Council wants erring boarding houses sued

The city council wants the city attorney's office to take legal action against owners of around 40 boarding and lodging houses in the city operating without securing the necessary permits.

In a report dated August 25, the city's joint inspection team found out that some 40 boarding and lodging houses lack any or all of the permits from the mayor's office, office of the building official, and city fire and health departments.

This was based on an inspection conducted in the entire month of July.

In a recent development, Elisa Gozun, officer in charge of the business permit section, revealed that of the total 209 boarding and lodging houses in the city, there are 115 that did not comply with the necessary permits.

She said written notices and demand letters were already sent to the owners of these structures.

An inspection was conducted in pursuant to city council Resolution No. 15-292 dated July 27, directing the city's joint inspection team to conduct an ocular inspection of all the boarding and lodging houses located within the vicinity of all the schools, colleges and universities in the city.

The city council during its regular session last Wednesday referred the matter to the city legal office for appropriate action. - Cristina C. Birondo