Corporate Powers
- City is a political entity with perpetual succession
- Powers include suing/being sued, using a seal, acquiring/conveying property, entering contracts
- Exercise corporate powers per Charter and law
General Powers
- Possession of common city seal
- Authority to levy taxes, close public thoroughfares
- Acquire, hold, lease, convey property for city interest
- Condemn private property for public use
- Contract, sue, defend on city’s behalf
Liability
- The city and officials liable for damages, injury or death
Jurisdiction
- Police jurisdiction aligns with territorial limits
- Extended police jurisdiction to water supply drainage area, within 100 meters of water reservoirs and conduits
- Courts have concurrent jurisdiction for crimes within water protection zone
- Police jurisdiction shared with adjoining municipalities
City Officials
- Executive positions include mayor, vice-mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members
- Various appointed officials: treasurer, assessor, accountant, budget officer, health officer, legal officer, engineers, social welfare, others
- Mayor appoints some officers with council concurrence
- City fire station headed by fire marshal; city jail headed by jail warden
City Mayor
- Chief executive, elected at large for 3 years
- Must be at least 23 years old, resident for one year, and a qualified voter
- Powers include policy direction, development plan formulation, legislative proposals, appointments, contract signatory
- Authority over disaster response, administration, enforcement of laws and ordinances
- May solemnize marriages, oversee resource management, and represent city in all transactions
- Deputized for local police control per national law
City Vice-Mayor
- Elected likewise, performs as sangguniang panlungsod presiding officer
- Assumes mayor’s office upon vacancy
- Appoints sanggunian officials
Sangguniang Panlungsod (Legislative Body)
- Composed of elected councilors, barangay and youth federation presidents, sectoral reps
- Passes ordinances, resolutions; reviews barangay ordinances
- Approves budget, levies taxes, authorizes loans
- Regulates land use, environment, public morals, public safety
- Provides basic service delivery framework
Legislative Process
- Sanggunian adopts internal rules; conducts public sessions
- Must keep journals and records; quorum needed for business
- Mayor may veto ordinances; veto overridden by two-thirds sanggunian vote
- Review and suspension of inconsistent barangay ordinances
Disqualifications and Succession
- Disqualifications for elective office include conviction for crimes of moral turpitude, administrative removal, dual citizenship
- Succession rules for vacancies in mayor, vice-mayor and sanggunian members based on rankings and appointments
- Temporary incapacity procedures for mayor’s powers
City Departments and Offices
- Organized into departments: Finance, Health, Legal, General Services, Planning
- Mayor designates department heads with council approval
Qualifications and Duties of Appointive Officials
- Secretaries, treasurers, assessors, accountants, planners, engineers, health officers, administrators etc. must meet residency, educational, experience and civil service requirements
- Responsible for efficient operation and implementation of services related to their offices
City Fire Station and Jail Services
- Fire station organized with qualified personnel abiding by national standards
- Jail established for custody of prisoners and detained persons; warden with relevant qualifications
Transition and Final Provisions
- Existing municipal ordinances remain effective until revised
- New city government created upon plebiscite ratification
- Current officials hold office until successors qualify
- Voters of the city excluded from provincial elective positions
- City remains part of Isabela’s Fourth Congressional District until law changes
- Applicable laws include Local Government Code and other laws consistent with this Charter
- Act effective upon approval