Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 3857)
Republic Act No. 3857 is commonly known as the Revised Charter of the City of Cebu.
The City of Cebu constitutes a political body corporate with perpetual succession and possesses all powers pertaining to a municipal corporation, exercised in conformity with the Charter.
The city may have a common seal, acquire and dispose of properties, sue and be sued, contract, and exercise all implied powers for efficient municipal affairs management as stated in the Charter.
No, the city shall not be liable for damages arising from failure or negligence of its officers or employees in enforcing this Charter or other laws.
The city's police jurisdiction extends six miles from the shore, includes a three-mile land zone surrounding the city, and covers the drainage area of the city’s water supply including two hundred meters around related water facilities.
The elective officers are the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and councilors, all elected at large for a term of four years, assuming office on January 1 following their election.
Elective officers must be qualified and registered electors of the city and hold no other public office or employment with the city or government, except for notary public or reserve membership in the armed forces.
The President may remove an officer on proof of disloyalty to the Republic after notice and hearing or upon conviction by a competent court of a crime involving moral turpitude.
Prohibited acts include giving or promising compensation for appointment, violating laws related to their office, committing fraud upon the city, converting public property, detailing city employees for non-official work, and coercing resignations from classified service.
The Mayor is the chief executive with powers including enforcing laws, safeguarding city properties, instituting legal proceedings, collecting taxes, transferring employees, submitting budgets, granting licenses, managing emergencies, appointing officials, and representing the city in business matters.
The City Council may levy annual real estate tax rates not exceeding two percent ad valorem plus an additional one percent for capital improvements, impose various municipal taxes, fix licenses, and regulate business activities within the city.
No personal services contract shall extend beyond the term of the Mayor in office at the time the contract is approved, and no such contract shall be valid unless made or approved by ordinance.
The City Council consists of nine councilors who elect a chairman annually from among themselves to preside. Five members constitute a quorum, and the chairman votes on all matters.
The city's police jurisdiction extends to all territory within the drainage area of the city water supply and within 200 meters of reservoirs, conduits, canals, aqueducts, or pumping stations used for the city water service to protect water purity.
A twenty percent additional tax if paid within the first six months of delinquency and twenty-five percent if not paid afterward, plus possible further actions such as seizure and sale of property to satisfy taxes and penalties.
The City Assessor appraises and values all real estate for taxation, prepares tax lists, examines records and properties, and handles appeals regarding tax assessments in accordance with the Charter.
Exemptions include lands or buildings owned by the government, churches, burying grounds, charitable, scientific or educational properties not used for profit, and owners' only real property valued not exceeding five hundred pesos.
The City Engineer supervises engineering and public works, inspects conditions of public properties, enforces regulations on buildings and structures, manages waterworks and sewers, and can order removal of dangerous buildings with mayoral approval.
It has exclusive original jurisdiction over city ordinance violations and limited criminal cases punishable by no more than one year imprisonment or fine not exceeding four hundred pesos, with concurrent jurisdiction over other specified offenses with the Court of First Instance.
The Chief of Police manages the police department, maintains law and order, investigates complaints, supervises city jail, serves processes, attends court sessions, and has full police supervision within city jurisdiction.