Prostitution in the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prostitution in the Philippines is illegal. It is a serious crime with penalties ranging up to life imprisonment for those involved intrafficking. It is covered by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.[1] Prostitution is sometimes illegally available through brothels (also known as casa), bars, karaoke bars (also known as KTVs), massage parlors, street walkers and escort services.
As of 2009, one source estimated that there were 800,000 women working as prostitutes in the Philippines, with some of them believed to be underage.[2] Contents [hide] * 1 Prostitution in various regions * 2 Violence and coercion against prostitutes * 3 See also * 4 External resources * 5 References |
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Prostitution in various regions [edit]
Prostitution caters to local customers and foreigners . Media attention tends to focus on those areas catering to sex tourism, primarily through bars staffed by bargirls. Cities where there is a high incidence of prostitution are Angeles City, Olongapo, Subic Bay and Pasay City[3] , with the customers usually foreign businessmen from East Asian and Western nations.[3]
Prostitution in Olongapo City and Angeles City was highly prominent during the time of the U.S. military bases called Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base, respectively.[4][5] When Mount Pinatubo, a volcano, erupted in 1991, it destroyed most of Clark Air Base and the US closed it down in 1992.
Most of the associated prostitution trade closed with it, but when the mayor of Manila, Alfredo Lim, closed down the sex industry area of Ermita in Manila during his first term, many of the businesses moved to Angeles, finding a new customer base among sex tourists.[6]
Other tourist areas such as Cebu have also developed a high profile prostitution industry.
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Violence
References: 5. ^ Lin Lean Lim (1998). The Sex Sector: The Economic and Social Bases of Prostitution in Southeast Asia. International Labour Organization.ISBN 92-2-109522-3. 6. ^ Lauber, Sabina (1995). "Confronting Sexual Exploitation". Australian Law Reform Commission Reform Bulletin. Winter 1995 (67). Retrieved 2007-02-07. Stories of Survivors of Incest, Rape and the Sex Trade (TW-MAE-W: Quezon City: 2008). 3 Melissa Farley, Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress (Binghamton: Haworth Press, 2003), xix.