Corporate Powers and General Authority of the City
- The City is a political body corporate with perpetual succession.
- Powers include suing and being sued, owning property, entering contracts, and other powers allowed by law.
- Has a common seal, can levy taxes, regulate public properties, expropriate for public use, and execute contracts.
Promotion of General Welfare and Responsibilities
- City exercises powers essential for efficient governance and the promotion of general welfare.
- Responsibilities include preserving culture, promoting health and safety, protecting ecology, enhancing economic prosperity, maintaining peace and order.
Liability and Jurisdiction
- City and officials are liable for damages and injuries.
- Police jurisdiction covers territorial limits and water supply drainage areas.
- Courts of the City and adjoining municipalities have concurrent jurisdiction over crimes within these areas.
City Officials and Administrative Structure
- Offices include mayor, vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, various appointed officials such as treasurer, assessor, legal officer, social welfare officer, and others.
- City mayor appoints heads of departments with sangguniang panlungsod approval.
- Additional offices like fire station, jail, schools division, and prosecution service established.
City Mayor: Powers, Duties, and Qualifications
- Chief executive, elected at large for three years, minimum age 21, resident and qualified voter.
- Powers include policy direction, development planning, legislative initiatives, appointments, representation in business transactions, emergency authority.
- Responsible for enforcement of laws, public safety, resource generation, licensing, and employment oversight.
- May solemnize marriages and coordinate sports events.
City Vice Mayor: Role and Responsibilities
- Elected similarly to the mayor, presides over legislative council.
- Appoints council staff and assumes mayoral duties in vacancy or temporary absence.
- Holds statutory powers under the Local Government Code.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council): Composition and Function
- Composed of vice mayor as presiding officer, elected members, barangay and youth federation presidents, and sectoral representatives.
- Legislative functions include approving ordinances and resolutions, maintaining peace and order, regulating public welfare, environment, tax ordinances, and local development.
- Approves budgets, revenue measures, loans, franchises, and land use plans.
- Regulates local services from sanitation to traffic, environmental protection, social welfare, and culture.
Legislative Process and Procedures
- Rules of procedure adopted within 90 days after election.
- Members must disclose financial and business interests to avoid conflicts.
- Regular sessions at least weekly; special sessions may be called.
- Quorum requires majority of members; penalties for unexcused absences.
Ordinance Approval, Veto, and Review
- Ordinances presented to mayor for approval or veto.
- Mayor's veto can be overridden by two-thirds of the council.
- Review of city ordinances by provincial council within 30 days.
- Barangay ordinances reviewed by city council; disapproved ordinances suspended.
Succession in Elective City Offices
- Permanent mayoral vacancy filled by vice mayor; vice mayor vacancy by highest ranking council members.
- Further vacancies filled by appointments based on political party nominations.
- Temporary mayoral incapacity duties exercised by vice mayor or senior council member.
Qualifications and Duties of Appointive City Officials
- Appointive positions require Philippine citizenship, residency in the city, good moral character, first grade civil service eligibility, relevant degrees and experience.
- Key positions include secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, treasurer, assessor, accountant, budget officer, planning and development coordinator, engineer, health officer, civil registrar, administrator, legal officer, social welfare officer, veterinarian, general services officer, agriculturist, cooperatives officer, environment and natural resources officer, architect, information officer, and population officer.
- Duties entail administrative, financial, health, legal, social, agricultural, environmental, and information functions to support city governance and public services.
Specialized City Services
- City fire station headed by a fire marshal provides emergency and fire prevention services.
- City jail service maintains secure, sanitary detention facilities, respects human rights, and provides separate areas for women and juveniles.
- City schools division under the Department of Education supervises local schools.
- City prosecution service, under Department of Justice, handles criminal prosecutions within the city courts.
Transitory and Final Provisions
- Existing municipal ordinances continue until changed by the city council.
- Creation of city is subject to ratification by a plebiscite.
- Current municipal officials and employees continue until successors qualify.
- City succeeds all municipal assets and liabilities.
- City remains part of Agusan del Norte province for jurisdictional and electoral purposes.
- No local tax increases allowed for five years post-cityhood.
- City remains part of the province’s second congressional district.
- Local Government Code and applicable laws govern city operations unless inconsistent with this Charter.
- City exempt from income requirements under Republic Act No. 9009.
- Charter provisions severable; parts invalidated do not affect remaining valid parts.
- Boundary disputes may still be settled by appropriate agencies despite cityhood.
- Conflicting laws repealed or modified accordingly.
- Charter takes effect fifteen days after publication in newspapers.