Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9388)
The law is known as the Charter of the City of Calapan (Republic Act No. 8475).
The territorial jurisdiction shall be within the present metes and bounds of the Municipality of Calapan including several bounded points and certain islets as per approved cadastral survey, covering an area of 25,006 hectares or 250.06 sq. km.
Continuous succession, to sue and be sued, use a corporate seal, acquire and convey property, enter into contracts, and exercise other powers granted to corporations subject to law.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod, consisting of the city vice mayor as presiding officer, regular sanggunian members, presidents of city chapters of Liga ng mga Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan, and sectoral representatives.
The City Mayor shall hold office for three years and must be at least 21 years old and an actual resident of Calapan for at least one year prior to election.
Persons sentenced by final judgment for crimes involving moral turpitude within 2 years after serving sentence, those removed administratively, with dual citizenship, fugitives, permanent residents abroad, insane or feeble-minded, among others specified.
Upon effectivity of the Act, Calapan shall maintain a tax moratorium of five years where no increase in tax rates shall be imposed, abiding by limitations of RA No. 7160 stating tax rate adjustments cannot be more often than every 5 years and not more than 10% increase.
The Secretary of Finance appoints the city treasurer from a list of at least three eligible candidates recommended by the city mayor. The treasurer must be a Filipino citizen, resident of Calapan, holder of a college degree preferably in commerce, public administration or law, a first grade civil service eligible with at least 5 years experience in treasury or accounting.
The City Mayor shall approve or veto ordinances within 10 days, may veto any ordinance or specific items on the grounds of ultra vires or prejudice to public welfare. The sangguniang panlungsod can override veto by two-thirds vote.
A permanent vacancy in the office of the City Mayor is filled by the City Vice Mayor. If the Vice Mayor's position becomes vacant, it is filled by the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member, or the second highest in case of incapacity.