Senate bill seeks creation of a registry for student housing entities

A bill seeking the establishment of a registry of all the student housing entities to ensure the welfare, safety, and security of students, regardless whether the student housing was on or off-campus, was filed by Senator Lito Lapid.

Under Senate Bill No. 1036, every city and municipality in the country would be required to set up a registry of all the student housing entities, including all dormitories, boarding houses, room-for-rent/bed-space businesses, apartments and other similar entities, which offer accommodations to students with an occupancy capacity of at least three persons, operated by the government or private schools and universities.

The Student Housing Registry shall contain the names of the owners of the housing entity, the names of the officers or building administrator of the business, contact information, address of the housing entity, proof of connection to water and electric utilities, as well as their rental rates.

Lapid explained that the bill seeks to ensure the compliance of the student housing entities with the building rules and regulations in the country, including the existence of fire exits and firefighting instruments as well as the structural integrity of the building in case of natural disasters.

“Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang batas na ito, bukod sa pagkakaroon ng database ng lahat ng mga dormitoryo o boarding house sa bawat munisipalidad, ay nais din nating tingnan ang kakayanan ng mga paupahan na ito na masiguro ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mga umuupang estudyante lalo na sa panahon ng sakuna,” he said.

Under the bill, a yearly inspection must be conducted by the local building official or the city/municipal engineer. A report based on this inspection shall then be endorsed to the local chief executive and be made available to the public.

Non-compliance with the registration requirement or refusal to allow an inspection would cause the automatic revocation of the business permit of the violating entity or the imposition of a fine not exceeding P50,000.

Lapid said the lack of affordable and decent housing accommodations for students was one of the major problems faced by the education sector.

“Ngayon na libre na ang tuition sa ating mga state universities and colleges, nararapat lamang na tuunan naman natin ng pansin ang kakulangan ng maayos na mga matitirahan para sa ating mga estudyante,” he said. — DVM, GMA News