The Iloilo City Boarding House Commission (BHC) recently advised the public, when looking into boarding houses, apartments, and dormitories, to ensure they are properly certified by the Iloilo City Hall.
With the 2019-2020 academic year opening recently for public schools, many are currently looking into dorms and similar housing facilities.
“To all students, parents, and employees working in the city looking for a place to stay, the first thing you should ask the owners of boarding houses, apartments, or dormitories is for their BHC certification,” explained HC chairman Ben Palma. “[It means] they have complied with the necessary permits required by the city.”
According to BHC data, the agency has inspected 1,751 Iloilo City boarding houses, apartments, and dormitories; and issued 1,481 business permits. Meanwhile, another 1,390 certifications have been issued to boarding houses, apartments, and dormitories.
Last month, the Bacolod City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) began inspecting boarding houses across the city.
BFP-Bacolod Fire Marshal, Fire Chief Inspector Publio Ploteña, said he required all fire substation commanders in the city to submit a list of the boarding houses and dormitories they visited in their respective areas.
During “Brigada Eskwela” inspections, they noted several violations by establishment owners such as those converting certain spaces in order to house tenants.
BFP officials also noticed a lack of fire exits, evacuation signage, and fire extinguishers./WDJ