CHAPTER 1 PROJECT UNDERSTANDING AND COMMENTS ON, THE TERMS OF REFERENCE 1.1 BACKGROUND The following Comments and Project Understanding are based on the Legislative-Executive Bases Council Letter of Invitation and the Terms of Reference For The Feasibility Studies And Conversion Sub-Programs Of The Military Baselands And Their Extensions for Subic, sent Novemtber 15, 1989 to the Women's Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization (WEDPRO). 1,2 SCOPE OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES ‘The Terms of Reference make it clear that there are 3 major sectors within the base dependent communities that the Feasibility Studies should address, they are, Women, the Urban Poor and Labor. As ‘fast track’ procedures are to be adopted due to the limited time to undertake the Studies, WEDPRO tas prepared this Technical Proposal to cover a Study of women in the base dependent communities at Subic. UNDERSTANDING: It is understood that the Preparation For The Feasibility Studies Of The Alternative Employment, Economic Livelihood, And Human Resource Development Projects For Subic, focusing on women in the base dependent communities, would be awarded to WEDPRO if their Technical Proposal is ranked First (number one) by the Council. It is also understood that the total number of months for consulting services is six (6), from January to thé end of July 1990. 1.3 PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ON THE ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR SUBIC 1.3.1 Women In The Entertainment Industry at Subic WEDPRO dispatched a Study Team on November 17 to undertake an ocular inspection of the site to talk with women in the entertainment industry. The following summarizes their findings:i, Women are directly engaged in the entertainment industry but are not officially registered ii, There are young girls working in the entertainment industry, some are unhealthy and malnourished iii, Women are very directly dependent on the base for their income iv, Women have a perception that they are often mistreated and exploited in the course of their work but they want the bases to remain in the country v. Women are staying in the entertainment industry as there are few opportunities to make money outside of this industry vi, Women come from the provinces as there are few economic oppor- tunities for them there vii, Some women have tried to leave the industry but have gone back as they were not abie to earn very much or could not get other work, as some have dependents this makes leaving the industry more difficult viii, Women do not have much in the way of savings ix. Women had a !ow estimation of their abilities and skills outside the industry and lacked confidence in them x. The educational standard achieved was generally low xi, Some women had confidence in their abilities as dancers or singers and would like to pursue @ career in these areas xii, Women have drug or alcohol problems xiii, The women were aware that many people think of them as ‘the scum of society’ and had problems with their own self image. Evidently, a comprehensive Research Survey to verify these initial findings has to be undertaken in the early part of the Study. 1.3.2 Age and numbers of respondents for the Research Survey The ocular inspection clarified that there are girls working in the entertainment industry who are below the legal age for registration as hospitality workers, they will be affected by the withdrawal of foreign personnel. UNDERSTANDING: These very initial findings affect the scope of the work as, the Study will have to address the situation of girls in the industry who are below legal age for registration but old enough to have ‘completed’ elementary schco!, from around 13 years of age. That is, do not have to compulsorly go to school.