QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 8508)
RA 8508 converts the Municipality of Antipolo into a component city covering 16 barangays: East Antipolo—Dalig, San Jose, San Roque, Dela Paz, San Isidro, Beverly Hills, Santa Cruz, San Luis (8 barangays); West Antipolo—Mayamot, Cupang, Mambugan, Bagong Nayon, San Juan, Inarawan, Munting Dilao, Calawis (8 barangays). The city is deemed divided into two districts—East Antipolo and West Antipolo—for better supervision and service delivery.
It states that the division into East and West Antipolo is without prejudice to the resolution or determination by the appropriate agency/forum of existing and/or future boundary disputes or cases involving the 16 barangays and between the City and adjoining municipalities.
RA 8508 provides that the City, as a political body corporate, has perpetual succession and the powers of municipal corporations, including: (1) continuous succession in its corporate name; (2) sue and be sued; (3) use a corporate seal; (4) acquire and convey real/personal property; (5) enter into contracts; and (6) exercise other powers granted to corporations subject to the Charter and other laws.
The City is not exempt from liability for damages or injuries arising from failure of the sangguniang panlungsod, mayor, or any city officer/employee to enforce provisions of the Charter or other law/ordinance, or from acts/omissions/negligence of such officials while enforcing or attempting to enforce provisions or while performing official functions.
The City’s police jurisdiction for police purposes is coextensive with its territorial jurisdiction. For protecting and insuring the purity of the water supply, police jurisdiction also extends over all territory within 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 water service.
RA 8508 provides that the City Court of Antipolo has concurrent jurisdiction with the city or municipal courts of adjoining municipalities/cities to try crimes and misdemeanors committed within the drainage area or within 100 meters of relevant water facilities. The court first taking cognizance has jurisdiction to the exclusion of others.
RA 8508 states that the City shall provide basic services and facilities under Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991, including (but not limited to) enumerated services such as health, social welfare, environment/hygiene/sanitation, infrastructure (roads/bridges, drainage/sewerage, flood control, etc.), markets/slaughterhouses, public cemetery, tourism, low-cost housing programs (excluding certain SSS/GSIS/HDMF-funded housing), tax information/collection upgrading, communications/transportation facilities, and support for education, police and fire services.
RA 8508 lists: 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 veterinarian, city social welfare and development officer, and city general services officer. It also allows the mayor to appoint additional officers (e.g., city architect, information/community relations officer, population officer, environment/natural resources/waste management officer, cooperatives officer). The City may maintain existing offices, create other necessary offices, or consolidate functions for efficiency/economy.
Unless otherwise provided, appointive city officials are appointed by the city mayor with the concurrence of the majority of all sangguniang panlungsod members, subject to civil service law/rules. The sangguniang panlungsod must act within 15 days; otherwise, the appointments are deemed confirmed.
RA 8508 requires that at the time of election, the mayor be at least 21 years old, an actual resident of the City for at least 1 year prior to election, and a qualified voter. The term is 3 years unless sooner removed. Compensation corresponds to salary grade 30 under RA 6758.
The mayor is chief executive and: determines city policy guidelines and is responsible to the sangguniang panlungsod for the program of government; directs formulation of the city development plan with city development council and implements upon approval; presents program of government and proposes policies/projects for council consideration; initiates/proposes legislative measures; appoints city officials/employees paid wholly/mainly from city funds whose appointment is not otherwise provided; represents the City and signs bonds/contracts/obligations; conducts emergency measures during disasters; ensures executive officials discharge duties and causes administrative/judicial proceedings for offenses; issues executive orders; enforces laws/ordinances and ensures barangay acts within their powers; submits required annual and supplemental reports; and coordinates with national officials where needed.
RA 8508 provides the mayor acts as deputized representative of the National Police Commission and formulates the peace and order plan of the City, which upon approval he implements, with general and operational control and supervision over local police forces in accordance with RA 6975. He may call upon appropriate law enforcement agencies to suppress disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition, or apprehend violators when public interest requires and city police forces are inadequate.
RA 8508 states the vice mayor presides over the sangguniang panlungsod and signs warrants drawn on the city treasury for sangguniang panlungsod expenditures. Subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, the vice mayor appoints officials/employees of the sangguniang panlungsod except those whose appointment is specifically provided for by existing laws. He also assumes the mayor’s office in permanent vacancy and exercises mayoral powers/functions in temporary vacancy (with limitations).
It includes: city vice mayor as presiding officer; regular sanggunian members elected by district equally divided in number to represent East and West Antipolo; president of the city chapter of Liga ng mga Barangay; president of the panlungsod na pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan; and sectoral representatives. RA 8508 further provides three sectoral reps: one from women; one from agricultural/industrial workers; and one from other sectors (urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, and disabled persons).
On the first regular session after the election of its members and within 90 days thereafter, the sangguniang panlungsod shall adopt or update existing rules of procedure. The rules must cover organization/election of officers and standing committees, order and calendar of business, legislative process, parliamentary procedures, discipline of members (including penalties for disorder/absences and expulsion for conviction involving moral turpitude), and other rules the sanggunian may adopt.
Upon assumption, every member must make full written disclosure of business and financial interests, and any business/financial/professional relationships or affinity/consanguinity within the 4th civil degree with persons/entities affected by an ordinance/resolution under consideration, where conflict of interest may arise. Disclosure must be submitted to the secretary (or committee secretary), be part of the record, and made before participation in deliberations; if no participation, before voting on second/third readings; and also when a member makes an appointment/privilege speech on matters that may affect the disclosed interests.
Unless otherwise stated, ordinances/resolutions take effect after 10 days from the date a copy is posted on a bulletin board at the entrance of the city hall and in at least two other conspicuous places in the City. The secretary must post within 5 days after approval and record the posting in a book, including dates of approval and posting. The text should be disseminated/posted in Filipino/English and the dialect understood by the majority. Main features must also be published once in a local newspaper of general circulation in the City; penal-salt ordinances’ gist must likewise be published.