A NON-GOVERNMENT organization warned that the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) may push some individuals to engage in prostitution to make ends meet.
Talikala-Davao executive director Jeanette Ampog told SunStar Davao that because of the community quarantine, many workers have either lost their jobs or less income as companies implement cost-cutting measures.
Talikala is a non-government organization that advocates for the welfare of prostituted women and children.
According to the data from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as of June 4, a total of 10,133 establishments have partially and totally closed.
Although the data did not present the breakdown of the figure of employees who were gravely affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic, lawyer Connie Torralba, mediator-arbitrator of DOLE's Mediation-Arbitration and Legal Service Unit, said in a recent report that the number of establishments, including the laid-off employees, might increase in the coming months.
"Those [people] nga wala [nag-engage] sa prostitution, naay possibility nga musulod sila tungod daghan na apektohan. Daghan nawad-an og trabaho tungod daghang establishment nga nanirado (There is a possibility that some will engage in prostitution because they lost their jobs after the closure of the business they were working for)," Ampog said.
She also said people in prostitution (PIP) are also heavily affected by the pandemic since they cannot have physical contact with clients due to strict social distancing measures and the implementation of curfew.
But despite the quarantine restriction, Ampog admitted that prostitution continues with the help of technology.
Following the lifting of some restrictions, Ampog said concerned citizens and some barangay officials have reached out to their group after some PIPs returned to their spots to get clients.
Helping PIPs
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on Monday, June 8, that aside from indigent individuals and workers of temporarily closed establishments, the City Government has provided food to PIPs since the community quarantine in March.
The mayor said the City Health Office (CHO) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) obtained a list of women in prostitution, wherein they are being monitored by the City Government and are provided regular health check-up.
"Sa sugod pa lang, duna nato sila'y ration card gikan sa CSWDO. Nakadawat gyud to sila og rasyon because nag-allot ang CSWDO og ration card for them (They were already given ration cards from the start because CSWDO allotted them ration cards)," Duterte-Carpio said.
She said if the city had a list of PIPs who are men and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), the city will assist them too.
"So kung ikaw women, men or LGBT in prostitution and wala ka kadawat og ration card, ipadala nalang ang details sa amoa (If you are woman, man, or LGBT in prostitution, and you do not have a ration card, please visit our office and give us your details)," she said.
At present, the City Government is on its fourth round of the food distribution for those who are part of businesses that are still not allowed to operate under the general community quarantine.
Gina A. Molon, in-charge of the food assistance and the officer-in-charge of the Pre-schooler and Children's Concern Division (PSCCD) of CSWDO, said the office has reached out to a total of 323 PIPs in the areas of San Pedro, Legaspi, Anda, Claveria, and Tionko.
Together with the food assistance, CSWDO also distributed hotline number cards in case they would need psychosocial assistance.
Molon said CSWDO has identified these beneficiaries previously because they are already clients of the City Government's different programs, advocacies, and livelihood assistance.
"Ato na man gyud na sila'ng kliyente. In fact, na-organize na nato sila. Naa ta'y organizations sa mga People in Prostitution (They are already our clients. In fact, we have organized them, we have an organization for them)," Molon said.
She added that aside from the livelihood assistance, the PIPs' children are also beneficiaries of the city's educational program.
"Beneficiary nato na sila sa atong mga livelihood ug sa atong educational assistance sa ilang mga kabataan (They are beneficiaries of our livelihood and the educational assistance for their children)," she noted.
Ampog said Talika lauded the City Government's move in supporting PIPs, especially women, for giving them food subsidies, which is highly needed in the Covid-19 pandemic.
But she also urged the City Government to provide some sort of long-term support for the PIPs to allow them to adapt to the new normal and not be fully dependent on the government.
"Basin kani na ang right time nga wagtangon nato ang prostitusyon (I think this is the right time we can end prostitution)," Ampog said.
She said they are already coordinating with the City Mayor's Office, through the Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD), in specific socio-economic they would give to them.
Ampog opted not to disclose the program in order not to pre-empt the government's plan. However, they have already started to select the beneficiaries and will add more if the program is successful.
Meanwhile, Ampog defended the move of the City Government and their group's efforts to help PIPs amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Some netizens have commented that by providing assistance to PIPs, it shows that they are tolerating prostitution.
"Whether we like it or not, we have to recognize their presence. But it does not mean we are tolerating them. We need to recognize their struggle," she said.
Ampog said the rights of women in prostitution are covered under the Magna Carta of Women and law on the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC).
"Affected gani tong mga wala'y trabaho, how much more sila nga wala'y stable job (Just like how the pandemic affected those with stable jobs, these women who are in an unstable job are also affected)," she added.
Ampog also urged the government to have more concrete data on the number of PIPs in the country so that they can formulate a comprehensive and fitting program for them.
Unless prostitution will not be eradicated, she said it might spiral more problems in the future, especially the as country continues to face the Covid-19 pandemic. (With reports from CIO)