General Powers and Liability
- The city may adopt a common seal and manage real and personal properties for public interest.
- It can enter contracts, sue and be sued, and exercise powers conferred by its Charter.
- The city is not liable for damages arising from enforcement failures or negligence of its officials, but personal actions against officials remain possible.
Police Jurisdiction
- The city’s police jurisdiction aligns with its territorial boundaries.
- It extends into the water supply drainage area and proximity zones.
- Jurisdiction overlaps with municipalities' police forces and courts for certain zones, but fee and license revenue belongs to the respective municipalities.
Executive Branch Leadership
- The Mayor, elected at large, is the chief executive with a four-year term, subject to eligibility criteria.
- The Vice-Mayor, also elected at large with similar qualifications, acts as Mayor when necessary.
- Provisions exist for succession, temporary incapacities, and appointments by the President when vacancies occur.
Powers and Duties of the Mayor
- Enforce laws and ordinances faithfully.
- Manage city properties and oversee revenue collection.
- Initiate and defend legal proceedings involving the city.
- Supervise city officers and employees and inspect public records.
- Participate in the Municipal Board meetings without voting rights.
- Represent the city legally and submit annual budgets.
- Decide on municipal licenses and exemptions and handle emergency response.
Secretary to the Mayor
- Serves as recorder and custodian of city records and corporate seal.
- Attests official documents and furnishes certified copies.
- Holds office during the appointing Mayor’s term with a designated salary.
Legislative Branch - Municipal Board
- Composed of the Vice-Mayor (presiding officer) and eight elected councilors.
- Members must meet residency and age qualifications.
- Municipal Board operates with defined rules, quorum, and voting procedures.
- Includes a secretary who maintains legislative records and ensures ordinance publication.
Legislative Powers and Ordinance Process
- Authority to levy taxes, regulate businesses, fix fees, establish public services, and manage city resources.
- Enact ordinances promoting public safety, health, morality, and welfare.
- Power to impose penalties for ordinance violations.
- Ordinances undergo Mayor’s approval with veto and override procedures; certain vetoes may be reviewed by the President of the Philippines.
- Restrictions on commercial signage on public property and authority to remove offensive or nuisance signs.
Barrio Councils
- Established and governed under a separate Republic Act.
- Barrio lieutenants have duties as prescribed by law.
City Departments and Officials
- Departments include Finance, Engineering and Public Works, Law, Health, Police, Fire, and Assessment.
- Department heads are appointed with prescribed duties and report to the Mayor.
- The President appoints certain key officials with removal protections.
- City officers are prohibited from engaging in transactions with the city government that present conflicts of interest.
Relationship to National Bureaus
- City functions align with national agencies such as the General Auditing Office, Bureau of Public Schools, and Bureau of Supply Coordination.
- The city superintendent of schools reports to the Mayor.
Department of Finance
- City treasurer oversees finances, tax collection, management of city funds, procurement, and financial reporting.
- Regular statements on appropriations and balances to be furnished to the Mayor and Municipal Board.
Department of Engineering and Public Works
- City engineer manages public infrastructure, surveys, inspections, sanitation, and public buildings.
- Responsible for awarding public works contracts with specified procedures.
Law Department
- City attorney acts as legal adviser and prosecutor for the city.
- Represents the city in civil actions, investigates violations by officials and franchise holders.
- Conducts investigations including subpoena power and may order autopsies related to suspicious deaths.
- Also serves as the register of deeds.
Department of Health
- City health officer oversees public health, sanitation, enforcement of health laws, maintenance of records of births, deaths, marriages.
- Supervises sanitary inspections and services.
- The Director of Health Services assumes control during epidemics.
Police Department
- Chief of Police governs police activities, maintains peace and order, executes warrants, supervises the police training school.
- Police officers have peace officer powers including warrantless arrest under specified conditions.
- Military aid may be requested by the Mayor in emergencies.
Fire Department
- Chief manages fire forces, enforces fire safety regulations, investigates fires, supervises fire equipment
- Has authority to remove buildings to prevent fire spread.
- Regulates electrical installations and combustible materials to prevent conflagration.
Department of Assessment
- City assessor conducts real estate assessments, administers oaths, and compiles taxable property lists.
- Specific exemptions for certain properties, machinery, and values provided.
- Owners must declare acquisitions or improvements within sixty days.
- Procedures exist to assess unknown or disputed property ownership.
Tax Procedures and Remedies
- Real estate tax rate capped, with provisions for installment payments and penalties for delinquency.
- Personal property exemptions defined for tax collection enforcement.
- Procedures for seizure, sale, and redemption of property for tax delinquency detailed.
- Titles vest in city if taxes remain unpaid after one year with rights of redemption.
- Notifications published and served during tax delinquency processes.
- Sale of seized property and recovery procedures outlined with protections for owners.
City Budgeting
- Annual budget preparation requiring detailed estimates by department heads and submission to the Municipal Board.
- Supplemental budgets authorized as needed.
- Failure to enact appropriation ordinance results in automatic re-enactment of previous year’s ordinance.
Municipal Court
- City municipal court established with appointed regular and auxiliary judges.
- Jurisdiction for civil and criminal cases per law.
- Court procedures align with national rules; appeals governed by Rules of Court.
- Municipal court clerk appointed with administrative duties and powers including sheriff responsibilities.
Final and Transitory Provisions
- Current municipal officials assume city positions upon conversion.
- City voters retain rights in provincial elections.
- City remains part of the first congressional district until otherwise legislated.
- Charter takes effect upon favorable plebiscite concurrent with local elections.