QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11259)
RA 11259 is titled the “Charter of the Province of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.” It provides for the division of the Province of Palawan into three distinct and independent provinces: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur (the latter as the mother province).
Palawan del Norte comprises Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Linapacan, Taytay, and El Nido.
Palawan Oriental comprises Roxas, Araceli, Dumaran, Cuyo, Agutaya, Magsaysay, Cayancillo, and San Vicente.
Palawan del Sur comprises Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, España (spelled as “EspaAola” in the text), Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, Balabac, and Kalayaan.
The provinces are comprised of all islands of the present Province of Palawan, and their terrestrial jurisdiction is within the existing metes and bounds of the municipalities comprising each province. It does not prejudice resolutions of existing boundary disputes or territorial jurisdiction cases; the disputed area remains under the local government unit with existing administrative supervision until final resolution.
The capital/seats are Taytay for Palawan del Norte, Roxas for Palawan Oriental, and Brooke’s Point for Palawan del Sur.
Each province is a political body corporate with perpetual succession and provincial corporate powers, including: to sue and be sued; use a corporate seal; acquire and convey property; enter into contracts; and exercise other corporate powers consistent with the Local Government Code and other laws.
It provides that neither the provinces nor their officials are exempt from liability for death or injury to persons or damage to property.
They become effective upon the election and qualification of their representatives held on the second Monday of May in 2022.
Incumbent Representatives of the present Province of Palawan continue to represent their respective legislative districts until new representatives are duly elected, qualified, and have assumed office.
As political subdivisions, the provinces are entitled to equitable shares in the proceeds from utilization and development of national wealth within their terrestrial and maritime jurisdiction. Additionally, the provinces collectively receive not less than 40% of certain specified gross collections.
The 40% share is divided equally among the three provinces (Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur). Each province’s share is then divided as: Province 60%, Municipality 24%, and Barangay 16%, with automatic release to each.
The police jurisdiction is coextensive with the province’s territorial boundary. Additionally, for protecting and ensuring the purity of the province’s water supply, the police jurisdiction extends over the drainage area of the water supply source or within 100 meters of any connection with the province’s water service.
The elective provincial governor is the chief executive with powers/duties under the Local Government Code and other laws, including supervision/control, budgeting/program direction, enforcement, and disaster response. The provincial vice governor presides over the sangguniang panlalawigan, signs warrants drawn on the provincial treasury, and assumes the governor’s powers/functions during temporary or permanent vacancy according to the Act.
The vice governor appoints officials and employees of the sangguniang panlalawigan, subject to civil service law and rules, except where appointment is specifically provided under existing laws.
On the first regular session following the election of its members and within 90 days thereafter, it must adopt or update existing rules of procedure.
A majority of all elected and qualified members constitutes a quorum to transact official business. If quorum is questioned, the presiding officer calls the roll and announces results; without quorum, the session may be recessed/adjourned and no business shall be transacted if quorum is still lacking.