Capital and Seat of Government
- Municipality of Ipil designated as capital and government seat
Corporate Powers of the Province
- Political body corporate with perpetual succession
- Powers include suing and being sued, using corporate seal, acquiring property, contracting, and other lawful prerogatives
General Provincial Powers
- May levy taxes, regulate public spaces, manage property
- May expropriate for public use
- Authorized to enter contracts, prosecute and defend suits
Liability of Province and Officials
- Not exempt from liability for death, injury, or property damage
Legislative Districts
- Zamboanga Sibugay constituted as Lone Congressional District
- Zamboanga del Sur retains two legislative districts
Police Jurisdiction
- Jurisdiction coextensive with territorial boundaries for police purposes
- Extended police jurisdiction to protect water supply drainage areas and reservoirs
- Courts of adjoining municipalities retain jurisdiction over crimes until first taking jurisdiction
- License issuance and fee collection under authority of appropriate province or municipality
Provincial Officials Structure
- Elected: Governor, Vice Governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members
- Appointed: Provincial Treasurer, Assessor, Accountant, Engineer, Budget Officer, Planning and Development Coordinator, Legal Officer, Administrator, Health Officer, Civil Registrar, Social Welfare Officer, General Services Officer, Agriculturist, Veterinarian, Environment Officer, Cooperatives Officer
- Optional appointments: Architect, Population Officer, Information Officer
- Establishment of Provincial Fire Station, Jail, and School Division with heads as specified
- Appointment confirmation by majority of Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Official Residences and Offices
- Governor's residence and office in provincial capital (Ipil)
- Other officials to hold office in capital or, for short periods, any component city or municipality upon resolution
Powers and Duties of Provincial Governor
- Chief executive exercising powers under Local Government Code and this Act
- Supervises provincial programs, formulates development plans, appoints officials
- Represents province in transactions and legal matters
- Carries out emergency measures during disasters
- Manages salary payments and office space
- Oversees employee performance and may initiate proceedings for offenses
- Examines books and requires documents, including from national officials
- Submits executive orders and annual/supplemental reports
- Ensures acts within officials' authority
- Convening meetings, issuing executive orders, armed within jurisdiction
- Cooperates with police and law enforcement for peace and order
- Manages provincial resources, revenue generation, budget preparation, and tax collection
- Enforces tax ordinances and environmental measures
- Ensures delivery of basic services and facilities
- Minimum salary at Salary Grade 30
Powers and Duties of the Vice Governor
- Presiding officer of Sangguniang Panlalawigan
- Signs warrants for legislative expenditures
- Appoints officials and employees of the sanggunian
- Assumes governorship in permanent or temporary vacancy
- Minimum salary at Salary Grade 28
Composition and Powers of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
- Composed of Vice Governor, elected members, presidents of Liga ng mga Barangay, SK federation, federation of councilors, and sectoral representatives
- Legislative functions include ordinance enactment, resolutions, and budget approval
- Oversight of local ordinances and executive orders
- Powers to maintain peace and order, environmental protection
- Authority to impose fines and penalties
- Regulation of public safety, health, zoning, taxation, franchises, and business operations
- Management of public utilities, traffic, markets, social services, education, and welfare
- Approves budget, loans, and appropriations
- Sectoral representation to address women, workers, and other groups
- Monthly compensation at Salary Grade 27
Internal Rules and Procedures of the Sanggunian
- Adoption of rules within 90 days after election
- Creation of committees covering various governance aspects
- Conduct of parliamentary procedure including discipline
- Attendance requirements and penalties for misconduct
Financial Disclosure for Sanggunian Members
- Mandatory disclosure of business and financial interests upon assumption
- Disclosure when participating in discussions or voting on related matters
- To prevent conflicts of interest by transparency
Legislative Sessions
- Minimum once a week regular sessions
- Special sessions may be called by governor or majority members
- Open to public unless majority vote for closed session
- Restrictions on session scheduling and notice requirements
Quorum and Attendance
- Majority constitutes quorum
- Enforcement of attendance including police assistance
- Session adjournment if quorum not met
Approval and Veto of Ordinances
- Ordinances presented to Governor for signature
- Governor may veto with written reasons within 15 days
- Sanggunian may override veto by two-thirds vote
- Governor’s veto limited to one time per ordinance
- Itemized veto allowed on appropriations and similar ordinances
Disqualifications for Provincial Elective Positions
- Final conviction for crimes involving moral turpitude or imprisonment over 1 year within 2 years post sentence
- Removal from office via administrative case
- Citizenship issues, fugitive status, residency abroad
- Insanity or mental incapacity
Succession in Provincial Offices
- Vice governor succeeds governor permanently
- Highest ranking sanggunian member succeeds if refusal or further vacancies
- Ranking based on proportion of votes received
- Tie resolved by lots
- Filling sanggunian vacancies by Presidential appointments from same political party
- Special filling procedures for non-political party members and sectoral representatives
Temporary Vacancy Management for Governor
- Vice governor exercises governor’s powers during temporary incapacity
- Limitations on appointment powers if incapacity under 30 days
- Governor traveling may designate officer-in-charge except appointment powers
Qualifications and Duties of Appointive Provincial Officials
- Secretary to Sangguniang Panlalawigan: Career official, handles records, journal, and official acts
- Provincial Treasurer: Appointed by Secretary of Finance, manages funds, reports on tax collection
- Provincial Assessor: Manages real property tax assessment, supervision, reporting
- Provincial Accountant: Handles accounting and internal audit, financial statements
- Provincial Budget Officer: Prepares, consolidates budget, coordinates with finance and planning
- Planning & Development Coordinator: Formulates development plans, monitoring, people participation
- Provincial Engineer: Supervises infrastructure and public works
- Provincial Health Officer: Oversees health programs, ordinances, inspections
- Provincial Civil Registrar: Manages civil registries, licenses, records
- Provincial Administrator: Coordinates provincial officials, personnel programs
- Provincial Legal Officer: Chief legal counsel, represents province in legal matters
- Provincial Agriculturist: Agricultural programs, research, and enforcement
- Provincial Social Welfare Officer: Welfare programs, crisis intervention, vulnerable groups
- Environment Officer: Environmental protection, resource management, pollution control
- Provincial Veterinarian: Animal health and welfare
- General Services Officer: Property management, janitorial, records
- Provincial Cooperatives Officer: Develops cooperatives, technical assistance
- Optional Officials (Architect, Population Officer, Information Officer): Planning, population programs, public information
Establishment of Provincial Services
- Fire Station: Minimum five stations, fire marshal heads
- Provincial Jail: Secure facilities for prisoners, warden with social sciences background
- School Division: Separate division established, headed by qualified superintendent
- Prosecution Service: DOJ staffing for criminal prosecution, headed by provincial prosecutor
Transition and Final Provisions
- Creation subject to plebiscite within 60 days
- Corporate existence upon election and qualification of officials
- Continued service of officials of Zamboanga del Sur until new province established
- Appointment of provincial positions within 60 days
- No increase in local taxes or real property tax in first 5 years
- Proportionate division of assets, obligations, and funds
- Governance governed by Local Government Code and applicable laws
- Separability clause for invalid provisions
- Effectivity 15 days after publication in two newspapers