Title
Revised Charter of the City of Baguio
Law
Republic Act No. 11689
Decision Date
Apr 11, 2022
A Philippine Jurisprudence case explores the objectives, territorial boundaries, city officials' powers and duties, legislative process, financial disclosure, qualifications and succession of officials, and roles of appointive officials in the City of Baguio.
A

Declaration of Objectives and Core Values

  • Aims to foster a culturally diverse, educated, and tourism-centric city.
  • Emphasizes environmental protection aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Seeks efficient governance, competitiveness, gender equality, and delivery of basic services.
  • Focuses on proprietary functions for welfare, including water, waste, traffic, housing, and disaster management.
  • Promotes resilience, sustainability, inclusivity, and utilization of digital innovations.
  • Public officials guided by service, integrity, competence, transparency, accountability, and resourcefulness.

Territorial Boundaries

  • City comprises present territorial jurisdiction.
  • Disputed boundary areas remain under current administrative control until legally resolved.

Corporate Powers of the City

  • Recognized as a political body corporate with perpetual succession.
  • Powers include suing/being sued, owning property, contracting, and other powers subject to laws.

General Powers

  • Has a corporate seal registered with DILG.
  • Authority to levy taxes, open/close streets, expropriate property, contract, sue/defend, and exercise corporate powers.

City Officials

  • Includes Mayor, Vice Mayor, Sangguniang Panlungsod members, and various appointed officers.
  • Mayor may appoint additional officials like agriculturist and traffic officer.
  • Sangguniang Panlungsod may create/consolidate offices.
  • Heads appointed by Mayor with Sanggunian concurrence.
  • Compensation subject to budgets and laws; increases deferred until terms expire.

City Mayor

  • Chief executive with powers and duties per Local Government Code.
  • Minimum compensation at Salary Grade 30.

City Vice Mayor

  • Presiding officer of Sangguniang Panlungsod with duties under Local Government Code.
  • Minimum compensation at Salary Grade 28.

Sangguniang Panlungsod Composition

  • Vice Mayor presides.
  • 12 elected members, Liga ng mga Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan presidents, indigenous people representative.
  • Members elected per laws.

Powers, Duties, and Compensation of Sangguniang Panlungsod

  • Legislative powers: enact ordinances, approve resolutions, and allocate funds.
  • Receive minimum compensation Salary Grade 27.

Legislative Process Procedure Rules

  • Must adopt rules within 90 days of election.
  • Rules include organization, committee creation, order of business, legislative and parliamentary procedures, and discipline mechanisms.
  • Members may be disciplined for misconduct or absences.

Disclosure of Financial Interests by Sanggunian Members

  • Members disclose business and financial interests including relations within fourth civil degree.
  • Disclosure before participation in deliberations or voting.
  • Designed to prevent conflicts of interest.

Sessions

  • Regular sessions at least once weekly; barangay sessions twice monthly.
  • Special sessions by Mayor or majority.
  • Sessions generally open except for security or moral reasons.
  • Notice required for special sessions.
  • Proceedings recorded; may be published.

Quorum

  • Majority of all qualified members constitute quorum.
  • Absentees without justifiable cause may be compelled to attend.
  • Without quorum, session may be recessed or adjourned.

Approval and Veto of Ordinances

  • Ordinances presented to Mayor for approval or veto.
  • Mayor must communicate veto within 10 days.
  • Sanggunian may override veto by two-thirds vote.
  • Mayor may veto specific items of appropriation ordinances.

Review of Barangay Ordinances

  • Barangay ordinances reviewed within 10 days of enactment.
  • Sanggunian must act within 30 days.
  • Disapproved ordinances returned for amendment; effectiveness suspended until revised.

Enforcement and Effectivity of Ordinances

  • Enforcement of disapproved ordinances grounds for suspension or dismissal.
  • Ordinances effective 10 days after posting in at least three conspicuous city locations.
  • Penal ordinances posted three weeks and published.

Qualifications and Disqualifications of Elective Officials

  • Governed by Local Government Code provisions.

Vacancies and Succession

  • Vice Mayor succeeds Mayor vacancy.
  • Highest-ranking Sanggunian members succeed in sequence.
  • Ties settled by lot.
  • Vacancies filled by party nominee or appointment when no party affiliation.

Appointive Officials: Qualifications, Duties, and Responsibilities

  • Secretary to Sangguniang Panlungsod: career official, manages meetings, records, and public access.
  • City Treasurer: appointed by Secretary of Finance, supervises funds and tax collection.
  • City Assessor: oversees real property appraisal and assessment.
  • City Engineer: manages public works infrastructure.
  • Buildings and Architecture Officer: enforces building codes and supervises vertical infrastructure.
  • City Health Officer: manages public health programs and policies.
  • City Civil Registrar: administers civil registry operations.
  • City Accountant: manages accounting and internal audit.
  • City Social Welfare Officer: oversees social welfare programs.
  • City Budget Officer: prepares and manages budgeting.
  • City Planning and Sustainable Development Officer: prepares development plans.
  • City Administrator: coordinates city management.
  • City Legal Officer: city counsel and legal adviser.
  • City General Services Officer: manages city properties and support services.
  • City Veterinarian: manages veterinary services and animal health.
  • City Human Resource Officer: manages personnel and human resource programs.
  • City Environment and Parks Officer: manages environmental and parks programs.
  • City Disaster Risk Reduction Officer: oversees disaster preparedness and response.
  • City Tourism Officer: develops and promotes tourism.
  • City Public Information Officer: manages public information and communication.
  • City Librarian: manages city library services.
  • City Agriculturist: promotes agricultural services and support.
  • City Population Officer: manages population development programs.
  • City Traffic and Transportation Officer: manages traffic and transportation policies.
  • City Cooperatives Officer: promotes cooperative development.
  • City Solid and Liquid Wastes Officer: manages waste systems and compliance.

Boards and Councils

  • Existing boards and councils under Local Government Code continue.
  • Additional councils like Tourism Council, Smart City Council, and others created for sustainable development.

Baguio Townsite Reservation and Watersheds

  • Alienable lands disposed by DENR per applicable laws and aligned with zoning and land use plans.
  • Small parcels adjacent to roads marked as greenbelts, non-assignable to private ownership.
  • City to fund subdivision surveys for land use planning.
  • Special Committee on Lands created for land issues resolution involving DENR, NCIP, and others.
  • City government tasked with protection and sustainable management of forestlands and watersheds.

Ancestral Lands

  • Indigenous Peoples Rights Act governs ancestral land claims.
  • Pending claims with NCIP suspend land applications until final denial.

Camp John Hay Reservation

  • Not part of Baguio Townsite Reservation; under BCDA jurisdiction.

Transitory Provisions

  • Existing ordinances continue until Sanggunian declares otherwise.
  • Incumbent officials continue their terms.
  • Baguio remains lone legislative district and highly-urbanized city.

Final Provisions

  • Local Government Code and laws applicable to highly-urbanized cities govern.
  • Separability clause maintains validity of unaffected provisions if part declared invalid.
  • Repeals inconsistent previous laws and decrees.
  • Act effective 15 days after publication in official gazette or newspaper.

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