QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 8806)
RA 8806 created a new city—Sorsogon City—by merging the municipalities of Bacon and Sorsogon in the Province of Sorsogon, and it defines the city’s territorial jurisdiction.
The City remains part of the First Congressional District of Sorsogon, so qualified and registered voters of the City continue to vote for the representative of the First District.
It states that the provision on territorial jurisdiction is without prejudice to the resolution by the appropriate agency or forum of existing boundary disputes or territorial jurisdiction cases between the City and adjoining local government units.
It establishes the exact legal boundaries of the City using technical references to approved Municipal Boundary Index Maps and cadastral/subdivision technical descriptions.
It grants attributes of perpetual succession and typical municipal corporate powers such as to sue and be sued, have a corporate seal, acquire/hold/transfer property, enter contracts, and exercise other powers subject to the Charter and laws.
The City is empowered to levy taxes; open/close roads, streets, alleys, parks, and squares; appropriate or condemn private property for public use; and generally exercise corporate powers provided in the Charter and laws, including powers under the Local Government Code.
No. Section 7 provides that the City and its officials shall not be exempt from liability for death or injury to persons or damage to property.
Police jurisdiction for police purposes only is coextensive with the City’s territorial jurisdiction, and it also extends for protecting and ensuring purity of the City’s water supply, including the drainage area or within 100 meters of relevant water infrastructure.
Regional trial courts and city courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the corresponding courts of adjoining municipalities for crimes/misdemeanors committed within the drainage area or within 100 meters, and the court first taking jurisdiction retains exclusive jurisdiction thereafter.
Any license issued within the zone/area/space must be granted by the proper authorities of the City or municipality concerned, and the fees accrue to the treasury of the City or municipality concerned.
RA 8806 lists officials such as a city mayor, city vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, city secretary, treasurer, assessor, accountant, budget officer, planning and development coordinator, engineer, health officer, civil registrar, administrator, legal officer, social welfare and development officer, veterinarian, general services officer, agriculturist, cooperatives officer, and environment and natural resources officer; the city mayor is elected at large by qualified voters.
He must be at least 21 years old, an actual resident of the City for at least 1 year prior to election, and a qualified voter; he holds office for 3 years unless sooner removed.
The Mayor directs policy implementation, assists in city development planning and implements it upon approval, presents the program of government to the sanggunian, appoints city officials/employees whose appointments aren’t otherwise provided by law, represents the City in transactions, issues executive orders, and performs enforcement duties.
He presides over the sangguniang panlungsod, signs warrants drawn on the city treasury for expenditures of the sanggunian, appoints certain officials/employees including the secretary of the sangguniang panlungsod (subject to civil service rules), assumes the mayor’s office for permanent vacancy, and exercises mayoral powers for temporary vacancy.
It consists of the vice mayor as presiding officer, 12 regular sanggunian members, plus the presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangay city chapter and the Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan, and sectoral representatives. Regular members are elected by district: Bacon District elects 4, Sorsogon East District elects 4, and Sorsogon West District elects 4 (12 total).
There are three sectoral representatives: one from women, and within 90 days prior to elections, one from agricultural/industrial workers, and one from other sectors including urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, or disabled persons.
It approves ordinances and passes resolutions, including reviewing barangay ordinances/executive orders for scope, maintaining peace and order, enacting ordinances with penalties within the Charter limits, adopting disaster-related measures, protecting the environment, determining positions and compensation of city employees (paid wholly/mainly from city funds), providing mechanisms for safety of city government records/property, and generally using resources for development programs.