ILOILO CITY, Feb. 27 -- The city government here has intensified its crackdown on boarding houses without permits to ensure they comply with building regulations and ensure the safety of tenants.

Mayor Jerry Trenas, in a memorandum on Tuesday, reminded barangay officials to submit a list of boarding houses, whether or not they have permits from the city hall for verification by the Office of the Building Official (OBO) and the Boarding House Commission (BHC).

To date, 52 boarding houses have been ordered closed due to a lack of permits in the Mandurriao, La Paz, and Jaro districts.

"I just signed 12 more closure orders for boarding houses without business permits," Trenas said.

OBO head Mavi Gustilo, during their meeting Monday aftern...