Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7720)
The law is titled 'Charter of the City of Santiago' or Republic Act No. 7720.
The territorial jurisdiction of the City of Santiago is coextensive with the present metes and bounds of the Municipality of Santiago, Isabela.
The City of Santiago constitutes a political body corporate with powers similar to a municipal corporation, including perpetual succession and corporate powers such as suing and being sued and entering contracts.
The chief executive is the City Mayor. The mayor must be at least 23 years old, an actual resident of the City for at least one year prior to election, and a qualified voter of the City.
The City Mayor holds office for three years and receives a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade 30 as prescribed under Republic Act No. 6758.
The City Mayor exercises powers including executing laws and ordinances, appointing officials, preparing budgets, representing the City in business transactions, enacting emergency measures during disasters, enforcing laws, managing public safety, and other powers necessary for governance.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod is composed of the City Vice-Mayor as presiding officer, regular sangguniang members, the president of the city chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay, the president of the panlungsod na pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan, and three sectoral representatives from women, workers, and other sectors.
Disqualifications include final conviction for crimes involving moral turpitude or punishment of one year or more imprisonment within two years after serving sentence, removal from office due to administrative case, violation of oath of allegiance, dual citizenship, fugitives from justice, permanent foreign residency, and insanity or being feeble-minded.
If the City Mayor's office is vacant, the Vice-Mayor becomes Mayor. For Vice-Mayor vacancies, the highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod member assumes the office. Further vacancies are filled by succession among sangguniang members based on ranking determined by election votes.
The City Treasurer must be a natural-born citizen, resident of Santiago, good moral character, college degree preferably in commerce, public administration, or law, first-grade civil service eligible, and have at least five years of treasury or accounting experience. Duties include managing city funds, tax collection, advising local officials on public finance, and inspecting commercial establishments for tax ordinance implementation.