centered in Batangas province and its three major

cities, Batangas, Lipa and Tanauan. Batangas Province is a first class province

located in the southwestern part of Luzon. Its capital is Batangas City and it is

bordered by Cavite and Laguna.

 4

Batangas City has the second largest international seaport in the

Philippines after Metro Manila. The identification of the city as an industrial

growth center in the region and being the focal point of the CALABARZON

program resulted to the increasing number of business establishments in the

city’s central Business District (CBO) as well as numerous industries. Such

economic growth in the Batangas Province make it attractive for women whose

economic deprivation lead them to engage in sex related work in numerous night

clubs in these cities.

This study has been chosen from among the different sectors of tourism

with the objective of coming up with safety and health programs for the sex

workers in the province and design a project that would help to lessen the

incidence of sex tourism in Batangas Province. As part of the academe, the

researcher is responsible for sharing the result of this study to her students for

them to be aware of the importance of education and likewise instil in their mind

the value of morality and human rights.

Objectives of the Study

The study aims to assess the health and safety issues and concerns of

sex sector workers in Batangas Province.

Specifically, it will answer the following objectives: (1) to present the

demographic profile of the respondents in terms of place of origin, age, sex,

educational attainment, location of work establishment, years engaged in the

sex sector and daily earnings; (2) to determine issues on social concerns in their
 5

work; (3) to determine health and safety measures undertaken to avoid

problems and concerns; (4) to identify the reasons for staying in their work; (5)

to assess perceived risks in engaging in the sex industry; (6) to test the

difference of responses on the social concerns in their work when grouped

according to profile variables and (7) to propose health and safety program to

address the issues.

Review of Literature

Social Issues Experience

Child prostitution has grown in alarming proportions. This is due to the

proliferation of sex starved tourists from other countries who wish to experience a

new kind of high doing sex with a child. Moreover, this kind of prostitution is at

times condoned by parents themselves who use their child in the sex trade in

exchange for financial returns. An analysis of occurrence of this kind of

prostitution is said to be due to a wide gap between economics of the rich and

the poor and the disintegration of family values. The rich seeks for attention in a

busy household focused only on seeking material gains while others sacrifice

their children in the name of survival. The male who indulges in this kind of

prostitution is known as a paedophile and is termed socially deviant (Murphy,

2010).

Prostitution is estimated as the fourth largest source of Gross National

Product (GNP) in the Philippines. Although illegal, many girls and women engage

in sex work for lack of better options to support themselves and their families. As
 6

many as 400,000 women and 100,000 children were forced or coerced into work

annually within and across borders of the Philippines (Urada, 2010).

Among others, Filipino sex workers face health issues, made worse by

fear of being denied access to health services. Women Hookers Organizing for

their Rights and Empowerment (WHORE), has began organizing sex workers in

Baguio to address the social scars brought about by their work. In the most

extreme (cases), sex workers complain of rape to authorities, but rarely get

serious results because they are not believed to have been raped because they

are prostitutes.

When finally given legal recognition, the advocacy group, a member of the

Asia Pacific Sex Workers Union and the Sex Workers ASEAN (Association of

Southeast Asian Nations) group, said sex workers can become members of

union fighting for their rights and welfare. WHORE’s advocacy is facing daunting

challenges because of the stiff stand of the Church which does not agree on

prostitution. Even the supposedly liberal women’s group Gabriela is against

legalizing prostitution. For the Gabriela, legalizing prostitution is not an option,

but instead the government must remove prostitutes from poverty. Although

Gabriela has rescued a number of women who became sex slaves, the group

believes that women involved in prostitution should be criminalized.

Tupas (2014) however, wrote an opinion of a sex worker who self-

confessed of being unhappy as a prostitute. Tricked to restaurant work, the sex

worker thought she was to be helped out of poverty from her place in rural

Davao. She, however, ended up working in a bar where women offered sex to
 7

clients and by the time she realized she was prostituting herself, there was no

easy way out. Leaving was too complicated, she could not leave the work for fear

and fear of losing her job.

Health and Safety Measures

Although the Philippines is said to be a low prevalence country with less

than one percent infected of the adult population of 91 million, the HIV epidemic

has steadily grown in certain areas and among high risk populations. For

registered FSW, a three- fold increase in HIV from 68 to 230 occurred from 2007

through 2009. However, condom distribution is still under debate because of the

Catholic Church’s strong position against artificial contraception. This only shows

that to an extent there is growing awareness on sex workers in the Philippines

particularly on their health (Urada, 2010).

