Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 162)
The territorial jurisdiction of the newly created City of Lipa comprises the present territorial jurisdiction of the municipality of Lipa in the Province of Batangas.
The City of Lipa constitutes a political body corporate with perpetual succession endowed with the powers pertinent to a municipal corporation, to be exercised in conformity with the provisions of the Charter.
The Mayor of Lipa is appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of Congress, and holds office at the pleasure of the President.
The Mayor has immediate control over executive and administrative functions, enforces laws and ordinances, safeguards city property, ensures tax collection, institutes judicial proceedings for city interests, supervises city officers and employees, submits the annual budget to the Municipal Board, grants or revokes municipal licenses, and takes emergency measures, among others.
The Municipal Board is the legislative body composed of the Mayor (presiding officer), the city treasurer, the city engineer, and five councilors elected at large by popular vote.
Five members constitute a quorum, and five affirmative votes are required for the passage of any ordinance or resolutions directing the payment of money or creating liability.
The Board may levy and collect taxes for general and special purposes in accordance with law, including real property tax not exceeding two percent ad valorem.
No, the City is not liable for damages or injuries arising from the failure of the Municipal Board, the Mayor, or any city officers or employees to enforce provisions of the Charter or other laws, or from their negligence during enforcement.
The City Treasurer acts as chief fiscal officer and financial adviser, collects all taxes, licenses, rents, fees, fines, disburses funds per appropriation, purchases supplies, deposits funds, and renders accounts as prescribed.
If real estate taxes remain unpaid 90 days after due date, the city treasurer may issue a certificate of delinquency to seize personal property, which can be sold at public auction if unpaid. Real estate may be forfeited to the city after one year of delinquency, with provisions for redemption by the owner before sale and within one year after sale.
The Mayor has the power to veto any ordinance or particular item(s) of appropriation ordinances passed by the Municipal Board but the veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Board. The Secretary of the Interior may also disapprove any ordinance if it exceeds the Board's powers.
The Municipal Court has the same jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases as provided by law, including concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of First Instance over certain criminal offenses such as minor assaults, larceny, estafa up to 200 pesos, prohibition of intoxicating liquors, and powers for preliminary investigations.
The sale must be publicly announced and conducted after forfeiture becomes absolute; payment may be made in installments within 12 months, with an initial payment of at least 25% of the total. Failure to pay installments results in forfeiture to the city. The purchaser obtains indefeasible title after one year if the property is not redeemed.
The City of Lipa shall have at least the finance department, engineering department, law department, police department, and fire department.
The Municipal Board can fix penalties for violations of ordinances not exceeding a two hundred-peso fine or six months' imprisonment, or both, for a single offense.