‘CHECK BEFORE YOU RENT’: 9 boarding houses shuttered, 925 have no permits

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

At least nine boarding houses have been shut down, and 925 others were flagged for operating without permits in Iloilo City, as the Boarding House Commission intensifies its crackdown on non-compliant accommodations.

As of June 30, the commission reported that three of the closed establishments were in La Paz, three in Lapuz, and one each in the City Proper, Arevalo, and Molo.

A total of 2,144 boarding houses, apartments, and dormitories across the city have been inspected.

Of these, only 1,199 had valid business permits.

Mandurriao had the most unpermitted establishments with 234, followed by Jaro with 203, La Paz with 157, Arevalo with 109, Molo with 87, City Proper with 86, and Lapuz with 49.

Under City Ordinance No. 2000-01, all establishments housing boarders or bedspacers must first secure a business permit from the Business Permits and Licensing Division, a sanitary permit from the City Health Office, and a fire safety inspection certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Boarding House Commission head Rammy Guintibano said the city is not only cracking down on violators but also offering help to operators struggling to comply with requirements.

He advised boarders to choose only accredited accommodations to ensure their safety and encouraged those with concerns to report issues or file complaints.

“To boarders looking for a place to stay, they should go to boarding houses that are operating legally for their own security,” he said.

“If owners are having difficulty processing the requirements, we’ll find someone to assist them. If there are complaints about where they are staying, we are here. The government will come to them,” he added.

Residents and prospective tenants are urged to report unlicensed boarding houses to the commission.

Commission data showed that the number of boarding house occupants in Iloilo City has reached 18,525 this year.

Despite the demand, Guintibano stressed that even facilities with only a few tenants must undergo proper permitting.

The commission is exploring a partnership with the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force to post standardized permit signage—including no-smoking reminders—in visible areas of each establishment.