The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has raised concerns over a proposal by the Bacolod city government regarding the inclusion of quick response (QR) codes on health cards issued to employees of entertainment establishments. The aim of this proposal is to mitigate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The health office of Bacolod City routinely conducts health examinations for employees of local entertainment establishments, issuing "pink cards" to those who comply with these mandatory checks. These pink cards are necessary for annual business license registration and renewal. Commercial sex workers are categorized as entertainers and are identified using these pink cards.
Vincent Parra, the director of CHR-Negros, has criticized the proposal put forward by City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting, stating that it could potentially infringe upon data privacy and AIDS prevention and control laws. Ting's suggestion involves incorporating QR codes on pink cards, which would provide easy access to information regarding whether workers are undergoing mandatory health check-ups.
Ting argues that this measure would help ensure that workers, especially those involved in commercial sex work, remain free from STDs and receive prompt medical attention if infected. However, there is ambiguity regarding commercial sex workers who are not formally employed and therefore do not possess pink cards.
According to data from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC), Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, ranks third in Western Visayas in terms of HIV/AIDS infections. In 2022 alone, over 4,000 cases were recorded in Western Visayas.
Carls Libo-on, manager of the Bagani Community Center By Love Yourself (BCCBLY), views Ting's proposal as beneficial for HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. BCCBLY operates a center in Bacolod that supports over 200 HIV/AIDS-positive individuals. Libo-on believes that the digitalization aspect of the proposal would facilitate access to government services for commercial sex workers.
However, Parra advises caution, emphasizing the potential legal consequences of violating privacy laws. He warns that individuals involved in implementing such measures could face penalties under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, the AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, and the Comprehensive Policy on HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment, Care, and Support Act of 2018.