Probe on Boracay child prostitution yields negative result
The surveillance and inspection conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 6 recently on five establishments in Boracay Island allegedly engaging in child prostitution yielded negative result.
The inspection was made following the report of the ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children) that the five establishments tolerate child prostitution in their workplaces.
The ECPAT report was presented during the briefing on Effects of Tourism on Children in Boracay on October 21 sponsored by the Aklan Provincial Technical Working Group and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committees on laws, health and women.
DOLE 6 Regional Director Aida M. Estabillo said the inspectors conducted surveillance activity in the evening of October 28 until the wee hours of the morning on October 29 to confirm reports on the presence of children frequenting nightspots in the island bars and show themselves off to potential clients.
Estabillo added that in the evening of October 29 the inspectors conducted a thorough inspection of the records and interview with workers and owners of the identified establishments to determine if indeed they employ children.
The surveillance and inspection activities yielded negative result as there is no child or minor employed in those establishments at the time of inspection.
Nonetheless, the inspectors conferred with Chief Inspector Eugene Rebadomia, MSWD Social Worker of LGU-Malay, Boracay Special Tourism Protection Office–Women’s & Children’s Protection Desk Officer and representatives from ECPAT Phils. and ECPAT Phils. Youth Program, to further strengthen their networking to protect the children in Boracay.
During the discussion, it was disclosed that the local government of Malay passed an ordinance imposing a curfew to minors starting at 10:00 o’clock in the evening. At least ten minors are being apprehended daily in violation of this ordinance where they were turned over to MSWD for temporary shelter and counseling.
The DOLE 6 has lined up several activities such as to conduct regular meeting with PESO managers and labor education seminars; and to convene with members of the Provincial Sagip Batang Manggagawa and Boracay Tripartite Industry Council aimed at eliminating the possibility of having the children expose to this trade if there really exists in the island resort.
