Law Summary
City Vice-Mayor: Role and Qualifications
- Elected similarly and possessing the same qualifications as the City Mayor.
- Assumes Mayor’s duties during the Mayor's death, sickness, absence, or incapacity.
- If Vice Mayor cannot discharge duties or office is vacant, the councilor with the highest votes takes over.
- Presides over the City Council with voting rights only to break ties.
- Compensation not less than ₱7,800 per annum.
- When acting as Mayor, receives the Mayor's salary during that period.
Secretary of the City Mayor
- Appointed by the City Mayor, serves at the Mayor’s pleasure.
- Holds rank equivalent to a department head of city government.
- Receives salary, allowances, and privileges comparable to a department head.
Secretary of the City Council
- Appointed by the City Mayor for a term concurrent with the appointing Mayor.
- Compensation fixed by the City Council, not less than ₱6,000 per annum.
- Temporary vacancies filled by the City Mayor for the unexpired term.
Appointment and Removal of City Officers
- The President, with the Commission on Appointments’ consent, appoints key city officers including the city judge, auxiliary judge, city fiscal and assistants, treasurer, health officer, engineer, and register of deeds.
- These officers can only be suspended or removed as provided by law.
General Auditing Office
- The Auditor General audits all city accounts following government accounting laws.
- City auditor is appointed by the Auditor General with a salary of no less than ₱11,400 per annum, shared equally by the national government and the city.
- Audits disbursement of national funds by the city engineer's office.
Bureau of Public Schools
- The Director of Public Schools exercises jurisdiction in the city as in other parts of the Philippines.
- A city superintendent of schools is appointed similarly to division superintendents.
- National government pays salaries and expenses of most public school personnel and operations, except city barrio high schools.
- The superintendent reports quarterly on schools’ condition and recommends improvements to the Mayor and Director.
City Register of Deeds
- Appointed by the President with the Commission on Appointments’ consent.
- Must be a Philippine Bar member with at least five years of practice, except temporary appointees.
- Salary paid by the national government.
- Performs all functions prescribed by law for register of deeds of chartered cities.
Allotment of Internal Revenue and Other Taxes
- The city receives shares from internal revenue allotments and other taxes as if it were both a municipality and a province.
- Share from the regular internal revenue allotment guaranteed not less than the amount received by June 30, 1971.
- Share of Palawan Province from registration of aliens’ fees, fines, or forfeitures collected in the city credited to the city.
Income Tax From Wages
- Net proceeds of income tax withheld from wages collected in Puerto Princesa city are credited and remitted to the city.
Execution of Public Works and Improvements
- Public works costing ₱20,000 or more awarded to lowest responsible bidder after public notice lasting not less than 10 days.
- City engineer may execute works costing ₱20,000 or more by administration with approval from the Secretary of Public Works and Communications and recommendation from the Mayor.
- For works below ₱20,000, the city engineer, with Mayor’s approval, decides whether to contract or execute directly.
City Fiscal and Assistants
- A city fiscal and two assistant city fiscals are established.
- The first assistant is the incumbent assistant at the time; the second assistant position is newly created.
- City fiscal is chief of the prosecution department; assistants operate under the Secretary of Justice’s supervision.
Compensation of City Fiscal and Assistants
- Salaries are determined by existing laws and paid by the national government.
- Until inclusion in the Department of Justice budget, the City of Puerto Princesa will pay salaries of the city fiscal and first assistant city fiscal.
Health and Social Services Supervision
- The city has control and supervision over puericulture centers, rural health units, and social services.
City Judge’s Salary
- City judge receives at least ₱18,600 per annum notwithstanding contrary provisions.
- Salary differences to be paid by the city treasury subject to city government implementation.
Appropriations
- Authorizes appropriation from the National Treasury to implement these provisions.
Effectivity
- The amended provisions take effect upon approval.