City Seal and Powers
- The city shall have a common seal which may be altered.
- The city may own, lease, dispose of property, contract, sue and be sued.
- The Charter powers are liberal and not limited to specific mentions.
Police Jurisdiction
- Police jurisdiction covers the entire city territory.
- Extended police jurisdiction over the water supply drainage area and within 100 meters of reservoirs and water facilities.
- City municipal court has concurrent jurisdiction with municipal courts in those extended areas.
- First court to assume jurisdiction retains it exclusively.
Mayoral Office
- The Mayor is the chief executive with immediate control over city departments and agencies.
- Election at large for a term of 4 years; qualifications include age of 30, residency of 5 years, and voter registration.
- Removal grounds include disloyalty, dishonesty, oppression, or misconduct.
- Salary capped at ₱7,200 annually plus a possible allowance.
Vice-Mayoral Office
- Vice-Mayor performs mayoral duties in specified absences or vacancy.
- Inability of Vice-Mayor leads to succession by President Pro-tempore of the Municipal Board, or City Treasurer.
- Vice-Mayor elected with same qualifications as Mayor.
- Salary capped at ₱4,800 annually.
General Powers and Duties of the Mayor
- Direct control and supervision over executive and administrative city functions.
- Subject to supervision of the Office of the President.
- Powers include oversight and coordination responsibilities (detailed enumerations omitted).
City Secretary
- Appointed by Mayor, serves at the mayor's pleasure.
- Custodian of city records, corporate seal, and attestation of official documents.
- Oversees departmental coordination and personnel system compliant with Civil Service Law.
- Develops administrative procedures and conducts management studies.
- May attend board meetings as Mayor’s proxy.
- Salary not exceeding ₱4,200 per annum.
Municipal Board Composition and Organization
- Legislative body with Vice-Mayor as presiding officer, without vote except to break ties.
- Eight councilors elected at large.
- Board elects a President Pro-tempore.
- Temporary substitutes appointed by President of the Philippines during absences.
- Members receive ₱3,600 annual salary.
Municipal Board Qualifications and Terms
- Members must be at least 25 years old, city residents for 2 years.
- Elections held during regular provincial and municipal elections.
- Terms start January 1 following election.
Secretary of the Municipal Board
- Appointed by the Board, serves for the term of the Board.
- Salary capped at ₱3,600 annually.
Municipal Board Procedures
- Weekly regular sessions, special sessions called by Mayor or members.
- Open sessions unless 5 members vote otherwise.
- Quorum is 5 members.
- Failure to attend may lead to fines or arrest order.
- Ordinances require 5 affirmative votes; emergency ordinances may waive certain procedural requirements.
- Ordinances take effect 10 days after passage unless vetoed or otherwise provided.
- Budget ordinance provisions allow effectivity without Secretary of Finance approval under specified fiscal conditions.
Regulatory and Taxation Powers
- Authority to distribute free medicines and foods to indigents under Mayor’s supervision.
- Establish and maintain schools; fix tuition with approval.
- License fees and regulation on various trades, businesses, and occupations such as hawkers, plumbers, barbers, clubs, amusement places, dealers in goods, and others.
- Taxation of dealers classified by goods sold, with special license provisions.
- Regulation of dance halls, saloons, bars, cockpits.
- Operation and maintenance of waterworks, sewers, drains, sanitation facilities.
- Ordinances extended over water bodies and protected areas around water facilities.
- Taxation and regulation of intoxicating liquors.
- Authority to tax and regulate other unspecified businesses and occupations.
Additional Regulatory Powers
- Additional taxing and licensing of various manufacturers and trades.
- Prohibition and suppression of riots, disorderly conduct, houses of ill fame, gambling, obscene publications.
- Property owners required to construct or repair sidewalks, with costs collectible as special assessment.
- Health and sanitation enforcement via filling of land and property.
- Prohibition on carrying firearms within the city by unauthorized persons.
City Departments
- Includes Finance, Assessment, Engineering, Law, Health, Police, and Fire Departments.
- Mayor supervises all departments except Law Department which is under DOJ supervision.
- Municipal Board may reorganize or consolidate departments upon Mayor’s recommendation.
Appointment and Removal of Officials
- President appoints judges, city treasurer and assistant, city engineer, fiscal, health officer, police and fire chiefs, and other department heads.
- Mayor appoints other city employees subject to Civil Service Law, and may suspend or remove them with appeals to Civil Service Commissioner.
Conflict of Interest Prohibition
- Officers prohibited from engaging in business transactions with the city that result in personal gain.
- Prohibited from purchasing city property sold for taxes or lawsuits.
- Prohibitions extend to acts of suretyship and financial interests in city contracts.
- Violation constitutes malfeasance with forfeiture of office.
Disqualifications and Ethical Conduct
- Prohibition on giving or promising portions of compensation for nomination or employment.
- Officers must not convert public property or commit fraud.
- No coercion or intimidation to force resignations.
- Violations lead to forfeiture of office.
Contract Limitations
- City contracts involving payment cannot exceed five years.
- Personal services contracts limited to mayoral term.
- Must be approved by ordinance to be valid.
Assistant City Treasurer
- Acts in the Treasurer’s absence or incapacity.
- Salary set at ₱4,800 annually.
City Engineer
- Heads Engineering and Public Works.
- Salary not exceeding ₱5,700.
- Responsible for care and maintenance of streets, parks, bridges.
- Oversees garbage and waste disposal.
City Fiscal
- Chief legal adviser.
- Salary capped at ₱5,700.
- Performs prosecutorial and advisory duties.
Preliminary Investigations
- Required before filing complaints in Court of First Instance cases if accused not in custody.
- Accused must be given hearing opportunity with cross-examination rights.
- Detained accused may waive certain rights but investigation must conclude within ten days.
General Auditing Office
- Auditor General or delegate audits all city accounts.
- City auditor salary at ₱5,700 annually.
City Health Department
- City Health Officer heads the department; salary capped at ₱5,700.
- Duties include supervision of cleanliness of public buildings, streets, markets, slaughterhouses.
- Authority to declare nuisance conditions affecting public health with communication to Mayor.
- Administers social welfare programs, medical aid to indigents.
- Ex-officio local civil registrar with additional salary.
Continuity of Incumbent Officials
- Existing officers and employees continue in office until successors are elected and qualified, or removed for cause.
- Compensation continues at current rates unless modified by law.
- City Treasurer and City Engineer cease to be members of the Municipal Board upon effect of the Act.
- First Vice-Mayor and additional Board members appointed by the President until elected successors.
Repeal of Conflicting Laws
- Any inconsistent laws, executive or administrative orders are repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect immediately upon approval.