OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales, Philippines—If there is any group here that is elated to know nine American ships have canceled their port calls, it is the organization that works to save bar workers and women in the city from prostitution.
Members of the Buklod Center Inc., a drop-in center for women who used to be involved in the sex trade, said having no American troops around will reduce the number of women exploited and lured into prostitution.
Alma Bulawan, Buklod executive director, said she felt relieved that nine US ships scheduled to visit Subic this month and in December have canceled port calls.
“If they will not come here, women, especially those working in night clubs, will not be abused or exploited,” Bulawan told the Inquirer on Monday.
Bulawan said her group, which was established in 1987, has been working hard over the years to erase Olongapo’s image as a “sin city,” acquired through its red light district that catered for decades to thousands of us soldiers stationed on the former US Naval Base or US warships calling at port to resupply and afford their crews rest and recreation.
“When the Americans left their naval base here [in 1992], we’ve proven to the world that we’re better off without them,” Bulawan said.
The Americans left their military bases in the country after the Philippine Senate rejected the extension of the Philippine-US military bases agreement in 1991. The former American-controlled naval base here and the Clark Air Base in Pampanga province have since been turned into economic zones.
On Sunday, the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce said nine American ships had decided to cancel their port calls due supposedly to “anti-American sentiments” in the country after a US Marine, Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton, was implicated in the slaying of transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in this city on Oct. 11.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chair Roberto Garcia confirmed the cancellation of the port calls of the nine US Navy ships.
Citing a report from the Global Terminals and Development Inc., which operates ports here and provides service to US Navy ships, Garcia said four ships were supposed to visit this free port this month while five were expected in December.
Garcia said the port visits were “put on hold until further notice.”
Records at SBMA’s seaport department showed that 100 US military ships arrived in Subic Bay from January to October this year for military exercises with Filipino troops, replenishment of supplies, and rest and recreation of crew members.
At least 17 ships docked at Subic Bay every month from June to October this year, the records showed.
Buklod, Bulawan said, has been helping women who used to work in night clubs and bars in Olongapo City find alternative sources of income.
“We want bar women to understand that their lives are at risk in the hands of American customers. [Many of these] servicemen have the tendency to become really violent, especially when they are drunk and I personally know that,” said Bulawan, a former bar worker.
Bulawan said Buklod’s members are being trained to produce handicrafts, jewelry and recyclable bags as their source of income.
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