DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - Councilor Nilo Sayson is pressing for the regulation of massage parlors and clinics sprouting throughout the city.
He said his move aims to protect legitimate establishments offering massage services against proliferation of places disguised as parlors, where illegal transactions take place behind thick curtains.
Sayson is pushing for the approval of an ordinance he authored that seeks to regulate the operation of massage establishments and services.
The councilor stressed that although a massage per see is both good for health and business, there are certain aspects in the operations that need to be regulated.
He said in some areas, massage establishments are used as prostitution fronts.
Under Sayson's bill, massage therapists must be 18 years old and have to undergo six-month training. They also need to secure a health certificate from the City Health Office.
One of the concerns addressed in the proposed ordinance involves massage therapists accepting clients of the opposite sex. Sun.Star Dumaguete