Only 63 boarding houses have permits
Only 63 boarding houses in Iloilo City have business permits and permission to operate, according to the Boarding House Commission.
BHC Head Marieta Geremias said she will summon all owners of boarding houses without permits after inspecting 261 boarding houses and found that only more than 60 have secured permits,
She said the owners of the remaining 198 boarding houses will be summoned by the BHC for an inquiry and they will also be asked to process their business permits to avoid stiff penalties.
The processing only takes two to three days, and even faster for renewal.
The BHC will also assist the boarding house owners in processing their permits, Geremias said.
The list of owners who refuse to comply will be submitted to the City Legal Office, which will decide on the case that will be filed against the violators.
The BHC has already finished inspecting boarding houses in three districts –
City Proper, Jaro and Molo. Inspection in Arevalo, Lapuz, La Paz and Mandurriao districts will continue before the end of July.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has ordered the BHC to thoroughly check all the boarding houses, especially in the barangays, stressing that these boarding houses should be fire-hazard free.
Boarding houses must have fire exits and proper electrical wirings and ventilation.