Corporate Powers and General Authority of the City
- City is a political body corporate with perpetual succession.
- Powers to sue and be sued, use corporate seal, acquire and convey property, enter contracts.
- Authority to levy taxes, manage public infrastructure, expropriate property for public use.
- City and officials not exempt from liability for damages or injuries.
- Jurisdiction extends for police purposes to the city area and additionally over water supply drainage zones.
- City courts have concurrent jurisdiction over crimes committed in water supply zones.
City Officials and Appointment Procedures
- Various mandatory city officials listed including mayor, vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, treasurer, assessor, accountant, health officer, among others.
- Mayor may appoint additional officers such as environment officer, city architect, population officer.
- Sangguniang panlungsod may create, consolidate offices and must concur appointments.
Powers, Qualifications, Duties of the City Mayor
- Chief executive elected at large, minimum age 23, resident for at least one year, qualified voter.
- Term of office is three years with compensation based on salary grade 30.
- Responsibilities include policy determination, governance oversight, development plan formulation and implementation, legislative initiative.
- Power to appoint officials, enter into contracts, represent the City in business transactions.
- Executive orders enforcement, emergency management, disciplinary authority over city employees.
- Judicial and administrative powers including examination of city records and coordination with national officials.
- Authority to solemnize marriages, conduct city sports festival, and submit annual and special reports to provincial governor.
- Peace and order duties including police supervision and authority to call law enforcement agencies.
- Fiscal powers for budgeting, tax enforcement, issuance and revocation of permits and licenses.
- Ensure delivery of basic services and coordinate with national government for infrastructure.
Roles and Powers of the City Vice Mayor
- Elected similar to mayor, same qualifications, term of three years.
- Presides over sangguniang panlungsod.
- Signs warrants for sangguniang panlungsod expenditures.
- Appoints sangguniang panlungsod officials.
- Assumes mayoralty on vacancy and performs mayoral duties when temporarily incapacitated.
Composition and Authority of the Sangguniang Panlungsod
- Legislative body: vice mayor presiding, ten regular members, presidents of barangay and youth federations, sectoral representatives.
- Powers include ordinance enactment, fund appropriation, review of barangay ordinances, imposition of penalties.
- Responsibilities include environmental protection measures, community welfare programs, business regulation, public safety, land use and zoning regulation.
- Authority to grant franchises and regulate public utilities, business licenses, and specific industries.
- Approve budgets, authorize loans, bonds, and leases.
- Ensure delivery and maintenance of basic services and facilities.
- Compensation based on salary grade 25.
Legislative Procedures and Transparency Measures
- Adoption of internal rules within 90 days of membership election.
- Committee structure covering appropriations, environment, peace and order, and other areas.
- Disclosure of financial and business interests required from sangguniang panlungsod members to prevent conflicts of interest.
- Rules on session scheduling, quorum, open meetings with provisions for closed sessions.
- Veto power of the mayor with a two-thirds override by the sangguniang panlungsod.
- Ordinances are reviewed by the provincial sangguniang panlalawigan for legality.
- Barangay ordinances subject to review and possible suspension if inconsistent with city laws.
Disqualification and Succession of Elective Officials
- Disqualifications include prior conviction for crimes involving moral turpitude, removal from office, dual citizenship, insanity, among others.
- Succession rules detail automatic elevation of vice mayor to mayor, and ranking sangguniang panlungsod members to vice mayor.
- Procedures for filling vacancies by appointments, including nomination by political parties.
- Temporary vacancies of mayor’s office filled by vice mayor or highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member with limits.
Appointment and Duties of Key City Officials
- Secretary of sangguniang panlungsod: career official responsible for records, journals, and dissemination of ordinances.
- City treasurer and assistant treasurer: appointed by Secretary of Finance, manages city finances, tax collection, and fund disbursement.
- City assessor and assistant assessor: oversee property assessment for taxation, maintain tax mapping and records.
- City accountant: internal audit, financial statements, budget certification.
- City budget officer: budget preparation, coordination with other city offices, periodic reporting.
- City urban planning officer: development planning, monitoring, coordination of economic and physical plans.
- City engineer: public works, infrastructure development, supervision of projects.
- City health officer: medical supervision, health programs, enforcement of health laws and ordinances.
- City civil registrar: civil registration operations, issuance of certificates and licenses.
- City administrator: manages city government operations under mayor’s supervision.
- City legal officer: chief legal counsel, represents city in legal proceedings, advises on law enforcement and ordinance review.
- City social welfare officer: social services planning and implementation, crisis intervention, coordination with agencies.
- City veterinarian: animal health regulation, enforcement of animal welfare laws.
- City general services officer: manages city property, records, janitorial and security services.
- City environment officer: conservation and pollution control, forestry and natural resources management.
- City architect: urban design, planning, liaising with stakeholders on architectural matters.
- City information officer: public information dissemination, media liaison, community relations.
- City cooperatives officer: cooperative organization and support, development assistance.
- City population officer: population development programs, responsible parenthood initiatives.
- City agriculturist: agricultural services, research, extension, coordination with relevant agencies.
City Public Safety and Judicial Services
- City fire service: established fire station with firefighting and emergency rescue capabilities.
- City jail service: secure, humane detention facilities with trained warden, respecting prisoners' rights.
- City school division: education administration covering all school districts under Department of Education.
- City prosecution service: under Department of Justice, responsible for criminal prosecutions within city jurisdiction.
Transition, Jurisdiction, and Other Provisions
- Existing municipal ordinances remain effective until new city ordinances are enacted.
- City corporate existence contingent upon a plebiscite by local voters.
- Existing municipal officials remain in office until new elections and qualifications.
- The city succeeds to municipality’s assets, liabilities, and obligations.
- City remains under provincial jurisdiction and voting qualifications extend to provincial elective offices.
- Five-year moratorium on increased local taxes following cityhood.
- No licensing of new racetracks, gambling casinos, jai-alai frontons, or cockpits for three years after cityhood.
- Provisions for resolving boundary disputes and ensuring charter consistency with the Local Government Code.
- Charter takes effect upon publication in newspapers of general circulation.