Furthermore, Urada, et. al. (2012) studied the age differences among

female sex workers in the Philippines and their sexual risk negotiations as per

advice by their manager. It was cited that consistent condom use among high

risk groups such as female sex workers (FSWs) remained low. Adolescent

female sex workers are especially at higher risk for HIV/STI infections. Findings

from this study imply that interventions need to occur at organizational and

structural levels to address safer sex negotiation among the FSWs, taking into

consideration factors such as age, the advice managers give to their workers,

and the condom use rule at the establishment.

 8

Still on the concern on use of condoms for protection among female sex workers,

Urada, et.al (2010) focused on whether FSWs working as entertainers negotiated

condom use with their clients and examined the social and structural factors

associated with condom negotiation. FSWs working in a large urban setting of

Metro Manila, Philippines, found that 24 percent did not usually engage in

condom negotiation with their male clients. In the study, trafficking

(force/coercion into jobs as entertainers), the unavailability of condoms, and the

need to make more money without a condom were significant structural factors

related to not negotiating condom use. Substance use was also a factor

contributing to not negotiating condom use among the FSWs.

A study by Human Rights Watch found that the ability to deliver or

advocate for HIV prevention services in the Philippines was crippled by official

resistance to use of condom. This resistance took many forms, including

ordinances prohibiting condoms from public health clinics, police interference

with condom promotion, weak and unimplemented policies regarding the

availability of condoms in sex establishments, and the government’s refusal to

supply condoms to the public sector with national funds.

The study also revealed that condom use and HIV/AIDS knowledge was

equally low among male sex workers, According to interviews conducted by

Human Rights Watch, many sex workers subscribed to dangerous myths about

condoms. Men who have sex with men said that condoms reduced sexual

pleasure and was a bother because it disturbed them.

Reasons for Working in the Sex Sectors

 9

Commercial sex work has been cited as a growth industry. It is diverse in

the ethnic origins of sex workers, many of whom are economic disadvantaged

migrants and include women trafficked and forced into the sex work by organized

crime networks. The pathways that lead women into commercial sex work vary.

Some women undertake sex work by choice and know their sexual health and

how to get their services for their health (Murphy, 2010). These women workers

are those who may have entered sex work for specific reasons like paying for

their higher education costs, pay debts or to cover family expenses and may

leave the trade after getting goal. Others make a career decision to work in the

sex industry and may enjoy a high level of job satisfaction and independence.

Urada, et. al. (2014) determined the factors independently associated with

trafficking (force/coercion) among female bar/spa workers who traded sex in the

Philippines.  Trafficking was independently associated with current drug use,

decreased availability of condoms at venue for the workers and increased peer

support in practicing safer sex behaviors .Trafficked bar/spa workers were more

likely to get their first job as a bar/spa worker after an agency recruited them from

their province, as opposed to getting the job from an advertisement,

friend/acquaintance, or other recruiters. The implications for points of

interventions with women who are trafficked in the Philippines who tend to be

recruited from provinces have higher substance use and less support at venues

for condom use, but more support from peers around safer sex practices.

Perceived Risks in Engaging in Sex Sector Work

 10

There are four main categories of health risks faced by workers in the

commercial sex industry. These relate to the acquisition of sexually transmitted

infections (STI), harm through violence from clients or pimps, factors associated

with the use of drugs and mental health.

Most grave concern for those who are engaged in prostitution is the

acquisition of STI. Bacterial (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and Mycoplasma

genitalium)and viral STI [human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis A, B and

C, herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papilloma virus are acquired when sex

worker is into unprotected vaginal, anal or oral intercourse. Some STI, such as

chlamydia and gonorrhoea, cause mucosal inflammation, while others, including

primary syphilis and HSV, produce ulceration. STI can be acquired congenitally

and may cause death among infants (Pebody, 2013).

Physical violence is perhaps the greatest single threat to the health and

well being of sex workers. It was reported that outdoor workers were twice as

likely to report violence such as beatings, stabbing, rape and robbery, than

indoor workers with only one-third of assaults reported to the police.

Among street-based sex workers, economic pressures, use of drugs

while working, not being able to control the location for sex and having sex in the

client's car were all strong predictors of violence. Weiner(2001) also cited that

being under the control of a pimp increased the likelihood of violence, partly

because of the pressure to earn extra money. These women were mostly single,

and come from dysfunctional families and never had a legal job. In general,

indoor prostitutes seem to be more secured in their work than those in the street
 11

because they have fellow workers with them in the club or whore house, they

have security systems in the establishments and have legal protection.

Another risk is brought about by use of drugs. Female sex workers at

times use drugs to cover up the feelings of distress they have in their trade,

Others deep in the trade resort to injections which can be potential risks likewise

to sex workers.

Moreover, risk to mental health is another concern. Sociologists and

medical doctors claim there may be a strong relationship between mental ill-

health and risk-taking behaviors in drug use or sexual practices among sex

workers. As there are predisposing factors as to why women engage in sex work,

it is said that early psychological trauma as a result of drug use, previous

childhood abuse, domestic violence or imprisonment are causes why women go

to sex work .

