Iloilo City probes alleged ‘prosti-tuition’ racket

Local officials in Iloilo City are investigating an alleged "prosti-tuition" racket where financially hard up students resort to prostitution to pay their tuition.

A professor of the West Visayas State University's College of Communication described the situation as "survival sex," GMA Iloilo reported Thursday.

"Survival sex... Kung iisipin mo, survival (para) mabuhay pero sa pamamagitan ng sex," Professor Ma. Rosario Victoria "Cherry" de Guzman said.

But the GMA Iloilo report said some resort to the racket just to earn extra money for things like mobile phone load.

De Guzman said she got much of her information from taxi drivers in the city.

The report noted some students involved in such a practice even go in and out of motels and lodging areas in the city – while in school uniforms.

In many instances, security guards did not stop them.

"Karamihan dito, ginagawa 'pag holiday o kung weekends. 'Pag weekends dumadami ang nagpupunta sa mga lodging inn, sa mga motels, dahil para nga... survival sex or pambili lang ng load," de Guzman said.

"Basta, minsan may sumakay na estudyante. Pinabihis ko siya sa sasakyan," taxi driver Arnold Majesterio told a GMA Iloilo news team.

When the news team asked if the student was wearing a uniform, Majesterio said, "naka-uniform."

Another taxi driver, Ramil Requeta, said some would just contact him. "Hinahatid ko lang," he said.

This has prompted an investigation by the Iloilo City council, which voiced concerns the practice could erode the youths' morality.

Handling the investigation will be the city council's committee on moral recovery.

Teenage pregnancy

Meanwhile, de Guzman, voiced concern there could be a connection between such survival sex and teenage pregnancy cases.

She said it is important for parents to keep watch over their children.

Reminders

Also, she reminded students to give dignity to themselves and their studies, and not to resort to survival sex.

"Huwag silang matakot na magtrabaho. Huwag silang matakot sa pagiging school girl. Huwag silang matakot...," she said.

On the other hand, Kabataan party list coordinator Charmaine Chin said high tuition and school fees should be at least partly to blame for the practice.

"Ngayon, hindi lang masasabi natin na ang mga nasa private schools lang ang nag-e-engage sa survival sex dahil kahit na ang mga state universities ina-abandon rin ang financial responsibility," she said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News