Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10160)
Republic Act No. 10160 is officially titled "An Act Converting the Municipality of Bacoor in the Province of Cavite into a Component City to be Known as the City of Bacoor."
It converts the Municipality of Bacoor into a component city to be known as the City of Bacoor.
The City has corporate powers including perpetual succession, to sue and be sued, to have and use a corporate seal, to acquire and convey property, to enter into contracts or agreements, and to exercise other powers subject to this Act or laws.
The police jurisdiction of the City is coextensive with its territorial jurisdiction and extends up to 100 meters around reservoirs, conduits, canals, aqueducts, or pumping stations related to the city's water supply, including the entire drainage area of such water supply.
Mandatory city officials include the city mayor, city vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurer, city assessor, city accountant, city budget officer, city planning and development officer, city engineer, city health officer, city civil registrar, city administrator, city legal officer, city social welfare and development officer, city veterinarian, and city general services officer.
The city mayor is elected at large by qualified voters of the City. The qualifications include: a Philippine citizen at time of election, at least 21 years old, resident of the city for at least one year prior, a qualified voter, and able to read and write Filipino or a local dialect.
Both the city mayor and city vice mayor serve a term of three (3) years and may serve for no more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same position.
The city vice mayor is the presiding officer of the sangguniang panlungsod, signs warrants for expenditures of the sangguniang panlungsod, appoints officials and employees of the sangguniang panlungsod (subject to civil service laws), assumes the mayor's office in case of permanent vacancy, exercises mayoral powers during temporary vacancy, and performs other functions prescribed by law.
It is composed of the city vice mayor as presiding officer, 12 regular elected sangguniang panlungsod members (6 each from two districts), the president of the city chapter of Liga ng mga Barangay, the president of the Panlungsod na Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, and three sectoral representatives.
The city mayor must communicate the veto with written reasons within 10 days of receipt. The sangguniang panlungsod can override the veto by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all its members, making the ordinance effective without the mayor's approval.
If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the city mayor, the city vice mayor shall become the city mayor. Subsequent vacancies are filled by the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod members based on the proportion of votes obtained in the previous election.
Disqualifications include: persons sentenced for offenses involving moral turpitude or imprisonment of one year or more within two years after serving sentence; those removed from office administratively; convicted for violating oath of allegiance; dual citizens; fugitives from justice; permanent residents abroad continuing to avail residency rights after the Local Government Code effectivity; and the insane or feeble-minded.
All existing municipal ordinances of the Municipality of Bacoor continue to be in force within the City of Bacoor until the sangguniang panlungsod declares otherwise.
There shall be no increase in the rates of local taxes imposed by the City within five (5) years from its acquisition of corporate existence.
The city treasurer is appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Finance from a list of at least three ranking eligibles recommended by the city mayor, subject to civil service rules. Qualifications include Philippine citizenship, residency in Bacoor, good moral character, a college degree preferably in commerce, public administration or law, first grade civil service eligibility, and at least five years experience in treasury or accounting service.
The city legal officer is the chief legal counsel, provides legal assistance to the city mayor and sangguniang panlungsod, represents the city in civil actions, drafts ordinances and contracts, investigates official misconduct, prosecutes violations, and advises on legal matters and upholding the rule of law.
The city planning and development officer formulates integrated economic, social, and physical development plans; conducts studies and research; integrates sectoral plans; monitors program implementation; prepares planning documents for the local development council; analyzes fiscal plans; promotes people participation in development; and supervises the secretariat of the local development council.
Satellite offices include the Registry of Deeds, Land Transportation Office, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, all under their respective national departments.
Within three (3) days after approval, a copy of ordinances and resolutions is forwarded to the sangguniang panlalawigan. The sangguniang panlalawigan has thirty (30) days to review and declare invalid ordinances beyond the city's powers. Lack of action within 30 days presumes the ordinance valid.