Pooling the data available for 50 countries, female sex workers were cited

to have a 14-fold higher risk of infection as women of a similar age in the general

population. According to interviewed sex workers, the greatest threat to their

health and human rights is the law that makes it impossible to find safe places to

work, and prevents them from having the same protections as other workers and

other citizens. Women who sell sex were at particularly high risk of infection.

Kerrigan (2012) noted that their increased vulnerability was not just due to

behavioral factors (large numbers of sexual partners, etc.) but also structural

factors (criminalization, human rights violations, social exclusion, lack of legal

 12

rights, family rejection, poverty, bad working conditions, violence, condoms used

as evidence and corruption etc.).

A study describing the nature of physical and sexual violence and

mistreatment by perpetrator type, and clarification on how such experiences

relate to HIV risk, among women involved in sex work in Baltimore, US was

conducted by Spice (2012).In-depth interviews were conducted with women in

sex work in Baltimore, MD. Sex work venues spanned drug houses, dance clubs,

and internet-based, home-based, and street-based sex work.

Client-perpetrated physical and sexual violence were severe, and at times

involved weapons such as guns or knives, and resulted to serious injury. Client

violence primarily occurred in the context of negotiation of sexual acts and

condom use. Clients commonly threatened abuse or became violent in response

to women’s refusals for particular sexual acts, often anal sex, condom nonuse, or

engaging with the client altogether.

Client violence made women open to unprotected and high-risk sex both

in terms of getting hurt, getting pregnant or getting contagious sex related

diseases. Client violence included both regular clients who were perceived as

more safe by sex workers and therefore preferred, as well as new or unknown

individuals who approached them as clients. There was also police sexual use of

force by putting women in fear of their power. They gave threats of arrest and

exchanged sex for their freedom.

Vanwesenbeeck (2010) assessed burnout among 96 sex workers in

Holland, using measures of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and

 13

personal competence in comparison with a group of female nurses. Increases to

emotional exhaustion was attributed to factors such as coercion, violence,

negative social reactions, lack of control with clients and inadequate support

from managers. Personal competence was positively associated with having a

professional attitude towards sex work and with support from colleagues and

managers. It was concluded that the conditions under which sex work was

conducted had a greater influence on the worker's psychological well being than

the nature of the work itself.

Methods

Research Design

This study made use of the descriptive research design as its way of

determining the status of female sex sector workers. According to Key (2012),

this kind of research is a statistical study which helps in generating a hypothesis,

it is also used to obtain information concerning the current status of the

phenomena to describe present conditions with respect to current situations or

conditions.

The descriptive research design is used in this study as it can best

measure what the objectives want to describe or measure data of which can be

generated by use of statistical tools. Descriptive research is a study designed to

depict the participants in an accurate way. More simply put, descriptive research

is all about describing people who take part in the study.

Participants of the Study

 14

The participants of the study were 141 female sex workers based in three

cities of Batangas Province: Batangas, Lipa and Tanauan. Purposive convenient

sampling was used with voluntary acceptance and accessibility to be a cohort in

the study as qualifier to be a respondent.

Along the use of this sampling method, subjects were only those female

sex workers in the aforementioned three cities and those who were available

during the time of distribution and willing to participate in the study.

Data Gathering Instrument

The researcher made use of a self constructed questionnaire as main data

gathering instrument supplemented by documentary data sourced from available

Women’s Desk reports and an interview with the respondents.

The questionnaire which was translated in Tagalog dialect is composed of

five parts. Part I covers the information about the respondents considering their

place of origin, age, sex, educational attainment, location of work establishment ,

years engaged in the sex sector , and daily earnings . Part II posts questions to

determine social concerns experienced by the respondents as sex worker while

Part III assesses the frequency of abidance to health and safety measures in

order to avoid problems and concerns as a sex sector worker. Part IV and V

inquire on the extent of importance respondents have in staying in their work

and ascertain agreement on the perceived risks in engaging in sex sector work.

The face and content validity of the instrument were evaluated by an

expert including the appointed adviser, panelists during oral and external experts.
 15

These changes included the wording of items, the design of scales, and in the

instructions for completing the instrument. Internal consistency coefficient of 0.88

for the scales in the instrument was obtained using Cronbach’s Alpha .

Data Gathering Procedures

In order to gather data for the study, the researcher asked the Barangay

Chairman and Manager of the night club through interview using unstructured

questionnaire. Furthermore, a contact person was asked for assistance so as to

facilitate schedule of meeting with the female sex sector specifically indicating

that the potential respondents should be those who are willing to answer the

developed questionnaire and be interviewed.

Data Analysis

The data gathered were tabulated, interpreted and analyzed using

following statistical tools with the aid of Statistical Package Service Software

(SPSS) Package.

