NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
F/rst Regular Session
S. No.
SENATE
801
tejjl g>eimtc
of iljc
*22 JUL25 A10 31
RliCEIVHD 8
Introduced by Sc nator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED NATIONAL POLICY 
AND PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF 
DORMITORIES AND BOARDING HOUSES, PROVIDING PENALTIES 
THEREt-OR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
A student's residential setting is an important aspect of their education and 
development. Staying at a dorm or a boarding house is usually a student's option 
when their residence is far away from the educational institution they are attending. 
The proximity to the college or university ensures that students arrive on time for 
their classes and allows for the reduction of travel time which can be used for study 
or for extracurricular activities.
While in-campus dormitories have rules and guidelines, many of the privately- 
owned dormitories and boarding houses may be operating without such regulations 
in place, thus compromising the privacy, safety, and securit' of their place and their 
tenants. While a good number of dormitories and boarding houses provide 
adequate facilities needed by students for their education and health, others fail to 
do this and Instead offer crude spaces barely comfortable for resting and studying. 
Students who have limited budgets for housing have to make do with dormitories 
and boarding houses which cannoi provide the optimum environment for students' 
learning and safety.
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This measure seeks to establish a national policy and program guidelines for 
the operation and maintenance of dormitories and boarding houses that are 
affordable, clean, safe, and conducive to learning.
A version of this bill was filed by Senator Manny Vlllar during the 15th 
Congress. This representation has included a new provision requiring dormitories 
and boarding houses to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras In their 
vicinity.
The Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
£
OY E3ERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
s. No. 801
Senate
of tiK’ ^rrrcfnrn
*22 JUL25 AlO 31
Introduced by Senator linggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED NATIONAL POLICY 
AND PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF 
DORMITORIES AND BOARDING HOUSES, PROVIDING PENALTIES 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
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to promote and improve the condition of those living In dormitories and boarding
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houses. Towards this end, the State shall adopt a national standard for the
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operation and maintenance of dormitories and boarding houses to make these
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facilities conducive to living and learning.
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Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act,
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a. Dormitory or boarding house refers to a house or building or portion thereof
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In which six (6) or more persons may be regularly accepted as boarders on a
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daily, weekly, or monthly basis, and
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b. Dormitory or House Parent refers to an individual responsible for the
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management and enforcement of rules of the dormitory or boarding house,
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ensuring Its safety and security, as well as the well-being of dormers and
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boarders.
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Sec. 3. License from Local Government Units. - It shall be unlawful for
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any person to own, keep, maintain, or operate any dormitory or boarding house
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without first obtaining a license from the city or municipal government. The license
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which shall be posted in a conspicuous place shall specify the number of persons 
allowed to dorm or board In every dormitory or boarding house.
Sec. 4. C/asses of Dormitories and Boarding Houser. - For purposes of this 
Act, dormitories and boarding houses shall have the following classifications:
a. Class A - dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations for fifty 
(50) dormers and/or boarders or more;
b. Class B - dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations for 
thirty (30) but iess than fifty (50) dormers and/or boarders;
c. Class C - dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations for 
twenty (20) but less than thirty (30) dormers and/or boarders; and
d. Class D - dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations for 
more than five (5) but less than twenty (20) dormers and/or boarders.
Sec. 5. Minimum Dormitory or Boarding House Rentais. - The Local 
Government Units (LGUs), through their respective Sanggunian, shall set the 
minimum monthly boarding rentals taking into consideration the following factors:
a. site of the dormitory or boarding house, whether urban or rural areas;
b. classification of the dormitory or boarding house;
c. facilities and premises offered;
d. number of boarders allowed in each room;
e. construction of the building; and
f. such other factors wi lich may be deemed necessary under the circumstances.
In the absence of any agreement for the payment or additional expenses for
electric, internet, telephone and water utility bills, the minimum boarding house 
rental prescribed under this Section shall be the basic rentals which shall be paid to 
the owner inclusive of electric, internet, telephone and water bills.
Sec. 6. Rental Discounts to Students. - All dormitories and boarding houses 
shall give a discount of ten percent (10%) for all students. Students shall be 
required to present school registration cards or similar documents to serve as proof 
thereof.
Sec. 7. Buiiding Type for Dormitories and Boarding Houses. - Any three-story 
building erected as a dormitory or boarding house for the accommodation of one 
hundred (100) persons or any building or section of building exceeding three stories


