QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 4660)
It constitutes a political body corporate with perpetual succession, endowed with the powers pertaining to a municipal corporation, exercisable in conformity with the Charter.
It comprises the present territorial jurisdiction of the Municipality of Tagbilaran in Bohol, or as later changed in accordance with law.
It may take, purchase, receive, hold, lease, convey, and dispose of property; condemn private property for public use; contract; sue and be sued; prosecute and defend actions where its interests are involved; and exercise other powers implied or appropriate to municipal affairs.
When the damages/injuries arise from failure of the City Board, Mayor, or other city officers/employees to enforce the Charter or any law/ordinance, or from negligence while enforcing or attempting to enforce those provisions.
It is co-extensive with its territorial jurisdiction and extends three miles from the shore; for water-purity purposes, it also extends over the drainage area of the water supply or within 100 meters of any reservoir, conduit, canal, aqueduct, or pumping station used in connection with the city service.
The City Court has concurrent jurisdiction with municipal courts for crimes and misdemeanors committed within such drainage/areas. The court first taking jurisdiction retains exclusive jurisdiction thereafter.
Existing barrios organized and functioning as barrios become districts as political subdivisions of the City, retaining their corporate power and corresponding names or numerical designations until changed or abolished by law or ordinance.
Eight councilor districts are established by ordinance for administrative and other municipal purposes, each under the charge of a councilor whose territory is contiguous and may consist of one or more whole districts.
The Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and eight councilors elected at large by qualified voters of the city during regular elections for provincial and municipal officials.
They must be qualified and registered electors, at least 25 years old, have resided in the city for at least five years prior to election, and must hold no other public office (except notary public or membership in the Armed Forces Reserve) and no other employment with the city or national government or any province/municipality.
On proof of disloyalty to the Philippine Republic, with notice and hearing; or upon conviction by final judgment by a competent court of a crime involving moral turpitude. The President may suspend accused disloyal officers for up to 30 days pending disposition of charges.
They cannot give/promise any part of compensation or money or valuable thing for nomination/election/appointment/employment; cannot willfully violate provisions of law relating to their office; cannot commit fraud upon the city or convert public property; cannot coerce/intimidate classified officers to force involuntary resignation.
City officers/employees (and relatives up to the 4th civil degree) cannot engage in business transactions with the city that require payment from city resources, cannot purchase city property sold via taxes/assessments or legal process, cannot be surety for those with city contracts, cannot be surety on official bonds, cannot have financial interest in city transactions, and cannot appear as counsel against whom the city has filed suit. Willful violation constitutes malfeasance in office and results in forfeiture of city office/employment.
Appointive city officers/employees must devote exclusive time to their duties during prescribed hours and cannot hold more than one office unless expressly provided by law. It does not apply to persons discharging national government public duties who receive no compensation.
They may inquire into official conduct and investigate city affairs, including subpoenaing witnesses, administering oaths, and compelling production of books, papers, and other evidence.
The city may incur indebtedness payable from its pledged faith and credit up to an amount not exceeding 20% of the total assessed value of taxable real estate. ‘Indebtedness’ is computed as the net figure: deduct sinking fund assets and other reserves inviolably pledged or committed, and includes all indebtedness contracted in previous years (bonded or otherwise) but excludes budgeted/estimated operating expenses of the current fiscal year. Assessed value is based on the city tax levy basis for the fiscal year next preceding the year the indebtedness is incurred.
Ordinances must be presented in writing and read in full before a vote (reading may be dispensed with by unanimous consent). Five affirmative votes are needed for passage. Except emergency ordinances and appropriation ordinances, an ordinance must be published once in the manner determined by the City Board and at least two days must elapse between last publication and final passage. After passage, it is forwarded to the Mayor for approval/veto within ten days (non-working days excluded). If not returned, it is deemed approved; vetoed items may be overridden by subsequent affirmative votes as specified. Ordinances (except appropriation/urgent) are published within five days after approval and take effect on the 15th day following publication unless a date is fixed.