Youth ask for 10% off on space rental

CEBU, Philippines - The student and youth sector in Cebu asked congressmen for a 10 percent discount in rental of boarding houses, bed spaces, dormitories and lodging houses during yesterday’s public hearing of the proposed Rent Control Act of 2009 at the Provincial Capitol. 

Renil Oliva, Chairman of Kabataang Pinoy, said a discount in the rent of dwelling units would greatly help students, especially those coming from the provinces.

Oliva said that at present, the least rate for boarding houses ranges from P1, 200 to P1,500 which if increased, would definitely put additional burden to the students, as well as their families.

Yesterday’s public hearing for House Bill 5849 and House Bill 5703 was conducted by the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, headed by committee chairman Rodolfo Valencia and three of the authors of the bill- Representatives Prospero Nograles, Teodoro Casiño and Raul del Mar.

Provisions of HB 5849 and HB 5703 will compose the Rent Control Act.

HB 5073 or the act regulating the rental of certain residential units, covers all house units, apartments and other dwelling places including boarding houses, dormitories, rooms and bed spaces offered for rent. It focuses on regulating rental rates in urban centers.

Provisions of the bill was based on the 2000 study on private rental housing, which showed that in that year, there were about 1.3 million families renting in urban areas while only 280,000 live in rural areas.

While practically similar in purpose to HB 5073, HB 5489 provides that rent in urban cities should not exceed P15,000 while rent in rural areas should not exceed P8,000 for a period of two years after the proposal becomes a law. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)