ILOILO City – For failing to comply with pertinent requirements, more than a hundred boardinghouses, apartments and dormitories here have been issued with notices of violation by the Iloilo City Boarding House Commission (BHC). There are an estimated 2,500 boardinghouses, apartments and dormitories in this southern city.
A total of 197 boardinghouses were served with first notices while 48 others got second notices as of June 4, BHC records showed.
The inspection team of BHC discovered that requirements stipulated in Regulation Ordinance 2000-01 (the ordinance regulating the operation of boardinghouses, apartments and dormitories) were not met, according to commission head Ben Palma.
Under the ordinance, “no person shall own, keep, maintain, operate or conduct any house or place for accommodation of boarders or housing boarders or bed-spacers for compensation or rent without having first obtained a Mayor’s Permit, Sanitary Permit, Fire Safety Inspection Permit and paying other taxes, fees or charges.”
“The first and second notices of violation serve as warning. Once they are issued with a third notice of violation and they still fail meet the requirements, we can close them down,” said Palma.
In fact, he revealed, 16 non-compliant boardinghouses voluntary closed down after being issued with final notices of violation.
As of June 4, the BHC had inspected 1,751 boardinghouses, apartments and dormitories. Of these, 1,481 had business permits while 270 had none.
Palma said 91 other boardinghouses and apartments were still processing all the requirements.
So far, the BHC had issued certification to 1,390 boardinghouses.
The BHC certificate is issued if the owners have secured a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate from the Bureau of Fire and Protection, Sanitary Permit to Operate from the City Health Office, and Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit from the Business Permit and Licensing Office.
“Our composite inspection team has representatives from the City Engineer’s Office and Bureau of Fire and Protection. The City Health Office conducts its own separate inspection,” said Palma.
The BHC is stepping up its inspection now that classes have resumed. Its goal is to ensure the safety of boarders./PN
you should have done inspection a few months before the school season starts so owners have a chance to fix things.