Corporate Powers of the City
- The City is a political body corporate with perpetual succession.
- Powers include:
- Continuous corporate existence.
- Capacity to sue and be sued.
- Use of a corporate seal.
- Ownership, acquisition, and conveyance of property.
- Contracting and agreements.
- Exercise of other powers as allowed by law.
General Powers of the City
- The City may alter its seal, subject to DILG registration.
- Powers include:
- Levying taxes, fees, and charges.
- Regulation of roads, parks, and public places.
- Expropriation of private property for public use.
- Contracting and defense in legal matters.
Liability for Damages
- The City and its officials are liable for death, injury, or property damage.
Jurisdiction of the City
- Police jurisdiction is coextensive with territorial boundaries.
- Police jurisdiction for water supply protection extends to drainage areas and 100 meters around water infrastructure.
- City court has concurrent jurisdiction with adjoining local courts for crimes within these extended areas.
- Police forces from municipalities and the City have concurrent jurisdiction in these zones.
- Licenses issued within these zones are granted by proper local authorities with fees accruing to respective treasuries.
City Officials
- City officials include mayor, vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, secretary, treasurer, assessor, accountant, budget officer, planning and development officer, engineer, health officer, civil registrar, administrator, legal officer, social welfare officer, veterinarian, and general services officer.
- Mayor may appoint environment officer, architect, information officer, cooperatives officer, agriculturist, and population officer.
- Fire station, city jail, schools division, and prosecution service are established with respective heads.
- Sanggunian can maintain, create, or consolidate offices.
- Heads of departments appointed by mayor with sanggunian concurrence.
- Compensation determined by law or ordinance.
City Mayor
- Chief executive elected by qualified voters for a 3-year term, max three consecutive terms.
- Qualifications include Philippine citizenship, age 21+, residency of 1 year, qualified voter.
- Duties include:
- Policy determination and program responsibility.
- Development plan formulation and implementation.
- Legislative initiatives and appointments.
- Business representation and contract signing.
- Emergency response and administrative oversight.
- Salary payment regulation and office space allocation.
- Execution of laws and ordinances enforcement.
- Coordination with national officials.
- Protection of public order and safety.
- Resource generation and application.
- Delivery of basic services.
- Holds office in city hall.
City Vice Mayor
- Elected similarly to mayor, 3-year term, max three consecutive terms.
- Same qualifications as mayor.
- Roles include:
- Presiding over sangguniang panlungsod.
- Signing warrants for sanggunian expenditures.
- Appointment of sanggunian officials/employees.
- Succeed mayor in permanent/temporary vacancies.
- Other duties as per Local Government Code.
Sangguniang Panlungsod Composition and Powers
- Composed of vice mayor (presiding officer), 12 regular members, presidents of barangay and SK federations, and 3 sectoral reps (women, workers, others).
- Powers:
- Enact ordinances and resolutions.
- Review barangay ordinances and executive orders.
- Maintain peace and order laws.
- Impose fines and penalties.
- Environmental protection measures.
- Fiscal responsibilities: levy taxes, approve budgets, authorize loans, bond issuance, tax incentives.
- Regulate land use, building, public utilities, licenses, and business operations.
- Deliver basic services and facilities.
- Establish councils for culture, elderly, safety, schools.
- Members' compensation aligned with Salary Grade 25.
Legislative Procedures
- Sanggunian to adopt/update rules of procedure within 90 days of election.
- Rules include organization, committee structure, session calendar, legislative process, member conduct, penalties.
- Members must disclose financial and business interests to avoid conflicts of interest.
- Sessions are weekly with provisions for special sessions, quorums, public attendance.
- Ordinances presented to mayor for approval or veto; veto override requires two-thirds vote.
- Provincial board reviews ordinances for legality.
- Barangay ordinances reviewed by sangguniang panlungsod for consistency; disapproved ordinances must be amended.
- Enforcement of disapproved ordinances subject to suspension or dismissal.
- Ordinances effective 10 days after posting in the City Hall and publication.
Disqualification and Succession of Elective Officials
- Disqualifications include:
- Final judgment for crimes involving moral turpitude or imprisonment within 2 years post sentence.
- Removal from office through admin case.
- Violation of oath of allegiance.
- Dual citizenship.
- Fugitive status.
- Permanent foreign residence.
- Insanity or mental incapacity.
- Permanent vacancies filled by:
- Vice mayor succeeds mayor.
- Highest-ranking sangguniang panlungsod member fills vice mayor vacancy.
- Ranking based on votes proportion.
- Provincial governor appoints replacements for other vacancies based on political party nomination.
- Barangay vacancies filled by next-ranking sanggunian members.
- Temporary vacancies cause vice mayor or highest-ranking sangguniang member to assume mayoral duties, with some power limitations.
Appointive City Officials and Qualifications
- Includes secretary to sangguniang panlungsod, treasurer, assessor, accountant, budget officer, planning and development officer, engineer, health officer, civil registrar, administrator, legal officer, social welfare officer, veterinarian, general services officer, environment and natural resources officer, architect, information officer, cooperatives officer, agriculturist, and population officer.
- Generally require Philippine citizenship, residency in City, good moral character, appropriate professional degrees/licenses.
- Experience requirements typically five years in relevant fields.
- Compensation as per law.
- Responsibilities cover management, planning, assessment, legal support, social services, animal health, property management, environment, and public information.
City Fire Station, Jail, Schools Division, and Prosecution Service
- Fire station with qualified personnel and equipment; headed by city fire marshal per Bureau of Fire Protection standards.
- City jail established with healthful conditions; headed by city jail warden with required qualifications.
- City schools division established under DepEd; headed by qualified superintendent.
- City prosecution service established under DOJ supervision; city prosecutor handles local criminal cases.
Transitory and Final Provisions
- Existing municipal ordinances remain binding until amended.
- Corporate existence of City ratified by majority plebiscite in Municipality of Imus.
- Current elective and appointive municipal officials and employees continue until new officers are qualified.
- City succeeds all assets, liabilities, and obligations of Municipality of Imus.
- City voters can vote and run for provincial offices in Cavite.
- City remains under provincial jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
- No local tax rate increase for five years from cityhood.
- City remains the Third Legislative District of Cavite.
- Boundary disputes may be resolved by appropriate forums without prejudice to jurisdiction.
- Local Government Code and applicable laws govern the City insofar as consistent with this Act.
- Unconstitutional provisions severable without affecting the remainder of the Act.
- Act effective fifteen days after complete publication.