  Cronbach's Alpha was used to test the reliability of the internal

consistency of the items in the questionnaire which was based on inter-item

correlation.

Frequency/Percentage was used to determine the distribution of

respondents as characterized through their profile variables.

Weighted mean was used to assess the respondent’s extent of

experiences on social concerns, frequency of use of safety and health measures,

extent of influence on perceived risks in engaging in work in the sex sector.

 16

Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) was used to determine significant

differences in the responses on social concerns experienced when grouped

according to profile variables.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1
Percentage Distribution of the Respondents Profile

Profile Variables Frequency Percentage (%)

Age
below 17 years old 3 2.10
18 - 23 years old 46 32.60
24 - 29 years old 64 45.40
30 - 35 years old 20 14.20
36 - 41 years old 7 5.00
42 years old and above 1 0.70
Sex
Male 7 5.00
Female 134 95.00
Educational Attainment
did not attend school 6 4.30
Elementary undergraduate 6 4.30
Elementary graduate 14 9.90
high school undergraduate 64 45.40
high school graduate 30 21.30
college undergraduate 13 9.20
college graduate 8 5.60
Daily Earnings
Php 101 - Php 500 26 18.40
Php 501 - Php 900 47 33.30
Php 901 - Php 1300 28 19.90
Php 1301- Php 1700 27 19.10
Php 1701 higher 13 9.30
Work Establishment Location
Batangas 54 38.30
Lipa 49 34.70
Tanauan 38 27.00
Years Engaged in Sex Sector
less than 2 years 52 36.90
3-5 years 66 46.80
6-8 years 20 14.20
9 and above 3 2.10
 17

Table 1 presents the respondent’s profile in terms of age, sex, educational

attainment, daily earnings, work establishment location and number of years

engaged in sex sector work.

Majority of the respondents were 24-29 years old with 64 or 45.40 percent

followed by 18-23 years old with 46 or 32.6 percent while only 1 or .70 percent

was 42 years old and above.

Most of the sex workers started at the young age of 18- 23 years old and

since they are satisfied with their daily earnings and enjoying their job, they

chose to stay for 3-5 more years. But considering the nature of the job,

customers look for young and fresh sex workers making the older generation

least acceptable or least employable in this field, as shown by 42 years old and

above with 1 or .70 percent.

In terms of sex, majority of the workers were female with 134 or 95

percent. This implies that in sex industry, women are commonly the main

attraction since most of the customers are male. Also, in this social environment

even before and anywhere it latently set up that female are greatly demanded as

the primary actors in this industry. While, only 7 or 5 percent were male which is

not surprising that this kind of business is also being entertained by male, This is

also supported by the increasing number of gay bar and comedy bar businesses.

In terms of educational attainment, majority were high school

undergraduate with 64 or 45.40 percent while the least were elementary

undergraduate and did not attend school, both with 6 or 4.30 percent.
 18

On the interview conducted with some sex workers, this result is their

claim on less opportunity for a high school undergraduate to land a job except as

store workers or house helper. Some of them prefer this work (which they want

to claim) as they can put on make up, mingle with people, dances with them and

find enjoyment in a night full of lights and songs. As they are young, this is a

feeling of enjoyment for they receive gifts and hope there will be somebody who

will help them build a good future.

In terms of daily earnings, most of the respondents earn amounting to

Php 501-900 with 47 or 33.30 percent while only 13 or 9.30 percent were earning

Php 1701 or higher.

According to the respondents, they receive daily earnings of Php 500 with

or without customer. Their nights earning vary depending on the clients and their

orders of drinks which is relatively higher than a store helper of Php300 or a

house helper of Php 2,500.00 to 3,500.00 per month equivalent to Php 100.00

per day.

This earnings also explains that after two or three years, the girls have

lost their health and beauty. From then on, they are on offer at bargain price of

“meat trade” to local clients (Duerr, 2015).

In terms of establishment location, Batangas City has the highest number

of respondents with 54 or 38.30 percent followed by Lipa with 49 or 34.70

percent while Tanauan has the lowest with 38 or 27 percent. It is very evident

that this kind of business is strategically located acceptable in Batangas City as

there is a mushrooming business in barangay Balagtas. According to the

 19

residents, the operation is legal with supporting legal requirements and workers

are subject to health rules. In other places like Lipa City and Tanauan City, there

is a limitation and subtle operation of this business; some location is not so

accessible compared to Batangas where it is situated in a strategic place.

In terms of number of years engaged in sex sector work, most of the

respondents work for 3 - 5 years with 66 or 46.80 percent while only 3 or 2.10

were engaged in the work for 9 years and above. With this insecurit

Considering the result of the study (see profile on age), most sex workers

start at an early age of 18-23 years for they claimed staying in their profession for

3-5 years, still make them employable and they still enjoy their job.

