A total of 898 boarding houses, apartments, and house for rents in Iloilo City are operating without business permits.

According to the records of the Boarding House Commission, since they began their operation in February 2025, Mandurriao District logs the most number of boarding houses sans business permits.

As of June 30, 2025, Mandurriao logged 234. Jaro District came in close with 203, followed by La Paz District with 157; 109 in Arevalo, 87 in Molo, 86 at the City Proper, and 49 in Lapuz.

According to the Local Government Unit, nine of these boarding houses were already closed for lack of business permits, and apparent failure to comply with the Fire Safety and Building Code.

“Nag-i-inspect sila all year round, hindi lang ngayon. Ngayon mas pina-intensify natin because balik-eskwela na ang mga estudyante natin,” the mayor’s spokesperson, Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal, said.

Erring operators of nearly 900 boarding houses and rental spaces were given seven days to comply with the requirements.

To recall, it was on February 2024 when a fire struck a boarding house in Barangay San Nicolas, La Paz where two boarders died.

The investigation on the incident rendered that the owner of the boarding house failed to secure permits.

Another boarding house owner in the said barangay sought the processing of business permit, citing the delay was due to costly fees, especially in occupancy and building permits at the Office of the Building Official (OBO).

“Magkano lang ang kita mo sa boarding house, konti lang naman. Hindi nga umaabot sa P20,000. Malaki, kaya nga nauubo sa babayaran sa OBO dahil sobrang taas,” alias “Lor,” a boarding house owner, said.

However, despite the cost, Leen Bangero, who operates a boarding house, said she made sure that she complies with the law, rather than face a closure order.

“Alam ko naman na sa huli, kung hindi mo makumpleto ang iyong requirements sa boarding house, baka ma-close ang iyong boarding house,” Bangero said.

According to the Business Permits and Licensing Division (BPLD), an OBO permit is necessary before a business permit could be issued.

The cost is approximately between P5,000 to P6,000.

The BPLD has advised parents and students to make sure that they dwell only in boarding houses with business permit.

“Dapat may fire exit dyan, merong mga clear na alley for emergency, tapos may specification ang mga hallway at bedrooms. Dapat may smoke alarm systems, may fire extinguisher,” said Norman Tabud, head of BPLD.