City Territory Determination
- District Engineer to survey and define city boundaries within 3 months.
- Director of Public Works certifies and President defines boundaries by executive order.
- Provincial Board can purchase or expropriate land within city territory for public use.
Police Jurisdiction
- Police jurisdiction covers city limits and water supply drainage areas, including 100-meter radius around water infrastructure.
- Municipal court shares jurisdiction with municipalities within water area; first court to take jurisdiction retains it.
- Fines in drainage area accrue to municipality treasury, not city.
City Liability
- City not liable for damages from failure or negligence in enforcing laws or ordinances.
City Government Officials
- Chief officials include City Mayor, City Council members, city engineer, treasurer-assessor, fiscal, health officer, police chief, municipal judge, and Mayor's secretary.
- Provincial officials serve ex officio in city positions.
City Mayor's Powers and Duties
- Directs executive functions and enforces laws.
- Safeguards city property and finances.
- Institutes legal proceedings and defends city interests.
- Supervises city officials and employees.
- Examines city records annually.
- Submits budget and reports to City Council.
- Grants or revokes municipal licenses.
- Takes emergency measures for disasters.
Secretary to City Mayor
- Custodian of city records and corporate seal.
- Attests official documents and furnishes certified copies.
Secretary of the City Council
- Keeps records and proceedings of City Council.
- Maintains ordinance books and seal.
- Publishes ordinances and furnishes certified copies.
City Council Proceedings
- City Mayor presides over Council.
- Weekly sessions with quorum of two members.
- Ordinance passage requires two affirmative votes.
- Public sessions by default.
- Ordinances posted after passage and effective after 10 days.
- Department Head can disapprove ordinances beyond Council powers.
Legislative Powers of City Council
- Levy and collect taxes.
- Appropriate funds and control salaries (salary cap applies).
- Regulate city services including police, fire, public works, health, businesses, and public welfare.
- Regulate licenses, fees, and public safety.
- Enact ordinances for peace, morals, and general welfare.
- Fix penalties up to 200 pesos fine or 6 months imprisonment.
Restrictions and Sign Regulations
- No commercial signs on public property.
- City Mayor can order removal of offensive or nuisance signs.
Heads of City Offices
- Administer their offices under City Mayor.
- Certify payroll and vouchers.
- Submit budget estimates and operational reports.
Appointment and Removal of City Officials
- President appoints municipal judges and Chief of Police with Commission on Appointments consent.
- City Mayor appoints other officials per Civil Service Law.
- Officers hold office at President's pleasure except judges.
Conflict of Interest Prohibitions
- City officers prohibited from certain business dealings with city or purchasing city property.
City Engineer Powers and Duties
- Oversees surveying, engineering work, and public improvements.
- Supervises construction and maintenance of public buildings and utilities.
- Manages public streets, parks, waterworks, sewers, and sanitation.
- Inspects private buildings and orders removal of unlawful structures.
- Charges fees for sanitation and transport services.
Public Works Execution
- Public works ≥3,000 pesos awarded to lowest bidder after public notice.
- City engineer may execute works with high approval.
- Works under 3,000 pesos may be contracted or self-executed.
City Treasurer-Assessor Duties
- Chief fiscal officer, collects taxes, licenses, rents, fees, fines.
- Acts as deputy internal revenue collector.
- Purchases supplies and accounts for city funds.
- Assesses real estate for taxation.
City Fiscal Responsibilities
- Chief legal adviser and civil and criminal representative.
- Prosecutes ordinance violations and investigates crimes.
- Subpoenas witnesses and conducts investigations.
- Performs autopsies for unexplained deaths.
- Drafts legal instruments and advises city officials.
City Health Officer Duties
- Supervises public health and sanitation.
- Enforces health laws and prosecutes violations.
- Conducts sanitary inspections and maintains vital statistics.
Chief of Police Powers
- Controls city police and fire forces.
- Maintains order, arrests offenders, manages city prison.
- Executes court processes and enforces fire safety.
- Regulates electrical installations and hazardous materials.
Peace Officers and Special Police
- City Mayor, chief of police, and police force are peace officers.
- Authorized to enforce laws, arrest without warrant under conditions.
- City Mayor may swear in special police during emergencies with full powers.
Municipal Court Structure
- Municipal judge and auxiliary judge appointed.
- Auxiliary judge acts during judge’s absence.
- Temporary jurisdiction assigned to justice of the peace if both absent.
Municipal Court Clerk and Powers
- Clerk appointed by judge; acts as sheriff.
- Maintains court records, administers oaths, affixes court seal.
Municipal Court Jurisdiction
- Has civil and criminal jurisdiction like other chartered city courts.
Procedures for Ordinance Violations
- Summons issued primarily; warrant may be issued upon affidavit.
- Adheres to Philippine judicial procedural rules.
Costs, Fines and Collections
- Costs, fines, and fees collected from convicted defendants.
- Collections paid to city treasurer for city benefit.
Commitment of Prisoners
- No confinement without written court commitment detailing sentence.
Appeals
- Appeal to Court of First Instance allowed for fines or imprisonment.
- Appeal process involves filing statements and record transmission.
- Appeal vacates municipal court judgment and triggers trial de novo.
Tax Assessment Laws
- Real property tax assessed under Commonwealth Act 470 as amended.
- Municipal terms construed to mean City for the City of Trece Martires.
Revenue Allotment
- City receives share of internal revenue and national taxes as if a province.
City Budget Process
- Treasurer submits detailed prior year and current year financial statements and estimates.
- Mayor submits detailed budget to Council at least 2.5 months prior to fiscal year.
- Appropriation cannot exceed budgeted revenues; salary expenditure capped at 50%.
- Supplemental budgets may be adopted for unforeseen needs.
- If no new appropriation, previous year’s budget deemed reenacted.
City Auditing and Registry
- Provincial auditor acts as city auditor.
- Provincial register of deeds acts as city register of deeds.
Purchasing Agent Duties
- Purchases supplies and equipment except real estate for city use.
- Contracts for labor and materials for completed work excluded.
Public Schools Administration
- Bureau of Public Schools and provincial division superintendent exercise school jurisdiction.
- City Council may establish schools and fix tuition with education authority approval.
- Division superintendent reports quarterly to City Mayor on school conditions.
City as Provincial Capital
- Trece Martires designated capital and seat of provincial government.
Representation and Elections
- City remains part of Cavite province for representation and voting purposes.
Appropriations for City Establishment
- 500,000 pesos appropriated for survey, land acquisition, construction, and first year operation expenses.
Law Effectivity
- Survey, land purchase, and building construction provisions effective upon enactment.
- Other provisions effective on date fixed by Presidential inauguration of the city.