Table 2 on the next page presents the extent on social concerns of sex

worker. The over-all composite mean of 2.61 indicates to a great extent that their

social concern focused on how others see them as a person.

Among the items cited, people looking down on their appearance and

behaviour topped the list with a weighted mean score of 2.87. It was followed by

getting the feeling of independence because of earning on her own, people

thinking she is easy and have no morals, “men thinking they can touch her as

long as they pay” and “feared as a carrier of sex–related disease” were also

rated to a great extent.

Such result is a manifestation of the kind of attitude and behavior already

developed among sex workers. With this insecurity and feeling of immoral of how

people look down to them is truly a command responsibility of a human person. It

 20

is an advocacy effort on gender rights, changes to laws and policies about sex

work.

Table 2
Social Concerns in their Work as Sex Worker

Weighted Verbal
As a worker in the sex sector… Rank
Mean Interpretation
1. people look down on my appearance To a Great
2.87 1
and behavior. Extent
2. people avoid and do not socialize with To a Great
2.61 7
me. Extent
3. I receive cat calls and I am given To a Great
2.65 6
demeaning names. Extent
To a Great
4. I am seen as a home wrecker. 2.60 8
Extent
5. I am feared as a carrier of sex–related To a Great
2.78 5
disease. Extent
6. people think I am easy and have no To a Great
2.80 3.5
morals. Extent
7. men think they can touch me as long To a Great
2.80 3.5
as they pay. Extent
8. people think I am not a good influence
To a Great
and should not be welcome in the 2.60 9
Extent
community.
9. I indulge in drugs to forget my work as To a Least
2.21 11
sex worker. Extent
To a Least
10. I am sexually assaulted/raped. 2.12 12
Extent
11. I get the feeling of independence To a Great
2.85 2
because I earn on my own. Extent
12. I am freed from the poverty,
To a Least
problems and conflicts among my family 2.45 10
Extent
members.
Composite Mean To a Great
2.61
Extent
Legend: 3.50 – 4.00 = To a Very Great Extent; 2.50 – 3.49 = To A Great Extent; 1.50 – 2.49 = To
a Least Extent; 1.00 – 1.49 = Not at All

On the other hand, freed from poverty, problems and conflicts with mean

value of 2.45 was the only item that was rated to a least extent, for according to

them these are their main reasons of being a sex worker.

 21

This is an avenue of looking at the outcomes of sex workers drawn from

poverty, violence, poor law enforcement, laws that conflate sex works with

human trafficking and lack of legal personality; thus there is a need to be

addressed by the society and law makers in a specific sense.

In a Human Rights Journal (2013), Overs et al. (2013) concluded in their

paper “Toward a Legal Framework” that promoting and protecting sex workers’

health and human rights lessen the impact on the failure to recognize sex

workers as persons before the laws. This might prevent them from making the

same claims as others on office holders, employees and service providers. While

acknowledging that criminal laws limit sex workers’ rights, it can be suggested

that nothing can improve unless the work-related offenses are repealed. This is

clearly not the case in countries where there is no law on sex work, where it is

unenforced, where laws that are used to harass sex workers do not specifically

mention sex work and may otherwise serve as a useful purpose. Advocacy

around human rights and norms is more likely to succeed if more tools are used

than the singular demand for the removal of sex workers.

Table 3 presents the health and safety measures undertaken by the

respondents which is oftenly done by the respondents revealing a composite

mean of 3.11. Such claim may turn them to risk of health and unsafe in the sex

practices.

            Among the items rated as oftenly done are the following:  visiting medical

doctors voluntarily to monitor their health (3.230), taking careful information of the

client they are  dealing (3.21), being  careful with their choice of clients (3.18),
 22

studying their rights as sex worker to protect themselves (3.18) and being careful

with the emotional attachments with clients(3.14). As young sex workers, seeking

medical advice withdraw them from doing so. Even with the legal requirements

needed by the business, some refuse to obey for they feel the humiliation since

securing medical permit demands the process of public appearance and

personal medical interview.

