Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 525)
The law is officially known as the Charter of the City of Iligan, enacted as Republic Act No. 525 on June 16, 1950.
The City of Iligan comprises the present territorial jurisdiction of the municipality of Iligan in the Province of Lanao.
The City of Iligan is constituted as a political body corporate with perpetual succession and possesses the powers of a municipal corporation as provided in the Charter.
The Mayor is appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments and holds office at the pleasure of the President.
The city treasurer acts as the chief fiscal officer, collecting all taxes, licenses, rents, fees, and other revenues; he is accountable for all funds and property of the city and disburses funds based on duly authorized appropriations.
The Municipal Board is the legislative body with powers including levying taxes, making appropriations, fixing salaries, regulating businesses, establishing police and fire departments, and enacting ordinances for welfare and public order.
Ordinances require four affirmative votes to pass, must be sent to the Mayor for approval or veto within ten days, and if vetoed, may be repassed by five members to override the veto; the Secretary of the Interior has final disapproval authority if the veto is upheld.
The municipal court has civil and criminal jurisdiction, including concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of First Instance over certain criminal cases and powers to conduct preliminary investigations and issue necessary processes.
City officers are prohibited from engaging in business transactions with the city where money is paid from city resources, purchasing city properties sold for taxes, being surety for city contractors, or being surety on official bonds of city officers.
Lands or buildings owned by the Republic, the Province, or City, used exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, or educational purposes, not for profit; lands or buildings under 200 pesos in value that are the only property of the owner; and industrial/agricultural machinery during first five years.
The Municipal Board may levy special assessments up to 60% of public improvement costs against lands benefiting from the improvements, based on assessed valuations, following a process of ordinance enactment, publication, hearing protests, and appeals.
A penalty of 2% per full month of delinquency on the original tax amount is imposed until paid or property forfeiture, with a maximum total penalty of 24% of the original tax due.
The Chief of Police commands the police force, issues regulations compatible with law, arrests violators, exercises police supervision within city limits, supervises the city prison, and serves and executes criminal processes.
The City Engineer manages engineering and public works including surveying, preparation of plans and estimates, supervision of construction and repair, care of public buildings and streets, and enforcement of building ordinances.
If taxes are delinquent for one year, the city acquires title subject to redemption rights; owners can redeem real estate before seizure, before sale, and within one year after sale by paying taxes, penalties, and purchase price with interest; failure to redeem leads to deed execution to purchaser.