Those w/out permits, board and lodging houses ordered to stop operation

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A total of 33 board and lodging houses in the city were issued cease and desist orders in 2012, after these were found to be operating without permits from the government, said City Administrator William Ablong.

Seventeen of these houses have however obtained permits but 16 others have their applications for permits still being processed until now.

Ablong said City Hall records showed that, as of August 1 this year, a total of 170 board and lodging houses were inspected between 2011 and 2012. And, as of last count this year, a total of 111 have acquired business permits, he said.

In the case of apartments, a total of 444 are operating in the city with licenses while six are still processing their business permits and complying with requirements of the City Engineer's Office, Ablong said.

Ablong assured that the city government will continue to inspect board and lodging houses to ensure that they met the safety standards as provided by law.

The issue on boarding houses operating without a permit and not passing safety inspection recently surfaced after two boarding houses were razed in a fire that left two college students injured. — (FREEMAN)