Charter of the City of Borongan

Corporate and General Powers

City is a political corporation with perpetual succession.
Powers: sue and be sued, hold property, enter contracts, levy taxes, expropriate property, regulate public spaces.
City may adopt common seal and modify it.

General Welfare and Liability

City exercises powers necessary for governance and general welfare.
Initiatives include cultural preservation, health, ecological balance, economic prosperity, social justice, employment, peace and order.
City and officials liable for damages caused.

Police Jurisdiction

Police jurisdiction aligns with city territorial boundaries.
For water supply protection, jurisdiction extends to drainage areas and 100 meters radius from water infrastructure.
Concurrent court jurisdiction for crimes in water supply protected areas.
Revenue from licenses in overlapping zones accrue to respective LGUs.

City Officials and Administrative Structure

City officials include mayor, vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, and various department heads.
Additional roles like environment officer and architect may be appointed.
Appointment of officials subject to legislative concurrence and civil service rules.

City Mayor: Qualifications, Term, and Duties

Elected at large; must be 21 years of age, resident for 1 year, qualified voter.
Term: 3 years; compensation per Salary Grade 30.
Duties: chief executive functions, policy formulation, development plan implementation, legislative liaison, appointments, representation of the city.
Exercises emergency powers, enforces laws, supervises officials, manages city resources.
Authority includes police control, fiscal management, licensing, and public welfare activities.

City Vice Mayor: Qualifications, Term, and Duties

Same election criteria as mayor; term 3 years, Salary Grade 26.
Presides over sangguniang panlungsod, signs expenditure warrants.
Appoints sanggunian officials, assumes mayoral duties in vacancies or temporary absences.

Sangguniang Panlungsod: Composition and Functions

Includes vice mayor, 10 regular members, presidents of barangay and youth federations, and three sectoral representatives.
Legislative body responsible for ordinances, resolutions, tax imposition, budgets, peace and order, environment protection, welfare programs.
Can authorize loans, franchises, regulate public utilities, and adopt land use plans.
Provide legal aid, insurance for officials, and promote cooperative and socio-economic programs.

Legislative Process: Rules, Sessions, Quorum, and Ordinance Approval

Adopt internal procedural rules, establish committees.
Sessions held weekly; special sessions require notice.
Majority constitutes quorum; can compel attendance of absent members.
Ordinances approved by mayor, who may veto with grounds; veto override requires two-thirds vote.
Ordinances reviewed by provincial sanggunian and barangay sanggunian for conformity with laws.
Enforcement of disapproved ordinances may cause official sanctions.
Ordinances take effect 10 days after public posting and publication.

Succession for Elective Officials

Vice mayor succeeds mayor upon vacancy; sanggunian members succeed vice mayor.
Further vacancies filled by appointment from the political party of former member or by city mayor upon recommendation.
Temporary mayoral incapacity duties assumed by vice mayor or highest ranking sanggunian member with appointment powers triggered after 30 days.

Appointive Officials: Qualifications and Duties

Secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod: career official, legal or public administration degree preferred, civil service eligibility required.
City Treasurer and Assistant: appointed by Secretary of Finance upon city mayor's recommendation, require commerce/law degree, civil service eligibility, experienced in treasury/accounting.
City Assessor and Assistant: engineering or commerce degree preferred, civil service eligibility, experience in property assessment.
City Accountant: certified public accountant with experience in government accounting.
Budget Officer: experience in government budgeting, degree in accounting/economics/public administration.
Planning and Development Coordinator: degree in urban planning or related fields, experience in development planning.
Engineer: licensed civil engineer with requisite experience, supervises public works.
Health Officer: licensed medical practitioner with experience, supervises health programs.
Civil Registrar: manages civil registration, issues certificates and marriage licenses.
Administrator: manages city government coordination, administrative reforms and personnel.
Legal Officer: licensed lawyer, handles legal representation, drafts ordinances, investigates misconduct.
Social Welfare Officer: licensed social worker or related degree, handles social services.
Veterinarian: licensed doctor of veterinary medicine, oversees animal health and welfare.
General Services Officer: handles supply, sanitation, property management.
Agriculturist: degree in agriculture, oversees agricultural services.
Cooperatives Officer: manages cooperative development.
Environment Officer: manages natural resources and environment conservation.
Architect: licensed architect, responsible for architectural planning and design.
Information Officer: manages public information and media relations.
Population Officer: oversees population development programs.

City Fire Station, Jail, Schools Division, and Prosecution Service

Fire Station: established with adequate personnel and facilities, headed by fire marshal.
Jail Service: secured, sanitary jail managed by warden with social sciences background.
Schools Division: maintained by DepEd, headed by division superintendent.
Prosecution Service: headed by city prosecutor under DOJ, handles criminal cases within city jurisdiction.

Transitory and Final Provisions

Existing municipal ordinances remain effective until modified by city sanggunian.
City corporate existence contingent on plebiscite ratification.
Current municipal officials continue until new elections and qualification.
City succeeds to all municipal assets and liabilities.
Voters of the city vote for provincial elective offices.
City remains under province jurisdiction unless otherwise provided.
No local tax increases for five years following cityhood.
City remains part of lone congressional district.
Local Government Code governs unless inconsistent with this charter.
City exempt from RA 9009 income requirements.
Charter severability and precedence specified.
Allows for resolution of boundary disputes post-cityhood.
Repeal or amendment of inconsistent laws.
Effectivity 15 days after publication.