CONDITION OF BOARDING HOUSES OF BOHOL ISLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Leandro C. Torreon, Ma. Magdalena J. Bernales, Ed. D.,

and Romar B. Dinoy
___________________________________________________________________

ABSTRACT

The study was formulated with a focus on the survey of the boarding houses near the
premises of Bohol Island State University-Candijay Campus. This study was participated by 702
student boarders. The boarding houses were surveyed along four areas, namely: environmental
condition, health condition of boarders, safety and security, and community involvement.
Descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, percentages and weighted mean were used to
draw the demographic profile of the respondents and the different features of boarding houses.
Based on the demographic profile of the boarder respondents, most of them were female and
are within 19-20 age range. The researchers obtained the following substantial findings: (1)
majority of the boarding houses have a sufficient supply of water; (2) there is a particular
garbage storage area in the boarding house; (3) landlord attends immediately to any sick
boarder; (4) the boarding house is health-oriented and landlords strictly enforce the house rules
and regulations; and (5) curfew hours is strictly implemented in the community. It is concluded
that most of the boarding houses nearby the school site met the expectation of the boarders and
were very satisfied with the condition of their respective accommodation as the respondents
rated “Agree”. Moreover, it is recommended that there should be a regularly monitoring of the
conditions of the boarding houses done by the local government unit and the university to
ensure the safety of the student renters and meet the minimum housing standards.

INTRODUCTION

Students particularly those coming from the provinces stay in boarding houses or
dormitories which are considered temporary dwellings. Their living conditions in these dwellings
may result to beneficial and/ or prejudicial contributions to their holistic well-being. Boarding
house is a new style of home away from home for the boarders. This is a form of
accommodation where rent is collected for the use of a room or bed space, where facilities such
as kitchen, toilet and bathroom, and living areas may be shared.

In this setting, boarding house seekers usually ask for a list of boarding houses near the
university. However, in the absence of boarding house monitoring scheme, and an agreement
between the school and boarding house owner/operator, the university cannot suggest to
students a boarding house that is safe and conducive for learning.

These concerns are very common in the colleges and universities in the province of
Bohol specifically in Candijay where the Bohol Island State University located. There are more
than 1700 students enrolled at BISU Candijay Campus and most of them were coming from
neighboring towns of Alicia, Anda, Carlos P. Garcia (Pitogo), Duero, Garcia- Hernandez,
Guindulman, Jagna, Mabini, Pilar, Trinidad and Ubay. In order to minimize the expenses on
daily fare, they opted to stay in the barangay Cogtong where the school situated and stay at the
local boarding houses.

Corollary to the vision and mission, the university is responsive to the best interests of
every student. For this reason, the researchers conceptualized this study to map and identify
boarding houses with sound and good conditions to offer to students.
 OBJECTIVES

The main purpose of this study is to ascertain the status of the student boarders and
boarding houses nearby BISU-Candijay Campus during the 1 st semester of the academic year:
2013- 2014.

1. The demographic profile of the respondents in the following terms:

1.1 Age; and,
1.2 sex

2. The status of boarding houses as perceived by the student respondents in terms of:
2.1 Environmental condition;
2.2 health condition of boarders;
2.3 safety and security; and
2.4 community involvement

METHODOLOGY

The study used descriptive survey method which examines the conditions of the
boarding houses nearby the university. The features and services of the boarding houses were
also included in the study

Research local and Subjects

The participants of the study were the bonafide students of the Bohol Island State
University, Candijay Campus, currently renting on boarding house for not less than a year.
There were 29 boarding houses in Barangay Cogtong subjected under study.

Research Instrument

The present study utilizes a researcher-made questionnaire intended for the student
boarders. The said instruments consisted of two parts. The first part gathers information on the
demographic profile of the respondents. The second part was set to determine the perceptions
of the boarders on the basic features of their boarding houses.

Research Procedure

Upon the receipt of the approval, questionnaires were distributed to the respondents.
The respondents were assisted and were given sufficient time to answer the questionnaires.
The researchers collated the answered questionnaires. The collated data were tabulated,
analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics.

Statistical Treatment

To determine the status of boarding houses as perceived by the student respondents,

descriptive statistics were used percentage and weighted mean.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This section involves the presentation, analysis and interpretation of the responses of
boarders which would give a clear understanding on the status of the boarding houses nearby
the BISU-Candijay.

Table 1.1 Age Distribution of Boarders

Age Range Frequency Percentage (%)

21-Above 134 19.0
19-20 401 57.1
16-18 167 23.8
Total 702 100%

Table 1.1 demonstrates that majority of the boarders fall in 19-20 age range with a
remarkable frequency of 401 (57.1%). On the other hand, there were 134 (19.0%) fall in 21-
above age bracket. This implies that most of the boarders were adolescent and at the right age
for collegiate period.

Table 1.2 Gender Distributions of Boarders

Gender Frequency Percentage (%)

Male 200 28.5
Female 502 71.5
Total 702 100%

Table 1.2 illustrates that 502 (71.5%) of the total population of boarders were females
while 200 (28.5) of them are males. This indicates that majority of the boarders and student
populations of the university were females.

