QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 537)
It establishes Quezon City as the capital of the Philippines and the permanent seat of the National Government, as a public corporation with perpetual succession and the powers to sue and be sued, hold property, contract, and exercise powers granted by the Charter.
It provides that the failure of any city officer to enforce the Act/law/ordinances, or negligence while enforcing or attempting to enforce them, shall not cause the city to be held liable for damages or injuries to persons or property.
For general police purposes, jurisdiction is coextensive with territorial jurisdiction. For protecting and insuring purity of the water supply, it 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 for city water service.
The Court of First Instance and the municipal court of Quezon City have concurrent jurisdiction with the province and municipal courts outside the city (Courts of First Instance and courts of justices of the peace, respectively). The court first taking jurisdiction retains exclusive jurisdiction.
The Mayor is appointed by the President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of Congress.
He ensures laws, the Charter, and city ordinances/resolutions are enforced; supervises executive functions; may institute criminal actions or report derelictions; informs and recommends measures to the City Council; presides over Council meetings and votes on ordinances/matters; signs ordinances/resolutions; inspects records; represents the city and signs warrants/bonds/contracts; appoints city officers/employees per Civil Service Law; can suspend for up to 15 days (with rules on approval/discharge); and prepares annual reports to the Department Head.
The Vice-Mayor (a City Council member) discharges the Mayor’s duties during absence or disability, except removing any officer. If Vice-Mayor is temporarily incapacitated or the office is vacant, duties are performed by the City Engineer.
The City Council consists of the Mayor (chairman), Vice-Mayor, and eight other members. Quorum is a majority. The affirmative vote of a majority of all members is required for passage of any ordinance/resolution/motion directing payment of money or creating liability.
On the day of passage it is posted at the main entrance; it takes effect and is in force on and after the tenth day following its passage if no date is fixed.
No single penalty shall exceed a fine of 200 pesos or imprisonment for six months, or both; imprisonment in lieu of unpaid fines is imposed at a rate of one day for each 2.50 pesos of the fine.
For violations involving building construction, the City Council may further impose the penalty of removal or demolition of the building/structure by the owner or by the city at the owner’s expense.
No commercial sign/signboard/billboard may be erected or displayed on public lands/premises/buildings. If the Mayor, after investigation and opportunity to be heard, decides the sign is offensive or otherwise a nuisance, he may order removal; if not removed within 10 days, the Mayor may cause removal and it is forfeited to the City.
A plat/plan of residential subdivision must be approved first by the City Engineer under city regulations (approved by the department head) before it can be presented for approval/verification by the Bureau of Lands or the General Land Registration Office.
The Charter lists departments: Engineering, Finance, Law, Health, Police, Assessment, and Fire. The Mayor has direct supervision and control over them.
The President appoints, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, the city health officer, city engineer, chief of police, city treasurer, city assessor, city attorney, and assistant city attorneys (as well as judges of the municipal court and the city superintendent of schools).