Iloilo officials clamp down on sex workers for Dinagyang

MANILA, Philippines – With the Dinagyang Festival fast approaching, officials in Iloilo City have started cracking down on unregistered sex workers, according to a report aired over radio dzBB on Thursday. City social workers were on the lookout for "freelance" sex workers, fearing that they mightspread sexually transmitted diseases. City officials said many sex workers enter the city from other areas at this time of year, in anticipation of tourists arriving to watch the festivities. Dinagyang is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City on the fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan. It is held to honor the Santo Niño and celebrate the arrival in Panay of Malay settlers. City officials expect to meet with freelance and commercial sex workers to make sure they have health cards and the proper permits. They said they could not dissuade the sex workers from plying their trade. But at least they should have their "clients" to use condoms. - GMANews.TV