Table 2.1 Environmental Condition

Weighted Descriptive
Statements
Mean Value
1. Boarding house is built of concrete materials 1.8 A
2. Boarding house water supply is enough for all 1.7 SA
3. The boarding house water supply uses a water pump 2.4 A
4. The boarding house toilet is water-sealed and flush type design 2.0 A
5. There is a specific garbage storage area inside the boarding house 1.7 SA
6. The boarding house is clean and pollution-free 1.8 A
7. Organized facilities were provided in the boarding house 2.2 A
8. There is a garden area inside the boarding house 2.7 D
9. Domesticated were roaming around the boarding house 2.6 D
10. There is radio and television provided in the boarding house 2.3 A

Table 2.1 shows that the items “Boarding house water supply is enough for all” and
“There is a specific garbage storage area inside the boarding house” were the highest rated
items among the batch with a weighted mean of 1.7 with an interpretation of Strongly Agree. In
contrary, Item “Domesticated were roaming around the boarding house” got the lowest rank with
a weighted mean 2.6 with an interpretation of Disagree. This implies that most of the boarding
houses were well-built and free from environmental threat.

Table 2.2 Health Condition of boarders

Descriptive
Statements Weighted Mean
Value
1. Landlord attends immediately to any sick boarders 1.9 A
2. Medical aid for the boarders is available as need arises 2.3 A
3. The boarders got sick while staying in the boarding house 3.1 D
4. Landlord monitors the sick boarder 2.0 A
5. The boarding house is health-oriented 1.9 A

In Table 2.2, it can be noticed that items “Landlord attends immediately to any sick
boarder” and item “The boarding house is health-oriented” obtained the highest weighted mean
of 1.9 describe as Agree. On the other hand, item “The boarders got sick while staying in the
boarding house” got the lowest weighted mean of 3.1 (Disagree). This means that the landlords
or land ladies manifest care to their boarders especially the sick ones and implement a health-
promoting rules and regulations in their boarding houses.

Table 2.3 Safety/Security

Descriptive
Statements Weighted Mean
Value
1. Boarding house is secured with gate and fence 1.8 A
2. Windows and doors are provided with safety locks 1.8 A
3. Logbook to record entry and exit is provided 3.1 D
4. Curfew hours is strictly imposed 1.9 A
5. Specific house rules are strictly enforced 1.8 A

Table 2.3 demonstrates that item “Specific house rules are strictly enforced” obtained the
greatest weighted mean of 1.8 or Agree. Whereas, item “Logbook to record entry and exit is
provided” got the lowest weighted mean of 3.1 or Disagree. This means that the landlords
strictly execute the house rules and regulations in the boarding house to their boarders. On
other hand, boarding house logbook is necessary for security reason.

Table 2.4 Community Involvement

Descriptive
Statements Weighted Mean
Value
1. Many non-boarders hang out in the boarding house 2.6 D
2. Barangay officials strictly enforced curfew hours for all boarding 2.0 A
houses
3. The whole community were very supportive 2.1 A
4. Barangay ‘tanuds’ regularly roving around to ensure safety 2.2 A
5. People in the community treats the boarders fairly 2.1 A

Table 2.4 reveals that item “Barangay officials strictly enforced curfew hours for all
boarding houses” copped the highest mean of 2.0 with an interpretation of Agree. This indicates
that curfew is strictly imposed by the community authorities. This will safeguard the students of
the university from harmful activities such as drinking alcoholic beverages, drug addiction and
sexual abuse.
 CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results, majority of the boarder respondents were female and are within
19-20 age range. Boarding houses nearby BISU-Candijay were surveyed under four categories.
The overall survey of student boarders as respondents on their respective boarding houses
along environmental condition, health condition of the boarders, safety and security, and
community involvement were rated “agree”. The boarders’ survey is best described by the
following boarding house features: the water supply of house is sufficient for all, there is a
particular garbage storage area in the boarding house, landlord attends immediately to any sick
boarder, the boarding house is health-oriented, strict enforcement of specific house rules and
regulations, and curfew hours is strictly implemented in the community.

However, there were areas got the lowest means such as kitchen should provide with
organized facilities and domesticated animals must not be in and out of the boarding house,
logbook that records the entry and exit of the boarders, and many non-boarders hang out the
boarding house. In conclusion, most of the boarding houses nearby the school site met the
expectation of the boarders and were very satisfied with the condition of their respective
accommodation as the respondents rated agree.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the student boarders’ assessment of their boarding houses, the following were
suggested for consideration:
1. Boarding house owners should follow and implement the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) minimum standards on boarding houses.
2. The Local Government Unit (LGU) should have a policy and guidelines on minimum
standards of boarding houses and do a regular monitoring in cooperation with the local
executive.
3. Boarding house owners should also monitor the premises of the boarding house and the
student renters, and prohibit non-boarders to loiter in order to ensure safety and security
of the boarders.
4. The boarding house owner should provide a logbook which would record every person
that enters and out the house for safety measures.
5. The implementation of house rules and regulations should be strictly enforced so as to
maintain the discipline and foster harmonious relationship between owners and boarders
as well as boarders with their co-renters.

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