Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 183)
The City of Dumaguete comprises the present territorial jurisdiction of the municipality of Dumaguete in the Province of Oriental Negros, and its territory may be expanded by the President through executive order by adding contiguous barrios in the public interest.
The City of Dumaguete is constituted as a political body corporate with perpetual succession and exercises powers pertaining to a municipal corporation in conformity with its Charter.
The City may acquire, hold, lease, convey, and dispose of properties, sue and be sued, contract, and perform all powers related to municipal corporations, provided all real property dispositions are approved by the Secretary of the Interior.
The Mayor shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments and serves at the pleasure of the President. The salary shall not exceed four thousand pesos per annum, plus a non-commutable allowance not exceeding two thousand pesos per annum.
The Municipal Board is the legislative body composed of the Mayor as presiding officer and eight councilors elected at large. It enacts ordinances, appropriates funds, fixes salaries, regulates fees, and oversees municipal governance.
Vacancies after assumption of office are filled by presidential appointment of a suitable person belonging to the political party of the predecessor. Temporary substitutes may also be appointed by the President to maintain quorum or fill temporary absences.
The City Assessor manages the department of assessment, lists taxable real estate, values property, is empowered to administer oaths related to valuation, hears complaints on assessments, and authenticates tax lists.
Exemptions include properties owned by the Republic, the Province, or City, burying grounds, churches and adjacent parsonages or convents used exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific or educational, but not held for profit; properties valued up to five hundred pesos when the only real property of an owner; and industrial, agricultural or manufacturing machinery during the first three years of operation.
Upon delinquency exceeding two years, and after notices and public auction, the property may be sold at auction with terms allowing installment payments. Purchasers acquire indefeasible title after one year from the sale if unpaid by the taxpayer, and surplus proceeds after tax deductions are returned to the original owner.
The police jurisdiction of the City is coextensive with its territory and covers the water supply protection area extending 100 meters around reservoirs, conduits, canals, aqueducts or pumping stations serving the city.
The Mayor has ten days to approve or veto ordinances forwarded by the Municipal Board. If vetoed, the Board may override the veto with a six-member affirmative vote. If veto is sustained, the ordinance is forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior for final approval or disapproval.
The City Treasurer acts as chief fiscal officer, collects taxes, licenses, rents, other charges, deposits government funds, disburses funds pursuant to appropriations, maintains accounts, and reports monthly to the Mayor and Municipal Board.
Members must be qualified electors of the City of Dumaguete, residents for at least six months, and at least twenty-one years old.
Penalties may include fines not exceeding two hundred pesos, imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both, for a single offense as fixed by the Municipal Board ordinances.
The City Engineer is appointed by the President with consent of the Commission on Appointments, receives a salary not exceeding three thousand six hundred pesos per annum, and oversees all surveying, public works, and city infrastructure engineering functions.