S E N A T E  
S. B. NO: 
Introduced by Senate President Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Dormitories and boarding-houses have been providing temporary shelter 
to thousands of transients, employees, and students who have to live away 
from their parents and loved ones in order to pursue their respective 
endeavors. 
It has been observed, however, that the living conditions in many 
dormitories or lodging houses are far below normal living standards. Despite 
efforts to encourage and promote better facilities at reasonable rates, the 
present situation of those who live in sub-standard dormitories and boarding 
houses still needs immediate attention and action. 
This bill therefore seeks to regulate the operation and maintenance of 
dormitories and boarding houses with the end in view of improving'the 
situation of those who have been living in these places. 
Under the proposed measure, the owners and operators of dormitories 
and boarding houses shall be required to provide their boarders and occupants 
basic facilities such as lighting and electrical, ventilation and spacing, sanitary, 
fire protection, study room, and first aid. The bill also seeks to address the 
concerns of students by giving them rental discounts and by requiring owners 
of dormitories and boarding house to give them human treatment. 
It is hoped that the living conditions of boarders, particularly of students 
boarders, will greatly improve. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
Senate Presi ent 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
"_ 
1 
I 
K O /  -8 ?!j ' t  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senate President Manny Villar 
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 pdlicy 
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. 
SEC. 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; 
SEC. 3. 
License from Local Governments. - 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/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. 
SEC. 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 than fifty (50) boarders; 
c. Class C - dormitories and boarding houses providing accommodations 
for twenty (20) but not less 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. 
SEC. 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 consideration the following 
factors: 
a. situs of the dormitory and 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 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. 
SEC. 6. 
Rental Discounts to Student 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. 
SEC. 7. 
Building Type for Dormitories and Boarding Houses. Any 
three-storey building erected as a dormitory or boarding house for the 
accommodatioh of one hundred (100) persons or any building or section of 
building exceeding three storeys 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 that fifty percent (500/,) of such buildings. are 
repaired or altered, the requirements herein provided shall be complied with. 
Buildings accommodating less than 100 persons shall not exceed thee 
storeys 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. 
SEC. 8. 
Dormitory and Boarding House Helpers. - The owners and 
operators of dormitories or boarding houses shall employ at least one helper for 
every fifty (50) boarders or occupants for the proper maintenance of the said 
dormitories or boarding houses. 
SEC. 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. 
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SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 15. Garbage Receptacles. All boarding houses or dormitories 
shall provide garbage receptacles to be disposed daily. 
SEC. 16. Treatment of Boarders. All boarders shall be treated in a 
just and human manner. In no case shall physical violence and other 
ignominious a@ be inflicted upon boarders. 
SEC. 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 
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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 orathe 
boarder may give notice to terminate the same at least five (5) days before the 
intended date thereof. 
SEC. 18. Duty of Boarding House or Dormitory Owners. All owners 
of boarding hopses 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 20. Local Ordinance as Necessary Rules and Regulations. . 
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. 
SEC. 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,OOO) nor more than ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO) or both, 
at the discretion of the Court. 
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SEC. 22. 
Separability Clause. If for any reason , any section or 
provisions of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid the other sections 
or provisions hereof not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force 
and effect. 
SEC. 23 
Repealing Clause. 
Any law, act, decree, order' or 
regulation inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 24. Effectivity. 
This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its c6mplete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two(2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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