Solon Wants to Standardize Dorms, Boarding Houses to Protect Students,Tenants

Students and tenants may soon say goodbye to decrepit and structurally-questionable dormitories and boarding houses.

Rep. Rolando G. Andaya Jr. (1st District, Camarines Sur) has filed House Bill 5716, which seeks to standardize the operation and maintenance of boarding houses and dormitories.

Andaya said the safety and general welfare of tenants is the State’s paramount concern as it recognizes that the students’ holistic well-being is affected by their living conditions.

“As such, it is therefore necessary that the physical and environmental components of these temporary dwellings are safe, healthful and sanitary, and have amenities conducive to learning and living,” Andaya said.

Under the bill, it shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, maintain or operate any dormitory or boarding house without first obtaining a license from the city or municipal government.

It further states that the license, which shall be renewed annually, shall be posted in a conspicuous place and shall specify the number of persons allowed to dwell or board in each dormitory or boarding house.

Likewise, it is mandated under the measure that all local government units (LGUs), through their respective Sanggunian, shall fix the annual license fees to be imposed on dormitories or boarding houses based on classification enumerated under this Act as well as fix the minimum monthly boarding rentals.

The proposal also requires dormitories and boarding houses to maintain a register of boarders specifying the name, age, sex, address, school and course studied, together with the curriculum year; or place and address for those working, and to include name, address and contact numbers or parents or guardians for minors.

The bill tasks the owners or landlords/ladies to keep a copy of the written permission or contract with parents of minors to board in such boarding house/dormitory. This registry shall record the days, month or years of the stay of the boarders.

All dormitories and boarding house shall give a discount of 10 percent for all students provided they present school registration cards or similar discounts to serve as proof thereof.

The bill requires dormitories and boarding houses to comply with the minimum requirements set forth by the National Building Code and Fire Code of the Philippines and to be regularly inspected up by local authorities before they are issued license to operate.

Andaya proposed that the owners and operators of dormitories and boarding houses should employ at least one helper for every 20 boarders or occupants for the proper maintenance of the said dormitories and boarding houses.

He added that the owners and operators of dormitories and boarding houses should be responsible for the security and safety of boarders and to treat all boarders in a just and humane manner.

On the provision on termination notice, the bill states that if a period is foxed for the lease of a room in the dormitory or boarding house, neither the owner nor the boarder may terminate the contract before the expiration of the term, except for a just cause.

On the other hand, if the boarder is unjustly ejected from the boarding house or dormitory, he or she shall be paid damages equivalent to one-month rental but if he or she leaves without justifiable reasons and without proper notice, the boarder shall forfeit any deposit made on rentals equivalent to one month.

Andaya said the approval of this bill should provide the clarity around the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and operators when disputes occur.

(Media Relations Service, Public Relations and Information Bureau, House of Representative)