Unregulated Entry of Sex Workers Escorting Foreign Guests?

Unregulated entry of sex workers escorting foreign guests has alarmed tourism stakeholders who ask for 'any' government intervention to complement their efforts of putting up the mechanism to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Sex worker escorts, each time entering Bohol with different foreign tourists, could expose local sex workers to the danger of HIV or STI infection. 

The problem is even compounded as some resort owners admit that some foreign couples swap partners and they feel helpless in stopping them. 

Feeling helpless on their end, stakeholders along the Alona beach bonded to protect their workers from the risk especially with the threat of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  

In partnership with Path Foundation Philippines Inc.(PFPI), a non-government organization, resorts have put up volunteer peer educators among workers and organized support groups.

That is to keep resorts safe from STI or HIV, which may conveniently go with escorts to tourists, a resort owner confessed. 

Since we feel helpless against this, we exert efforts on things we can do and hope the government could help us, says Gertrudis Bongo, owner of the Trudis Place, a resort along Alona Bay.

"Our peer educators dispense advice and share information on proper sex habits, adult education and protected sex to keep the threat at bay," she said. 

"We gather resort workers and increase their knowledge on HIV and STI, hopefully to encourage them to seek the right behavior," explains Lawrence Castro of the PFPI, who is organizing communities with higher risks of infection. 

"It's a real threat," agrees Ma. Girlie Bungabong, a peer counselor for the family owned Trudis Place. 

Bungabong, who along with another volunteer regularly shares sex-related issues to their co-workers, said they can never stop foreigners from bringing in escorts who are sex workers from Cebu and Manila.

Meanwhile, to keep the threat contained, Trudis Place, as PATH project partner, displays sex commodities like condoms in their rooms.

On the other hand, posh resort Bohol Beach Club, through human resource manager Joy dela Cruz said the company empowers its in-house workers to report any attempt of guests soliciting sex.

"We are definitely not condoning it, just as we are to seriously look into violations over the standing policy of no going out with guests", she said. 

De la Cruz, who shared she wants more peer educator volunteers for Bohol Beach Club also share a dream of tourism growing with workers protected and respected and responsible. - PIA