Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 5519)
Republic Act No. 5519 is an act that creates the City of Mandaue, establishing it as a political body corporate with defined territorial jurisdiction and administrative and legislative structures.
The City of Mandaue comprises the present territorial jurisdiction of the Poblacion and barrios such as Alang-alang, Banilad, Basak, Cabancalan, Cambaro, Canduman, Casili, Casuntingan, Centro, Cubacub, Guizo, Ibabao, Jagobiao, Labogon, Looc, Maguikay, Mantuyong, Opao, Pagsabungan, Paknaan, Subangdaku, Tabok, Tawason, Tingub, Tipolo, Umapad, and other barrios of the Municipality of Mandaue, Province of Cebu.
To be eligible for Mayor, a person must be at least 25 years old at the time of election, a resident of Mandaue City for at least 10 years prior to the election, and a qualified voter therein.
The City Mayor has general control over city departments, enforces laws and ordinances, safeguards city properties, oversees tax collection and expenditure, institutes judicial proceedings to protect city interests, supervises city employees, approves official travels, represents the city in contracts and obligations, submits the city budget to the City Council, grants or refuses licenses, takes emergency measures, and can grant pardons for city ordinance violations among other duties.
The legislative body is the City Council, composed of the Vice-Mayor as presiding officer and eight councilors elected at large by the qualified voters of the city. The Vice-Mayor votes only to break a tie.
The City Council has the power to levy taxes, fix official salaries, regulate businesses and occupations, enact ordinances for public welfare, maintain police and fire departments, regulate public utilities, enact building and safety codes, provide for public works, and enforce penalties for ordinance violations, among others.
The City Treasurer is the chief fiscal officer and financial adviser, responsible for collecting city taxes, license fees, rents, miscellaneous charges, issuing receipts, depositing city funds, disbursing funds upon authorization, and rendering financial reports.
The President of the Philippines appoints judges of the City Court, City Treasurer, City Engineer, City Fiscal and assistants, City Health Officer, City Superintendent of Schools, and other heads of departments upon recommendation of the City Mayor with proper consents. The City Mayor appoints the City Assessor, Chief of Police, and Fire Department Chief with City Council consent. Removals are for just cause except as otherwise provided by law.
The City shall not be liable for damages arising from failure of the Mayor, City Council, or other city officers or employees to enforce laws or from their negligence during enforcement, except that aggrieved parties may file personal actions against individual city officials or employees responsible for acts or omissions in their official capacity.
The City's police jurisdiction extends co-extensively with its territorial jurisdiction, including up to three miles from its shores and one hundred meters around reservoirs and water supply structures. The City Court has concurrent jurisdiction with neighboring municipalities over crimes within the drainage area, and police forces have concurrent enforcement authority in these zones.