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Republic of the Philippi BEeEve
‘epublic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES — DATE: 5 AUG 2016
Quezon City Toe B\gi3)
{wan

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Section STR TION UNIT

of X SERVICE

- 32 BILLS
HOUSE BILLNo,_ 882

Introduced by Honorable Rosenda Ann Ocampo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote
their physical, moral, spiritual and intellectual well-being.

Dormitories and boarding houses have been providing temporary shelter to millions
of students who have to live away from their families to pursue their studies. However, there
are reports showing that some dormitories and boarding houses are operating despite failure
to comply with health, safety and structural standards.

It has been observed that most of these dormitories and boarding houses, especially
those in the University belt area in Manila, are in dilapidated, unsanitary and unsafe
conditions. Owners and operators of these dormitories and boarding houses fail to provide
their boarders and occupants with basic facilities such as adequate fire protection, lighting
and electricity, proper ventilation and spacing and study area.

On May 26, 2013, Manila Bulletin reported that the Cebu City Fire Department
started inspecting boarding houses and dormitories to ensure that these properties are in
compliance with the Fire Safety Code of the Philippines. The inspection is part of the city’s
preparation for the opening of classes. Thousands of college students from Visayan and
Mindanao provinces are expected to flock to the city to study in universities and colleges
here. Boarding houses and dormitories abound in the city but fire officials said a number of
these facilities are fire hazards and do not have permits to operate, prompting city agencies to
conduct the inspection.

And on June 6, 2013, Sunstar Cebu reported that the region’s students population is
expected to increase between two and four percent from last year’s figures, said Dr. Marcial
Degamo, DepEd 7 Quality Assurance and Accountability Division chief.

ENT ATIVES:



There is an urgent need to address this concern as millions of students are back in
schools. It is therefore imperative that measures be adopted to provide safe, clean and
convenient accommodation to our students to promote their educational, social and cultural
development.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

IDA ANN M. OVAMPO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Section

a 2
HOUSE BILL No, 88 24

Introduced by Honorable Rosenda Ann Ocampo

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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote and improve the condition of those living in dormitories and boarding houses.
‘Towards this end, the State shall adopt a national standard for the operation and maintenance
of dormitories and boarding houses to make these facilities conducive to living and learning.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following shall mean:

a. Dormitory or boarding house - any house or building or portion thereof in
which six (6) or more persons may be regularly accepted as boarders on a
daily, weekly or monthly basis;

b. Dormitory or boarding house helpers - shall refer to cooks, food handlers,
helpers who handle the food services for the boarders and any other persons
who shall assist the owners of boarding houses or dormitories in housing
maintenance and similar household chores.

SECTION 3. License from Local Governments. —\t 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/municipal government. The license which shall be posted in a


conspicuous place shall specify the number of persons allowed to dwell or board in every
dormitory or boarding house.

SECTION 4. Classes of Dormitories and Boarding Houses. — For purposes of this
Act, dormitories and boarding house shall have the following classifications:

A, Class A — dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations for
fifty (50) boarders or more;

B. Class B — dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations for
thirty (30) but less fifty (50) boarders;

C. Class C — dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations for
twenty (20) but not fess than thirty (30) boarders; and

D. Class D — dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations for
more than five (5) but less than twenty (20) boarders.

SECTION 5. Minimum Dormitory or Boarding House Rentals. — The Local
Government Units (LGUs), through their respective Sanggunians shall fix the minimum
monthly boarding rentals taking into considerations the following factors:

(a) situs of the dormitory and boarding house, whether urban or rural areas;
(b) classification of the dormitory or boarding house;

(©) facilities and premises, offered;

(a) number of boarders allowed in each room;

(©) construction of the building; and

(8) such other factors which may be deemed necessary under the circumstances.

In the absence of any agreement for the payment or additional expenses for electric,
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,
telephone and water bills.