Table 3
Health and Safety Measures Undertaken

Weighted Verbal
As a worker in the sex sector… Rank
Mean Interpretation
1. I am careful with my choice of clients. 3.18 Often 3.5
2. I use condoms and other protections. 3.06 Often 7.5
3. I choose establishments which abide on
3.12 Often 6
regulations and rights of sex workers.
4. I visit medical doctors voluntarily to
3.23 Often 1
monitor my health.
5. I study my rights as sex worker to protect
3.18 Often 3.5
myself.
6. I am careful with the emotional
3.14 Often 5
attachments I make with clients.
7. I take careful information of the client I am
3.21 Often 2
dealing with.
8. I try to find out where I can seek help
3.06 Often 7.5
when I have health and safety problems.
9. I inform co-workers of violent clients. 3.02 Often 11
10. I attend seminars on AIDS, HIV and
3.05 Often 9
other health trainings offered to sex workers.
11. I seek help from people I trust on
3.00 Often 12
problems on sex.
12. I study ways on how I can escape from
3.03 Often 10
this kind of work.
Composite Mean 3.11 Often
Legend: 3.50 – 4.00 = Always; 2.50 – 3.49 = Often; 1.50 – 2.49 = Sometimes; 1.00 – 1.49 =
Never

Based on an interview with the City Health Officer in Batangas City, all

sex workers in clubs and related industries follow a standard process in securing

health permits before they are issued fit to work. Counseling and Pap Smear are
 23

also part of the process and those found with STD are given antibiotics and

advised to go back to the clinic after a week to undergo another check - up and

cleared before a health permit is issued.

This kind of legal process for sex workers is a way to ensure the

prevention of HIV and other sex- related infections.

According to the respondents, they often cannot choose their client (3.18).

Once chosen, there is no reason of refusal.  According to them, in most cases,

they already have maintained repeat (suki) clients. As they are not well educated,

they are not fully aware of their rights (3.18). Some voiced out during interview to

legalize prostitution so that sex workers would have the necessary protection on

the other hand, they still have the feeling that legalization is not a  prescription to

stop the sex- related infections. In an issue on Philippine Commission on Women

(2013), it was discussed that the existing legislation on prostitution is

discriminatory against women as it views prostituted women as criminals who

engage in the sex industry for monetary gain. Women are viewed as the cause of

ill in the society, not those who create the demand side of prostitution. The

gender inequality in prostitution is also manifested through the stigma attached to

prostituted persons. Such discrimination has the potential to impair the

fundamental dignity and personhood of women and girls.

On the other hand, seeking help from people trusted on problems on sex

got the lowest mean of 3.00 but still interpreted as often. It was claimed by sex

workers that they tend to seek the assistance of friends or co-workers on

problems on sex and refrained from going to authorized health centers for fear
 24

that some people gossip about them. They are usually intimidated and shy when

doctors and nurses start questioning about their health problems and other

information regarding their work.

Peer support can be an important means to teach them about safer sex

and how to reduce risk from violent clients. Peer educators are likely to be more

successful than health care workers in promoting condom use with both

commercial and non-paying partners (Pebody, 2012).

It is also important to recognize that many sex workers are reluctant to

seek help through mainstream services such as genitourinary medicine (GUM)

clinics and general practitioners for fear of stigma and disapproval. Service

providers must therefore be prepared to help them overcome these barriers and

seek to establish trust by providing surroundings in which people and community

have non-judgemental attitudes and sympathetic.

Table 4 on the succeeding page presents the reasons for staying in the

sex sector work with composite mean of 2.73 and verbally interpreted as agree.

Among the items cited, family depending her with a weighted mean score

of 3.21 is interpreted as agree. It was followed by items “this work does not

cause problems to others" (2.89), "enjoying the money and gifts received" (2.88),

may find a good man who will give a better future",(2.77) , and "this is better than

being a house help" (2.75). Most of the respondents enjoyed their job as a sex

worker because they are earning more than what they are expecting. They are

able to send money to their respective families but still enjoy their life with the

extra money and sometimes gifts given to them by their “loyal” customers.
 25

Table 4

Reasons for Staying in the Sex Sector Work

Weighted Verbal
Reasons Rank
Mean Interpretation
1. my family depends on me 3.21 Agree 1
2. have no good education to find a job 2.72 Agree 8
3. already over-aged to get a job 2.50 Agree 11
4. enjoy the money and gifts I receive 2.88 Agree 3
5. meet influential people 2.73 Agree 7
6. my family has disowned me 2.57 Agree 10
7. may find a good man who will give a
2.77 Agree 4
better future
8. can travel to different places 2.63 Agree 9
9. my friends are here 2.74 Agree 6
10. do not like to return to a broken
2.40 Disagree 12
family
11. this is better than being a househelp 2.75 Agree 5
12. this work does not cause problems
2.89 Agree 2
to others
Composite Mean 2.73 Agree
Legend: 3.50 – 4.00 = Strongly Agree; 2.50 – 3.49 = Agree; 1.50 – 2.49 = Disagree; 1.00 – 1.49
= Strongly Disagree

In the records of place of origin by sex workers, it can be confirmed that

most of them are not from the three cities of Batangas Province. These are only

their workplaces, but not where they came from. It is sad to note their claim how

they miss their family from Cebu, Mindoro, Angeles, Tarlac, Lucena and Quezon.

