Bongcas: Pap smear tests mandated by nat’l law

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

THE city’s health chief yesterday frowned over the petition of a group of spa owners and massagers in the city for the repeal of a city ordinance that subjects spa attendants to weekly checkups, including pap smear tests.

Dr. Fe Bongcas, city health officer, said there was nothing local officials and the spa owners and massagers can do about it because the ordinance is based on a national law.

She said the law requires attendants in massage parlors and similar establishments to submit to weekly tests in an effort to prevent the spread of venereal and communicable diseases.

Bongcas said the ordinance has long been implemented in the city and there is a similar national law on this.

“We are only following laws that mandate health offices to safeguard massage clients,” she said.

Bongcas also frowned over the assertion that the City Health Office has been degrading spa workers and treating them like commercial sex workers.

But she said it may be possible to reduce the frequency of the mandatory checkups for spa workers.

“Siguro ang frequency of test ma-moderate but the checkups should be made regularly. A medical checkup is the only way to monitor these diseases,” Bongcas said.

Karen Lourdes Reyes, owner of Spa Traditions who served as the massage workers and spa owners’ spokesperson, said the ordinance is “anti-women,” “unconstitutional,” and subjects female spa workers to degrading tests.