BHC starts inspection on boarding houses in city
Iloilo City’s Boarding House Commission (BHC) has started inspecting boarding houses to ensure that they are conducive for students who are expected to flood the city in the next two weeks.
The inspection team is composed of personnel from BHC, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), City Engineer’s Office (CEO), City Health Office (CHO), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
BHC chair Marietta Geremias said three teams conduct the inspections on areas where boarding houses abound. Initially, one team was deployed to Brgy. Villa Anita in city proper. The other two teams were tasked to inspect in Jaro district particularly in barangays San Jose and Lopez Jaena.
She said they are conducting regular inspections every morning of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Geremias said that both registered and unregistered boarding houses are subject of their inspection.
Presently, there are 280 registered boarding houses here that were able to renew their permits to operate.
Geremias said they make sure that boarding house owners had complied with all the requirements set to them by the commission.
Aside from making sure that the boarding houses have permits, the BHC is also tasked to make sure that there is a signage WANTED: BOARDERS outside the boarding houses, clean areas, safe, have functioning fire exits and water facilities, among others.
Geremias added they are also keeping watch on boarding houses that failed to renew their permits and those that are operating illegally.
“Erring owners will be given warnings,” Geremias stressed.
She also said illegal boarding houses will be closed and their permits suspended once caught.
Aside from boarding houses, the BHC will also regulate houses for rent, lodging houses, rooms for rent, dormitories and apartments, including real estate lessors.
