Corporate Powers of the City
- City is a political body corporate with perpetual succession.
- Powers include suing and being sued, having a corporate seal, acquiring and conveying property, entering contracts.
- Other corporate powers may be exercised within legal limitations.
General Powers and Functions
- City may levy taxes, manage roads and public spaces.
- Authorized to hold, lease, convey and condemn properties for public use.
- Has power to sue, be sued, and contract partnerships.
Liability of City and Officials
- City and officials are not liable for injuries or damages arising from official functions within scope of duties.
Police Jurisdiction
- Police jurisdiction coextensive with territorial jurisdiction.
- Extended jurisdiction for water supply protection within drainage areas and 100 meters around water installations.
- City court has concurrent jurisdiction with neighboring local courts in these extended areas.
City Officials
- Enumerates elective and appointive officials including mayor, vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, and various city department heads.
- Mayor appoints officials with sangguniang panlungsod concurrence.
- City maintains fire station and jail with specified heads.
City Mayor: Qualifications, Powers, and Duties
- Chief executive elected at large; must be 21 years old, resident for at least one year, and qualified voter.
- Term of three years; minimum compensation prescribed by law.
- Duties include policy determination, development planning, legislative initiatives, appointments, representation of the City, disaster management, and enforcement of laws.
- Authority extends to budget preparation, tax collection, issuing licenses, safeguarding city property, and coordination with national agencies.
City Vice Mayor: Qualifications, Powers, and Duties
- Elected similarly to mayor; minimum age 21 and other qualifications.
- Three-year term; salary grade 26.
- Presides over sangguniang panlungsod and signs financial warrants.
- Appoints sangguniang panlungsod officials; succeeds mayor if vacancy.
Sangguniang Panlungsod Composition and Powers
- Composed of vice mayor, elected members, league presidents of barangay and youth councils, plus sectoral representatives.
- Elective members must be at least 18 years old.
- Powers include approving ordinances, maintaining peace and order, environmental protection, tax legislation, land-use regulation, franchise grant, service facility regulation, and delivery of basic services.
- May establish councils for culture, elderly, and manage public utilities.
Legislative Process and Sessions
- Adopts internal rules within 90 days post-election, covering organization, committees, legislative process, discipline.
- Members must disclose financial and business interests to avoid conflicts.
- Regular sessions once a week; special sessions called by mayor or majority of members.
- Quorum is majority; penalties for unauthorized absences.
- Ordinances submitted to mayor for approval or veto; veto override by two-thirds vote.
- Ordinances reviewed by provincial council and barangay councils with specified timelines for approval or disapproval.
- Disapproved ordinances enforcement leads to official suspension or dismissal.
- Ordinances take effect after posting and publication.
Disqualifications and Succession in Elective Offices
- Disqualifications include convictions involving moral turpitude, dual citizenship, being fugitive, insanity, and other grounds.
- Permanent vacancy succession: vice mayor becomes mayor; sangguniang panlungsod members succeed to vacant positions based on vote ranking.
- Appointments fill certain permanent vacancies under political party nomination.
- Temporary mayoral vacancy handled by vice mayor or highest-ranking sangguniang panlungsod member with limited powers.
Appointive City Officials: Qualifications, Powers, and Duties
- Officer positions include secretary to sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurer and assistant, city assessor and assistant, city accountant, budget officer, planning and development officer, city engineer, health officer, civil registrar, administrator, legal officer, agriculturist, social welfare officer, environment officer, architect, information officer, veterinarian, general services officer, trade and industry officer, education officer, youth and sports officer, public safety officer.
- Qualifications generally require Philippine citizenship, residency in Calapan, good moral character, appropriate college degrees, civil service eligibility, and minimum experience.
- Each officer heads respective departments responsible for formulation and implementation of policies, plans, and programs related to their functions; provision of technical assistance and support to the city mayor; overseeing programs related to disaster response; and advising the sangguniang panlungsod and mayor.
Fire and Jail Services
- Establishment of at least one fire station, headed by a fire marshal, equipped and staffed per government standards.
- City responsible for fire prevention, suppression and emergency services.
- Jail service to maintain secure, clean, and humane detention facilities; jail warden required to have relevant background in social or criminology fields.
- Emphasis on protecting human rights and welfare of detainees.
Transitory Provisions and Miscellaneous
- Existing municipal ordinances continue until modified by the sangguniang panlungsod.
- Tax moratorium of five years on rate increases upon city effectivity.
- Corporate existence of city commences after ratification by qualified voters in plebiscite.
- Current municipal officials continue until new officials qualify.
- City succeeds to all Municipal assets, liabilities, and obligations.
- Local Government Code and applicable laws govern the city unless inconsistent with this Act.
- Separability and repeal of conflicting laws provided.
- Effectivity upon approval.