Press Release
September 20, 2019

LAPID WANTS TO ESTABLISH A STUDENT HOUSING REGISTRY IN EVERY CITY AND MUNICIPALITY IN THE COUNTRY

Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid is pushing to regulate student housing entities by establishing a Student Housing Registry that will ensure the welfare, safety and security of students who avail of on-campus or off-campus housing accommodations.

According to Lapid, the lack of affordable and decent housing accommodations for students is one of the major problems faced by the education sector.

"Ngayon na libre na ang tuition sa ating mga SUCs, nararapat lamang na tuunan naman natin ng pansin ang kakulangan ng maayos na mga matitirahan para sa ating mga estudyante," Lapid said.

Lapid filed Senate Bill No. 1036 mandating every city and municipality in the country 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 housing accommodations to students with an occupancy capacity of at least three persons, operated by the government or private schools and universities.

The registry shall contain the names of the owners of the student 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.

The bill also seeks to ensure the compliance of these 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," Lapid said.

Under the proposed measure, 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 inspection shall cause the automatic revocation of the business permit of the violating entity or the imposition of a fine nots exceeding P50,000.

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