ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jerry Treñas has ordered the Office of the Building Official (OBO), the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), and the Boarding House Commission to step up the inspection of boarding houses following a fire here that killed two persons here recently.
AN aerial photo of the February 18 fire in Barangay San Nicolas, La Paz, Iloilo City where two people died. (Iloilo City DRRMO/USAR)
“They are continuously doing inspections of all boarding houses,” said Treñas in a statement on Wednesday, February 21.
Several boarding houses damaged by the February 18 fire in Barangay San Nicolas, La Paz District reportedly did not have the necessary permits.
It included the boarding house where 26-year-old call center agent Lynrose Sobretodo of Pototan, Iloilo and 21-year-old college student Renz Aguilar of Concepcion, Iloilo died.
The victims were trapped on the third floor of their boarding house when the fire occurred.
Barangay San Nicolas has many boarding houses as it is walking distance to two state universities and two private colleges.
Treñas told boarding houses to comply with regulations. “Closure orders will be issued,” he warned violators.