LIVING CONDITIONS OF ILIGAN CAPITOL COLLEGE STUDENTS

IN THEIR BOARDING HOUSES

Ray Vincent E. Araña

rayvincentarana@gmail.com
Iligan Capitol College
Mahayahay, Iligan City, Philippines

Norjanah M. Adtha, Ainah A. Balayo, Sittie

Rayhanie G. Dibangkitun and Haima A. Sarip
College of Teacher Education
Iligan Capitol College
Mahayahay, Iligan City

ABSTRACT

College students from far places usually resort to stay in temporary dwellings
called boarding houses. Their living conditions in these short-term residences may
result to beneficial and/or detrimental contributions to their holistic well-being. This study
was done to find out the current conditions of Iligan Capitol College students living in
boarding houses, which is anchored on the principle that the physical and
environmental features and housing facilities of these temporary shelters could
influence the students’ lifestyle.

Data elicited through survey and interviews involving 120 student boarders and
10 boarding house owners or operators reveal that most of the student boarders have
recognized their boarding houses possessing good features especially on the basic
housing amenities; however they felt the lack of the provisions for safety and security
services implying that most operators have violated some requirements stipulated in the
Building Code of the Philippines.

Majority of the Iligan Capitol College student boarders are males (53%), under
the age group of 19 and below (58%), third year level (32%), taking BS Criminology
course (48%), and come from the other places or municipalities of the province of
Lanao del Norte (52%). They come from areas where the sources of their family income
are derived from proceeds of harvested farm products as claimed during the interview
conducted.

Most of them are residing in residential type of boarding houses (58%) that are
walking distance (84%) or near to the school with a monthly rental charge between
P 501.00 to 1,000.00. Around 57% of the student-renters live in boarding houses with
4 or more occupants’ room type of lodging. The significant numbers of the boarding
houses accommodate 10 to 20 boarders (38%) that are exclusively for males (40%).
On the respondent’s source of food, 82% of them prepare and cook their own food while
18% buy only from school canteen and nearby “carenderias”.

More than half of the respondents believe that their current boarding house
provides them appropriate housing facilities needed, as the total mean of the items
registers 53%. As attested by the 32% of the total mean, most of these facilities do not
exist in their boarding houses. These include first aid cabinet (52%), study area (48%),
fire extinguishers (47%), and alarm system (46%); most of which concern the safety and
security of the residents. Larger part of the respondents disclosed that there are clear
and functional policies in their boarding houses on visitors (82%), visiting time (61%),
use of facilities (63%), curfew time (62%), and Do’s and Don’ts (79%).

A greater number of the student boarders ( = 3.81) agree on the current state
of their boarding houses. The features of boarding houses which yield higher ratings
are: endowment of safety and security ( = 3.97); located in a peaceful and orderly
neighborhood ( = 3.91); has enough water supply ( = 3.91); has enough supply of
natural air ( = 3.87); there is no limit with the use of lighting facilities ( = 3.86); and
sanitation is observed ( = 3.85). While those with least ratings are: well-lighted study
rooms ( = 3.31); silence is observed especially during bedtime ( = 3.80); and the
size of the room is appropriate to the number of occupants ( = 3.80).

Furthermore, results disclosed that majority of the student boarders consider that
their stay in the boarding houses has significant contributions to their personal
( = 4.00), academic ( = 3.80), social ( = 3.74), and emotional ( = 3.65) growth;
but has nothing to do with the development of their spirituality ( = 3.51).