A government doctor in Dagupan City assigned to monitor incidence of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in Pangasinan has expressed alarm over the 2,120 STD cases afflicting commercial sex workers (CSWs) in various night spots in Pangasinan.

Dr. Jocelyn Tongson, chief of Social Hygiene Clinic based in Dagupan City who is also the Pangasinan coordinator of DOH’s STD/Human Immuno Deficiency Virus/Acute Immune Deficiency Syndrome Control Program, told The PUNCH that there are 2,290 total number of registered sex workers in the province, excluding those “freelance” sex workers who are engaged in the flesh trade for their school expenses or merely to buy their caprices.

She said last year, about 10, 180 total smears were examined and 2,120 were  found positive for sexually transmitted infections and common vaginal  infections like gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, non-gonococcal urethritis,  candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.

Urdaneta City and suburbs in the eastern part of the province topped the highest number of gonorrhea cases with 122 while this city has only 15 STD cases afflicting CSWs. There are 1,256 afflicted with non-gonococcal urtheritis in the whole province.

Tongson said this is already alarming and local government officials and the police should help them monitor entertainment establishments who allow their CSWs to work even without the necessary health permits in order to avoid the spread of STDs.

There are total of 139 registered entertainment establishments in Pangasinan. Tongson believes there are still a lot of establishments operating without securing working permits for their GROs (guest relations officers).

“Marami pa ring freelance sex workers at mas delikado sila (There are still many freelance sex workers and they are more dangerous),” Tongson said, adding that these are mostly students.
Tongson also cited Republic Act 8504 or the AIDS law where they can’t impose mandatory HIV test among CSWs or other civilians suffering from STDs.

“It should be voluntary based on that law,” Tongson said.

Since 1984, in Pangasinan alone, there are 24 monitored HIV cases. Others have died while others are just roaming around. Tongson said they are restricted to reveal even the places where these are located because on the law on confidentiality that protects the victims.

Tongson said in the past, the Philippines regards the AIDS matter as “slow and low meaning, slow transmission and low incidence”. But now she said, this has become “hidden and growing” concern.

Citing national statistics, from 1984 to Dec. 2005, there are 2,410 HIV cases in the country. Of this number, 34 percent is  Overseas Filipino Workers, 17  percent domestic helpers, nine percent employees, eight percent GROs and  even percent health workers who may be accidentally pricked by needles or  other drug injections used by HIV victims.

She added that 74 percent of the victims are males, aged 20 to 48 and the most common transmission is through sexual contact.–EVA

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