Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8528)
Republic Act No. 8528 amends certain provisions of Republic Act No. 7720, specifically changing the status of the Municipality of Santiago from an independent component city to a component city known as the City of Santiago in the province of Isabela.
RA 8528 deletes the words "an independent" from Section 2, thereby converting the Municipality of Santiago into a component city rather than an independent component city.
The territorial jurisdiction of the City of Santiago is within the present metes and bounds of the Municipality of Santiago, Isabela.
RA 8528 allows voters of the City of Santiago to vote in the elections of the Provincial Governor, Vice Governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, and other elective provincial positions of the Province of Isabela. It also allows qualified voters from the city to run for such provincial positions.
Yes, qualified voters from the City of Santiago can be candidates for provincial positions and any elective provincial office in the Province of Isabela.
Section 51 of Republic Act No. 7720 is entirely deleted and substituted with the provision that grants voting and candidacy rights to voters of the City of Santiago in provincial elections.
All existing laws or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of RA 8528 are repealed or modified accordingly pursuant to its Repealing Clause.
RA 8528 took effect upon its approval on February 14, 1998.
The Act was approved by then President Fidel V. Ramos, with the Senate President Neptali A. Gonzales and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. signing the measure.
As a component city, Santiago remains politically and administratively part of the Province of Isabela, allowing its residents to vote for provincial officials and enabling their candidacy for provincial elective positions, unlike an independent component city which is politically independent of the province.