SECTION 6. Rental Discounts to Students Boarders. — All boarding houses and
dormitories 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.

SECTION 7. Building Type for Dormitories and Boarding Houses. - Any three-
storey 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-storey to be
used for said purpose must be of reinforced concrete structural framing covered with
concrete. Provided, however, that existing three-storey buildings presently maintained as
boarding houses or dormitories shall be exempted from the requirements of this section:
Provided, further, that if more than fifty percent(50%) of such buildings are repaired or
altered, the requirements herein provided shall be complied with. Buildings accommodating



less than one hundred (100) persons shal! not exceed three-storey in height or 12 meters if the
structure thereof is non-fireproof but in no case lower in quality than that of a frame structure.

SECTION 8. Dormitory and Boarding House Helpers. ~ The owners and operators
of dormitories or boarding house shall employ at least one helper for every fifty (50) boarders
or occupants for the proper maintenance of the said dormitories or boarding houses.

SECTION 9, Lighting and Electrical Facilities. — All rooms, passageways and other
parts of the premises especially those intended for reading and studying purposes shall be
properly and adequately lighted by natural or artificial means or both in consonance with the
standards of illumination practices.

SECTION 10. Ventilation and Spacing. — All buildings erected or repaired for use as
boarding houses or dormitories shall have rooms with adequate ventilation and enough space
for comfort. All bedrooms shall have a window. Beds shall be arranged in such manner as
would provide adequate space to give the boarders enough room for mobility.

SECTION 11. Sanitary Facilities. - All dormitories and boarding houses shall
provide a lavatory for every ten boarders and such other necessary sanitary facilities as may
be determined by the Local Government Unit where such dwelling houses are located.

SECTION 12. Fire Protection Facilities. — Dormitories and Boarding houses shall
provide fire escapes and other firefighting facilities including but not limited to fire
extinguishers and hose cabinet.

SECTION 13. Study Room. - Dormitories or boarding houses having 20 or more
boarders shall provide a study room for general use by the persons dwelling on the same.

SECTION 14. First Aid. — Every Owner shall maintain in his boarding house or
dormitory such basic first-aid medicine and equipment as may be necessary for emergency
purposes.

SECTION 15. Garbage Receptacles. — All boarding houses or dormitories shall
provide garbage receptacles to be disposed daily.

SECTION 16. Treatment of Boarders. — All boarders shall be treated in a just and
humane manner. In no case shall physical violence and other ignominious act be inflicted
upon boarders.

SECTION 17. Termination Notice. — If a period is fixed for the lease of a room in
the boarding house or similar dwelling units, neither the boarding house owner nor the
boarder may terminate the contract before the expiration of the term, except for a just cause.
If the boarder is unjustly ejected from the boarding house, he or she shall be paid damages
equivalent to one-half month rental, If the boarder leaves without justifiable reasons and


without proper notice, he/she shall forfeit any deposit made on rentals not exceeding fifteen
days. If the duration of the stay in the boarding house is not determined by contract or by
agreement of the parties, the boarding house owner or the boarder may give notice to
terminate the same at least five (5) days before the intended date thereof.

SECTION 18. Duty of Boarding or Dormitory Owners. — All owners of boarding
houses and dormitories shall carry out the provisions of this Act in good faith. Unless there is
any compelling reason, in no case shall a dormitory or boarding house owner deny the
application of a student,

SECTION 19. License Fees. — All local government units, through their respective
Sanggunian, shall fix the annual license fees to be imposed on boarding houses and
dormitories considering the classification mentioned above, the rentals paid by boarders and
other necessary considerations.

SECTION 20. Local Ordinance as Necessary Rules and Regulation. — Local
Government units through their respective Sanggunian shall pass an ordinance providing for
the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 21. 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 all 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 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.

SECTION 22. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby
shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 23. Repeating Clause. — Ail laws, orders, rules, or regulations which are
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed
accordingly.

SECTION 24. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at feast two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.