QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 8754)
It converts the Municipality of Malolos into a component city known as the City of Malolos, with the city’s territorial jurisdiction limited to the present metes and bounds of the former municipality.
It is within the present metes and bounds of the Municipality of Malolos, specified through detailed boundaries and coordinates referenced to cadastral and natural features (e.g., Manila Bay, Pamarawan River, irrigation canal, rivers and roads).
The City is a political body corporate with attributes of perpetual succession and municipal powers, including the power to sue and be sued, use a corporate seal, acquire/hold/convey property, enter contracts, and exercise other powers consistent with the charter and laws.
The City and its officials are not exempt from liability for death or injury to persons or damage to property.
For police purposes, it is coextensive with the City’s territorial jurisdiction and extends over the drainage area of the water supply or within 100 meters of reservoirs, conduits, canals, aqueducts, or pumping stations used for the city water service.
Regional trial courts and city courts of Malolos have concurrent jurisdiction with the regional trial courts and metropolitan trial courts or city/municipal trial courts of adjoining municipalities covering the specified drainage area or within the 100-meter zone; the court first taking jurisdiction retains exclusive jurisdiction.
The charter provides for the existence of a city mayor, city vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members and related officers, 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, city general services officer, and city agriculturist.
Unless otherwise provided, the city mayor appoints heads of departments and offices with the concurrence of the majority of all sangguniang panlungsod members, subject to civil service laws; the sanggunian must act within 15 days or the appointment is deemed confirmed.
The mayor 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.
He determines city policy guidelines and is responsible for the program of government; directs formulation of the city development plan; presents the program of government to the sangguniang panlungsod; initiates legislative measures; appoints officials/ employees paid wholly or mainly from city funds unless otherwise provided; represents the City in transactions; and ensures enforcement of laws/ordinances and implementation of approved policies and projects.
He carries out emergency measures during and after man-made and natural disasters/calamties. He acts as deputized representative of the National Police Commission, formulates the city peace and order plan upon approval, implements it, and exercises general and operational control over police forces in accordance with RA 6975.
The vice mayor acts as presiding officer of the sangguniang panlungsod and signs warrants drawn on the city treasury for expenditures appropriated for sanggunian operations.
It includes the city vice mayor as presiding officer; 10 regular sanggunian members; ex officio members: president of the city chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay and president of the panlungsod na pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan; plus sectoral representatives: 3 in total (women, and two others—one for agricultural/industrial workers and one for other sectors such as urban poor/indigenous cultural communities/disabled persons), with election mechanisms as provided by law.
The sangguniang panlungsod may override the mayor’s veto by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all its members, making the ordinance effective.
Within 3 days after approval, the city secretary forwards ordinances and resolutions approving development plans and public investment programs. The sangguniang panlalawigan reviews within 30 days; it may transmit to the provincial attorney/prosecutor for comments/recommendations (within 10 days). If it finds the ordinance beyond power, it declares invalid in whole/part. If no action within 30 days, the ordinance is presumed consistent with law and valid.