By MONTESA GRINO-CAOYONAN

Boarding houses abound in Iloilo City but not all of them have the permit to operate.

Thus, the Boarding House Commission (BHC) has started to inspect them.

Each 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 Chairman Marietta Geremias said the teams have just finished inspecting 57 houses in Arevalo district.

She said both registered and unregistered boarding houses are subject of their inspection.

Owners of boarding houses found without business permits were advised to secure such while those with renewed permits were asked to renew if they don’t want to face closure.

There were 106 registered boarding houses that renewed their permits during the first quarter of this year.

The BHC is also monitoring the posting of “Wanted Boarders” signage outside of each boarding house. They also check for cleanliness, safety, functioning fire exits and water facilities, among others.

They will prioritize those who failed to renew their permits and those who are operating illegally.

About 478 boarding houses were registered last year out of the 1,100 that was inspected.

Of the number, 130 boarding houses operate in Jaro district; City Proper, 122, La Paz, 115; Arevalo, 60; Mandurriao, 26; and Molo, 32.

“Erring owners will be given warnings as well as due process,” Geremias said.

She added that once caught, illegal boarding houses will be closed and permits suspended.

The BHC’s mandate was made through the city government’s Ordinance No. 93-430 which regulates these boarding houses. They include houses for rent, lodging houses, rooms for rent, bed space, dormitories, and apartments, including real state lessors.

The BHC was created to legally enforce the city ordinance and impose penalties to erring owners.

Part also of the commission’s tasks is to check if these boarding houses passed the standard requirements.

The ordinance was amended in 2001 and this year, another amendment is being proposed to effectively impose some of its provisions.

The proposed amendment was referred to the chairmanship of City Councilor Joshua Alim, as majority leader and committee on rules.*