Although the pathways that lead women into commercial sex work vary (Murphy,

2010), some women undertake sex work by choice for those who may entered

sex work for specific reasons like paying for high educational costs, paying debts,

or covering family expenses and leaving the trade after getting the goal. Others

make a career decision to work in the sex industry and enjoy a high level of

satisfaction and independence.

 26

Respondent’s agreement that they do not cause harm to others is already

a behavioural escape in order for them to give reasons on this kind of

employment they are into. In an interview, they even quoted “…at sinabi ng

Panginoon, bumato ang hindi makasalanan…” meaning everybody is a sinner.

They are even teary eyed in saying the lines of the song by Freddie Aguilar…

“…Magdalena, ikaw ay sawing palad…kailan ka nila maiintindihan…”

They accept nobody understands them and the reasons they do it. This is

truly the scenario of Sex Industry in the Philippines where prostitution is

estimated as the fourth largest source of Gross National Product (GNP).

Although illegal, many girls and women engage in this kind of sex work for lack of

better option to support themselves and their families.

However, they disagree that their reason is they do not like to return to a

broken family with the weighted mean 2.40, for at the end of the fight, still their

family is their last resort to be with specially when they will be able to find

somebody who can promise them better future. When their dreams were

realized; still they want to go back to their families as a renewed person.

Table 5 presents the perceived risks in engaging with sex sector as

revealed with composite mean of 3.00.

Among the items cited, exposure to abusive clients topped the rank with a

weighted mean score of 3.21, followed by vulnerability to HIV infection (3.28),

not having support groups to protect and assist them in case of violence/rape

(3.16),forced to be sex slaves (3.05), and danger of unplanned pregnancy (3.04).

 27

Table 5
Perceived Risks in Engaging with Sex Sector Work

Weighted Verbal
Perceived Risks Rank
Mean Interpretation
1. exposure to abusive clients 3.34 Risky 1
2. vulnerability to HIV infection 3.28 Risky 2
3. may not have support groups to
protect and assist them in case of 3.16 Risky 3
violence/rape
4. may be forced to be sex slaves 3.05 Risky 4
5. may acquire the whore stigma that
2.87 Risky 9
may destroy one’s self-esteem
6. danger of unplanned pregnancy 3.04 Risky 5
7. family and children of sex worker are
2.94 Risky 7
discriminated
8. may experience mental health
2.94 Risky 8
problems
9. exposure to unsafe sex practices 2.96 Risky 6
10. may not be able to leave this work 2.82 Risky 10
11. may become an addict 2.75 Risky 12
12. may get AIDS 2.79 Risky 11
Composite Mean 3.00 Risky
Legend: 3.50 – 4.00 = Highly Risky; 2.50 – 3.49 = Risky; 1.50 – 2.49 = Slightly Risky; 1.00 – 1.49
= Not Risky

As sex workers, they are really exposed to sexual abuse considering they

are being paid by client- customers. Women who sell sex were at particularly

high risk of infection. According to interviewed sex workers, the greatest threat to

their health and human rights is the law that makes it impossible to find safe

places to work, and prevents them from having the same protections as other

workers and other citizens.

Kerrigan (2010) noted that their increased vulnerability was not just due to

behavioural factors (large numbers of sexual partners, etc.) but also structural

factors (criminalization, human rights violations, social exclusion, lack of legal

rights, family rejection, poverty, bad working conditions, violence, condoms used

as evidence and corruption etc.) (AIDS Conference, 2012) .

 28

Pooling the data available for 50 countries, female sex workers were cited

to have a 14-fold higher risk of infection as women of a similar age in the general

population. Data from Asian countries showed HIV prevalence in women aged 15

- 49 in these countries was 0.18 percent, for sex workers it was 5.2 percent ,

meaning their risk of having HIV was 29 times greater.

In this respect, the Health Department mandates workers in night clubs,

spa/saunas, and karaoke bars to register in local Social Hygiene Clinics (SHC)

and to submit themselves for STI testing on a weekly or biweekly basis, and to

attend an HIV 101 workshop upon start of employment for in the study conducted

in the largest urban setting in the Greater Metro Manila Area (GMMA), an area

with 2.68 million people and nearly half of all reported HIV cases in the

Philippines. This is alarming among health workers and sex business owners.

However, becoming an addict got the lowest mean of 2.75 and still

interpreted as risky. This could be attributed to the fact that their priority is to

send money first to their respective families as this is their main reason for being

a sex worker. With just a small amount left for themselves, they cannot afford

anymore to buy drugs. But as shown on their earnings, there are nights with high

earnings such that they have extra money to buy drugs specially during those

times that they have feel depressed.

