Stricter monitoring of night club entertainers in QC sought

MANILA, Philippines – A member of the Quezon City council is seeking stricter monitoring and testing of men and women working as night club entertainers in the city following reports of rising cases of sexually transmitted diseases.

Majority Floor Leader and District IV Councilor Jesus Suntay has proposed the creation of an anti-AIDS and STD council tasked to implement the new ordinance.

“The council shall establish a comprehensive STD/HIVAIDS monitoring program in coordination with the city health office’s similar monitoring program to determine and monitor the magnitude and progression of STD/HIV/ADS in Quezon City,” the proposed ordinance said.

Suntay said the proposed group would act as the “central advisory,” that would plan and recommend policy on the prevention and control of STD, HIV and AIDS in the city.

He proposed that the city mayor chair the council and the city health officer co-chair the body.

The council members will be the chairman of the city council’s committee on health, the city’s social welfare officers, a representative from the Department of Interior and Local Government and two representatives from accredited non-government organizations involved in AIDS prevention campaigns.

He said the council would conduct annual “STD/HIV/AIDS Serological and Behavioral Surveillance” in coordination with the STD-AIDS Cooperative Control Laboratory and the local health department and classify “people with high-risk sexual behavior.”

The proposed council will also require owners and operators of entertainment establishments and their employees, including massage therapists at barber shops and massage clinics to attend seminars on STD/HIV/AIDS prevention conducted by the city health office.

He said that a “no seminar, no health permit” policy would be adopted.

“In compliance with this ordinance, the establishments mentioned herein shall not be allowed to operate unless a certificate of attendance in an STD/AIDS seminar has been issued to its operator and to all its employees,” Suntay in his proposal said.

He explained that a data base of entertainers would also be set up in line with the program.

The councilor added that the proposed measure also had provisions against discrimination in the workplace and in schools of people with HIV.

Violation of any provision of the proposed ordinance shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than a year or a fine of not less than P3,000 but not more than P5,000, or both. –Nancy C. Carvajal, Philippine Daily Inquirer