Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8475)
The official title is the Charter of the City of Calapan, an act converting the municipality of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro into a component city to be known as the City of Calapan.
The territorial jurisdiction of the City of Calapan comprises the present territory of the Municipality of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro, bounded by Calapan Bay to the north, Naujan to the south, and Baco to the west, including certain islets.
The city has continuous succession, can sue and be sued, use a corporate seal, acquire and convey real or personal property, enter into contracts, and exercise other corporate powers granted by law.
The City has a city mayor, vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, among others. The city mayor must be at least 21 years old, an actual resident of the City for one year prior to election, and a qualified voter of the City.
The city mayor is the chief executive who sets city policies, directs city development plans, appoints officials, represents the city in business, exercises control over the police, issues licenses, and ensures the faithful execution of laws and ordinances among other duties.
If the city mayor's office becomes permanently vacant, the city vice mayor succeeds as city mayor. Subsequent vacancies follow a ranking system among sangguniang panlungsod members based on votes obtained.
It is composed of the city vice mayor as presiding officer, regular sangguniang panlungsod members, presidents of the liga ng mga barangay and panlungsod na pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan, and sectoral representatives including women and workers.
The sangguniang panlungsod approves ordinances and resolutions for efficient city government, maintains peace and order, approves budgets, enacts tax ordinances, regulates land use, public utilities, and promotes the general welfare of the City and its inhabitants.
The city mayor may veto any ordinance on grounds it is ultra vires or prejudicial. The sangguniang panlungsod may override the veto with a two-thirds vote of all its members to enact the ordinance without the mayor's approval.
Every member must make full written disclosure of business and financial interests or relationships that may cause conflict of interest before participating in deliberations or voting on relevant ordinances or resolutions.
The secretary must be a Philippine citizen, resident of Calapan, of good moral character, preferably a college degree holder in law, commerce or public administration, and first grade civil service eligible or equivalent.
There is a five-year tax moratorium upon the effectivity of the Act, where no increase in tax rates shall be imposed, in accordance with Republic Act No. 7160.
The city treasurer is appointed by the Secretary of Finance from a list of at least three ranking eligible nominees from the city mayor, requiring Philippine citizenship, residency, good moral character, appropriate college degree, and civil service eligibility with experience.
The city mayor exercises general operational control over local police forces, formulates city peace and order plans, and can call on national law enforcement to suppress disorder or apprehend violators in case local forces are inadequate.
It can enact ordinances granting franchises and issuing permits for business operations, public utilities, cockpits, tricycles, and other activities intended to promote general welfare, and can set reasonable fees or revoke licenses for violations.