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to be used for said purpose, must be or reinforced concrete structural framing
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covered with concrete; Provided, That existing three-storey buildings presently
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maintained as dormitories or boarding houses shall be exempted from the
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requirements of this Section; Provided/ further, That If more than fifty percent
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(50%) of such buildings are repaired or altered, the requirements herein provided
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shall be complied with. Building accommodating less than one hundred (100)
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persons shall not exceed three-story in height or twelve (12) meters if the structure
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thereof is non-fireproof but in no case lower in quality than that of a frame
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structure.
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Provisions must be in place to allow dormitories and boarding houses to be
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accessible to students with disabilities.
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Sac. 8. 
Dormitory or House Parent - The owners and operators of
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dormitories or boarding houses shall employ at least one (1) Dormitory or House
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Parent for every fifty (50) dormers and/or boarders for the proper maintenance of
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the said dormitories or boarding houses.
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Sec. 9. Lighting and Eiectricai Faciiities. - All rooms, passageways, and other
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parts of the premises especially those intended for reading and studying purposes
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shall be properly and adequately lit by natural or artificial means or both in
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consonance with the standards of illumination practices.
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Sec. 10. Ventiiation and Spacing. - All buildings erected or repaired for use as
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dormitories or boarding houses shall have rooms with adequate ventilation and
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enough space for comfort. All bedrooms shall have a window and beds shall be
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arranged in such manner as would provide adequate space to give the boarders
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enough room for mobility.
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Sec. 11. Sanitary Faciiities. - All dormitories and boarding houses shall
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provide a lavatory for every ten (10) dormers and/or boarders and such other
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necessary sanitary facilities as may be determined by the LGU where such dwelling
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houses are located.
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Sec. 12. Fire Protection Faciiities. - Dormitories and boarding houses shall
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provide fire escapes and other firefighting facilities, including but not limited to fire
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extinguishers and hose cabinet.


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Sec. 13. Study Room. - Dormitories and boarding houses having twenty (20)
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or more dormers and/or boarders shall provide a study room for general use by the
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persons dwelling on the same.
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Sec. 14. First Aid. - Every owner shall maintain In the dormitory and/or
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boarding house such basic first aid medicine and equipment as may be necessary for
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emergency purposes.
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Sac. 15. Garbage Receptacles. ^ All dormitories and boarding houses shall
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provide garbage receptacles to be disposed daily.
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Sec. 16. Ciosed-Circuit Teievision (CCTV) Cameras. - All dormitories and
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boarding houses shall install closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) cameras In strategic
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areas in their vicinity. Such CCTV cameras are intended to prevent and address
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wrongdoings and crimes, and not, in any way, to intrude into the privacy of the
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tenants. Said CCTV cameras should be operational 24/7 and recordings should be
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kept in file for at least one (1) year.
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Sec. 17. Treatment of Dormers and Boarders. - All dormers and boarders
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shall be treated In just and humane manner. In no case shall physical violence and
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other ignominious act shall be inflicted upon them.
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Sec. 18. Termination Notice. - If a period is fixed for the lease of a room in
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the dormitory or boarding house, neither the owner nor the dormer and/or boarder
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may terminate the contract before the expiration of the term, except for a just
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cause. If the dorriier or boarder is unjustly ejected from the dormitory or boarding
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house, he or she shall be paid damages equivalent to a half month rental. If the
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boarder leaves without justifiable reasons and without proper notice, he or she shall
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forfeit any deposit made on rentals not exceeding fifteen (15) days. If the duration
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of the stay in the boarding house 's not determined by con’ ract or by agreement of
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the parties, the boarding house owner or the boarder may give notice to terminate
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the same at least five (5) days before the intended date thereof.
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Sec. 19. Duty of Dormitory or Boarding House Owners. - All owners of
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dormitories and boarding houses and shall carry out the provisions of this Act in
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good faith. Unless there is any compelling reason, in no case shall a dormitory or
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boarding house owner deny the application of a student.


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Sec. 20. License Fees. - All local government units, through their respective 
Sanggunian, shall fix the annual license fees to be imposed on dormitories and 
boarding houses considering the classification mentioned above, the rentais paid by 
boarders and other necessary considerations.
Sec. 21. Local Ordinance as Necessary Rules and Regulations. - LGUs 
through their respective Sanggunian shall pass an ordinance providing for the 
necessa:y rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 22. Penalty. - In case of violation of any of the provisions of this Act, 
the license and permit to operate the dormitory or boarding house and al! sums paid 
therefore shall, after due notice and hearing, be revoked and forfeited, and any 
person responsible for such violation shall be punished with imprisonment for a 
period not exceeding six (6) months or a fine not less than Five Thousand Pesos 
(P5,000.00) nor more than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) or both, at the 
discretion of the Court.
Sec. 23. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the crher parts or provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, rules or regulations which are 
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or 
repealed accordingly.
Sec. 25. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,