Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8251)
The official title is the Charter of the City of Las Piñas, an Act converting the Municipality of Las Piñas into a highly urbanized city to be known as the City of Las Piñas.
The City of Las Piñas comprises the present territory of the Municipality of Las Piñas in Metropolitan Manila, bounded by the Municipality of Parañaque, City of Muntinlupa (Metro Manila), and municipalities of Bacoor, Imus, and Dasmariñas in Cavite, describing specific metes and bounds in the Act.
The city has perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, use a corporate seal, acquire and convey property, enter into contracts, and exercise other powers granted to corporations, subject to limitations under the Act and other laws.
Appointive city officials are appointed by the city mayor with the concurrence of the majority of the Sangguniang Panlungsod members, subject to the Civil Service Law, rules, and regulations. The Sangguniang Panlungsod must act within 15 days, or the appointment is deemed confirmed.
The City Mayor must be at least 23 years old, a qualified voter, and an actual resident of the City for at least one year before the election. The term is three years unless sooner removed, with compensation corresponding to salary grade 30.
The City Mayor exercises executive powers including setting policy guidelines, implementing plans, appointing officials, enforcing laws, representing the city in business, disaster management, budget preparation, and ensuring delivery of basic services among others as detailed in the Act.
The Vice Mayor is elected at large, with the same qualifications as the Mayor, serving a three-year term with salary grade 28. The Vice Mayor is the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, signs expenditures, appoints sanggunian officials, and assumes mayoral powers in certain vacancies.
It is composed of the Vice Mayor as presiding officer, regular sanggunian members, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, president of the Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, and three sectoral representatives including women and workers or other sectors.
The sanggunian legislates ordinances and resolutions for city governance, approves budgets, levies taxes, grants franchises, regulates land use and business activities, protects public welfare, and promotes development as prescribed in the Act and Local Government Code.
Every ordinance is presented to the Mayor for approval. The Mayor can veto an ordinance or specific items on grounds of being ultra vires or prejudicial, with written reasons. The sanggunian can override vetoes by two-thirds vote. Ordinances take effect after ten days of posting unless otherwise stated.
Disqualifications include final conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude or imprisonment of one year or more within two years after serving sentence, removal from office due to administrative cases, dual citizenship, being fugitives from justice, permanent residence abroad, and being insane or feeble-minded.
The Vice Mayor assumes the Mayor's office if vacant. For Vice Mayor vacancies, the highest ranking sanggunian member assumes the office. Subsequent vacancies are filled by other sanggunian members based on ranking determined by votes. Ties are resolved by drawing lots.
The City Treasurer must be a resident, a college degree holder preferably in commerce or law, a first grade civil service eligible, and have at least five years experience in treasury or accounting. Duties include fund management, advising officials on finance, tax enforcement, and reporting to the City Mayor.
The City Legal Officer, must be a bar member with five years experience, acts as chief legal counsel, advises the Mayor and sanggunian, formulates legal measures, provides legal support in service delivery, protects human rights, and prosecutes violations especially during disasters.
The Mayor can carry out emergency measures during and after disasters, coordinate relief, issue executive orders for enforcement, call on law enforcement to suppress disorder, and ensure the safety and welfare of the City's inhabitants.