Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8480)
The act is officially titled the "Charter of the City of Urdaneta."
The territorial jurisdiction of the City of Urdaneta is within the technical metes and bounds of the Municipality of Urdaneta.
The City has the powers to have a continuous corporate name succession, to sue and be sued, use a corporate seal, acquire and convey property, enter into contracts, and exercise granted powers subject to law.
The city shall have a city mayor, vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurer and assistant, city assessor and assistant, city accountant, city budget officer, city planning and development coordinator, city engineer, city health officer, city civil registrar, city administrator, city legal officer, city agriculturist, city veterinarian, city social welfare and development officer, and city general services officer.
The City Mayor must be at least 21 years old, an actual resident of the City for at least one year prior to election, and a qualified voter in the City at the time of election.
The City Mayor is the chief executive and has powers to enforce laws, appoint officials with sangguniang panlungsod approval, direct the development plan, represent the city in business transactions, issue executive orders, manage resources, and perform duties prescribed by law and ordinance.
The City Vice Mayor is the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, signing warrants for expenditures, appointing sangguniang panlungsod officials, and assuming mayoral duties in vacancies.
It consists of the City Vice Mayor as presiding officer, regular sangguniang members, the president of the city Liga ng mga Barangay, president of the Panlungsod na Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, and three sectoral representatives including women, agricultural or industrial workers, and other sectors.
The City Mayor has 10 days to veto ordinances; the veto must be in writing citing reasons. The Sangguniang Panlungsod may override the veto by a two-thirds vote, making the ordinance effective despite the veto.
If the City Mayor’s office is vacant, the City Vice Mayor becomes Mayor. If the Vice Mayor’s office is vacant, the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member fills it. Ranking is based on votes received. Subsequent vacancies are filled likewise.
Persons sentenced by final judgment involving moral turpitude or over one year imprisonment within two years of serving sentence, removed by administrative case, convicted for oath violation, dual citizens, fugitives from justice, permanent residents or citizens abroad who continue to avail rights abroad, and the insane or feeble-minded are disqualified.
Ordinances take effect 10 days after posting at the City Hall and two other conspicuous places, and must be published in a local or general newspaper for ordinances with penal sanctions.