Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 537)
The official name of the law is the Revised Charter of Quezon City, enacted as Republic Act No. 537, approved on June 16, 1950.
Quezon City covers a total area of approximately 15,359 hectares, with specific boundaries described by various points and landmarks including rivers, roads, and estates as detailed in Section 3 of the Charter.
Quezon City is created as a public corporation with perpetual succession, common seal, the capacity to sue and be sued, own property within or outside its limits, and exercise all powers conferred by law.
The Mayor is appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of Congress and holds office at the pleasure of the President.
The Mayor supervises the city's executive functions, enforces laws and ordinances, presides over the City Council, signs ordinances, appoints officials in accordance with Civil Service Law, manages city property, oversees tax collection and uses, and can take emergency measures for public safety among other duties.
The City Council comprises the Mayor (as chairman), Vice-Mayor, and eight council members appointed by the President with the Commission's consent. It exercises legislative powers such as appropriations, tax levies, business regulation, public safety, and ordinance enactment for health, order, and city improvement.
Penalties shall not exceed a fine of two hundred pesos or imprisonment for six months, or both. Imprisonment may be imposed in lieu of unpaid fines at a prescribed rate, and imprisonment may require the offender to labor on city projects.
The City Engineer heads the Department of Engineering, supervises all engineering and surveying work, public improvements, public property maintenance, inspects buildings for safety, and may order removal or demolition of illegal or dangerous structures.
The President appoints, with the Commission on Appointments' consent, officials including the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, city health officer, city engineer, chief of police, city treasurer, city assessor, city attorney and assistants, municipal court judges, and city superintendent of schools.
An annual ad valorem tax not exceeding two percent on the assessed value of real estate is levied. Taxes are due January 1 and payable by May 31 with penalties for delinquency. The City Treasurer may collect taxes through distraint and sale of personal and real property, with provisions for exemptions, redemption, tax liens, and forfeiture.
The Chief of Police commands the police force, handles organization and discipline, maintains peace, arrests violators, supervises police investigations, executes court processes, and has general supervision over the city warden and other duties prescribed by law or ordinance.
The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases similar to justice of the peace courts, exclusive jurisdiction over certain criminal offenses within the city’s police jurisdiction with maximum penalties specified, and concurrent jurisdiction with Courts of First Instance for specific crimes. It also conducts preliminary examinations and handles appeals cases.
The City Council may levy special assessments on real estates specially benefited by public works like roads, streets, sewers, parks, or waterworks, for not less than 60% of the cost. The assessments must be based on property valuation, with provisions for ordinance publication, public hearings, protest consideration, assessment notification, and payment enforcement.
City officers or employees are prohibited from having direct or indirect interests in city contracts, business transactions with the city, games and amusements licensed by the city, or in purchasing city property to avoid conflicts of interest.
Any aggrieved owner may appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals within prescribed timeframes, following the same rules as for ordinary tax assessment cases. The Board hears appeals, may amend assessments, and has its decisions reviewed by the Secretary of Finance and President if necessary.