Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 3028)
Republic Act No. 3028 is commonly known as the Charter of Danao City.
The Charter of Danao City covers the present territorial jurisdiction of the Poblacion and the specified barrios of Baliang, Binalew, Cabungahan, and others listed in the Act within the Municipality of Danao, Province of Cebu.
A person must be at least 25 years old, a resident of Danao City for at least 10 years before the election, and a qualified voter in the city to be eligible for election as Mayor.
The Mayor has powers including enforcing laws and ordinances, safeguarding city property, collecting taxes, prosecuting suits, transferring employees, inspecting city officers' records, recommending measures to the Municipal Board, and approving licenses and permits, among others.
The Municipal Board consists of the Vice-Mayor as presiding officer and eight councilors elected at large. It has powers including levying taxes, fixing salaries, regulating businesses, maintaining police and fire departments, and enacting ordinances for public welfare and safety.
The City Treasurer acts as the chief fiscal officer, collecting taxes, licenses, rents, disbursing funds, managing city accounts, administering markets and slaughterhouses, and issuing receipts for fines and costs.
The President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoints the judge, city treasurer, city engineer, city fiscal and his assistants, chief of police, city health officer, city assessor, fire department chief, superintendent of schools, and other department heads.
The Municipal Board may levy an annual property tax not exceeding 1.5% ad valorem with specific rules on payment, penalties for delinquency, exemptions, assessments, seizure and sale of property for unpaid taxes, and rights of redemption for owners.
The Municipal Court has jurisdiction similar to other chartered cities' municipal courts in civil and criminal cases, including expropriation, land registration, and cadastral cases. Decisions are appealable to the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.
The Municipal Board may levy special assessments on landowners within districts benefiting from public improvements like roads, sidewalks, and parks based on assessed property valuations, following a specific ordinance process, public hearings, and appeal procedures.