Younger FSWs were less likely to have ever used drugs, which may

reflect a true declining trend of drug use. It is also possible that those who remain

in sex work for longer are more likely to have been exposed to drugs, and to
 29

have begun to use them as a means of coping with the challenges inherent in

being an FSW in this context. An earlier study of FSWs in Dimapur noted an

increase in the proportion of FSWs regularly using alcohol and other drugs after

the commencement of sex work (Bowen, K. et.al. 2011).

Table 6
Difference of Responses on the Extent of Social Concerns in their Work as
Sex Worker When Grouped According to Profile Variables

Profile Variables F-value p-value Interpretation

Age 2.209 0.057 Not Significant
Sex 2.583 0.011 Significant
Educational Attainment 4.556 0.000 Highly Significant
Work Establishment Location 30.065 0.000 Highly Significant
Daily Earnings 9.560 0.000 Highly Significant
Years Engaged in Sex Sector 11.414 0.000 Highly Significant
Legend: Significant at p-value < 0.05

Based from the result, there is a significant difference on the extent on

social concerns in their work as sex worker when grouped according to sex,

educational attainment, work establishment location, daily earnings and years

engaged in sex sector. This was observed from the obtained p-values of 0.011

and 0.000 which were less than 0.05 alpha level. This means that the social

concerns of the respondents to their job varies.

Age is not significant, for most of them are relatively young; thus, their

responses do not vary on their perceptions that people look down on their

appearance or behaviour. Sex is significant for there are male workers and

female respondents which may vary perceptions. It was firmly stressed by male
 30

workers (7), they don’t feel insecure of what they are doing instead proud of

having macho image or gay bar dancers.

Notably, educational attainment, work establishment location, daily

earnings and years engaged in sex sectors are factors contributory to their

claimed on the extent on social concerns in their work as sex workers. These

varying perceptions maybe attributed to the kind of behaviour and attitude they

were raised including the kind of family where they came from.

In the field of psychology, scholars have debated the issue of nature

versus nature for decades, only arriving at one reasonable conclusion. Both

genes and the environment are important in shaping a person’s behaviour.

Children are not spared and are arguably more susceptible to environmental

influences. From how the family is structured, nearly every facets of life teaches

children lessons in how to adapt to the world (Verial, 2014)

 31

Table 7
Proposed Health and Safety Program to address Problems of Sex Workers

Key Result Persons

Activities
Areas/Objectives Involved

To avoid exposure to Reinforce women’s desk

Police Authority
abusive clients responsibility to sex workers
Sex workers
complain on abusive clients

To be protected from Strict implementation on the

City Health
HIV infection issuance of health work permit.
Officers
Barangay
Seminars by Barangay health
Health Workers
workers on HIV/ AIDS.
Sex workers

To have support Introduce LGU’s and NGO’s NGO

groups that will protect existing in the province who assist DSWD
and assist them in sex workers Police Authority
case of violence/rape Counselling by group of workers Sex workers

To keep away from Alternative job opportunities by TESDA

being sex slaves LGU LPU-B
Sex workers
Spearhead seminars on hospitality
related tie up with TESDA and
University
Managers may do strict policy on Business
extra services. Owners
To prevent unplanned
Barangay
pregnancy
Seminars and awareness Health Workers
campaign by Barangay health Sex Workers
workers on reproductive health
_____________________________________________________________

CONCLUSIONS

1. Majority of the sex workers were female, young and new in their position,

high school undergraduate, and low income earners from different night

clubs in Batangas City, Lipa and Tanauan City.

 32

2. The extent of social concerns in the respondents work as sex workers

focused in developing negative attitude to their work and insecurity to

themselves.

3. The respondents often voluntarily visit their doctors to monitor their health

and safety measures to protect themselves.

4. Majority of sex workers stay in their job because their family depends on

them or this work is their source of income.

5. The perceived risks in this kind of work are exposure to abusive clients and

vulnerability to HIV and other related- sex infections.

6. The responses of the workers differ in terms of sex, educational attainment,

work location, daily earnings and years engaged in the work.

7. Safety and health program is proposed to mitigate social and health

problems of sex sector workers.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. City Health workers need to strictly implement the rules and policies in

securing work permit for sex workers.

2. Barangay officials may develop ordinances on certain parameters

relative to security of their place and public image in as far as sex workers

are concerned.

3. Business sex owners may tie- up with Universities offering health courses

on possible seminars to prevent HIV and other health –related

infections or diseases. Other Psychology Universities may also be

 33

linked on behavioural and attitude seminars to develop self- esteem and

self- confidence.

4. Local government and Tourism sectors may develop alternative

employment, high school scholarship, entrepreneurship seminars, or

tourism related employment as simple as tour guides among young

sex workers in order for them to realize self – worth and fulfilment.

5. A proposed social and health program may be implemented to mitigate

social and health problems of sex sector workers

6. Future study may be conducted using other variables to further confirm the

result of this study.