NIGHT club and bar owners in Dagupan need not worry about the newly-passed city council ordinance authored by Councilor Farah Decano if they are not peddling sex.

Councilor Decano clarified that Ordinance No. 0032, which provides supplementary measures against flesh trade in the city, strictly punishes only those who are peddling sex services to male customers.

Noting the night club and bar owners’ objection to the ordinance, “I asked them (club owners) if they are selling sex and they all answered ‘No’. So they need not worry at all about the ordinance,” she said.

The night club owners in the city raised a howl against the ordinance, contending that the same could contribute highly to their bankruptcy and the deterioration of the tourism industry.

Decano is unfazed, stayed firm in her belief that the entertainment business as well as tourism can be enhanced and promoted without selling or exploiting girls for prostitution.

PEOPLE’S SENTIMENT

Defending her ordinance, Decano said the legislation was generally supported by the people of Dagupan City.

She explained she crafted the ordinance in response to a major TV network’s report that made it appear that Dagupan is now earning new notoriety as the flesh trade capital in Pangasinan.

The ordinance is not a product of just “one night-stand” but many months of study and public hearings, Decano explained.

She said among those she consulted was Fr. Joaquin Bernas, dean emeritus of the College of  Law of Ateneo de Manila University, and a member of the 1987 Constitutional Commission, who likewise lauded the measure.

The ordinance imposes punishment on the establishments, people in prostitution and customers who solicit sexual services.

Republic Act. 9208 does not punish customers of “free-lance” prostituted people, but  punishes those in the flesh trade of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of from P1 million to P2 million.

In Ordinance 0032, she said, the business permit is sued by the mayor for establishments engaged in flesh trade shall be cancelled permanently.

The ordinance also provides that soliciting, negotiating and/or purchasing sexual service, regardless of whether the sexual service is consummated or not, is punishable by a three month imprisonment and fine of P3,000.

She also said guest relation officers who are not engaged in prostitution but are simply entertaining people are not affected by the ordinance. Nonetheless, they are required to secure pink cards from the City Health Office and undergo regular smear tests.—LM

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