City Seal and Property Powers
- The city has a common seal subject to alteration.
- Authorized to manage, purchase, hold, lease, convey, and dispose of city property for its general interest.
- Empowered to condemn private property for public use, enter contracts, sue and be sued, and exercise all conferred powers.
Immunity of the City from Liability
- The city is not liable for damages caused by failure or negligence in enforcing this Charter or related laws by city officials or employees.
City Police Jurisdiction
- Police jurisdiction aligns with territorial jurisdiction.
- Extends to water supply drainage areas and buffers around reservoirs and related infrastructure.
- City Court shares concurrent jurisdiction over crimes in these extended areas with other municipal/city courts.
- Police forces of concerned municipalities have concurrent jurisdiction.
- Licensing fees within these zones accrue to respective city or municipality treasuries.
Executive Officers: Mayor and Vice-Mayor
- Mayor: Chief executive, elected at large; qualifications include minimum age 25, residency 2 years; four-year term; annual salary Php 20,000 with possible house allowance.
- Vice-Mayor: Presiding officer of the Municipal Board; same qualifications as Mayor; annual salary Php 16,000; succeeds Mayor in permanent vacancy.
- Vice-Mayor can appoint an Acting Vice-Mayor from the Municipal Board when necessary.
- Executive power shifts accordingly during temporary incapacities.
General Powers and Duties of the Mayor
- Supervises executive and administrative functions and enforces city laws and ordinances.
- Safeguards city property and finances.
- Initiates judicial actions for city interests.
- Oversees tax collection and revenue application.
- May attend Municipal Board sessions without voting rights.
- Represents the city in official contracts and financial matters.
- Proposes annual budget and manages public licenses and permits.
- May grant fee exemptions for deserving poor students.
- Authorized to take emergency actions during calamities and request police or military aid as needed.
City Administrator
- Appointed by the Mayor, holding office during Mayor’s term unless removed.
- Salary Php 15,000 annually.
- Acts as budget officer and oversees personnel system development.
- Manages continuous studies on city administration efficiency and prepares reports.
- Maintains liaison with civic groups.
- Assisted by two assistants for personnel and fiscal matters.
Secretary to the Mayor
- Appointed by the Mayor with salary Php 11,000 per annum.
- Custodian of Mayor’s office records and corporate seal.
- Attests executive documents and ordinances.
- Issues certified copies of city records with fees payable to the city.
- Holds office under the unclassified civil service.
Municipal Board Structure and Function
- Legislative body composed of Vice-Mayor as presiding officer and 12 councilors elected at large.
- Vice-Mayor votes only to break ties.
- Temporary substitutes may be appointed to maintain quorum.
- Councilors’ qualifications: minimum age 23, two-year city residency.
- Four-year terms with staggered elections.
- Councilors may be suspended or removed like elective provincial officers.
Municipal Board Secretary
- Elected by board members with a salary of Php 9,200 per annum.
- Responsible for maintaining records, attesting ordinances, and facilitating public access.
Legislative Procedures and Ordinance Enactment
- Regular sessions held twice weekly; extraordinary sessions as needed.
- Quorum: majority of all members; penalties for unjustified absences.
- Ordinances require majority approval; Mayor’s veto power includes item veto on appropriations.
- Ordinances effective 10 days post-passage unless vetoed.
- Mayor’s veto override requires two-thirds board vote; unresolved vetoes are submitted to the President with final decision.
General Powers of the Municipal Board
- Levy and collect taxes, including up to 2% real property tax.
- Approve appropriations and set salaries within legal limits.
- Regulate and tax businesses, licenses, and public establishments.
- Provide for public safety, health, education, infrastructure, and sanitation.
- Enact ordinances for city welfare with penalties up to Php 200 fine, 6 months imprisonment, or both.
Restriction on Commercial Signage
- Commercial signs banned on public property.
- Mayor may order removal of offensive or nuisance signs; costs chargeable to owners.
City Departments under Mayor
- Departments include Finance, Engineering and Public Works, Legal, Registrar, Health, Police, Fire, Assessment, and General Hospital.
- Departments and duties subject to Municipal Board adjustment.
Department Heads
- Control and supervise respective departments.
- Certify payrolls and vouchers.
- Submit budget estimates and operational reports to Mayor.
- Deputies assume duties during absences.
Appointment and Removal of Officials
- City Mayor appoints certain department heads and assistants, subject to Civil Service; some officials appointed by President or Secretary of Education.
- Suspension/removal regulated by law.
Full-Time Service Requirement
- City officers dedicate exclusive working hours to official duties.
- No holding multiple city offices unless allowed by law.
Prohibition on Business Dealings with City Officers
- City officials prohibited from business transactions with city or purchasing city property.
- Cannot be sureties for contractors or bonds of city officials.
- No financial interest in contracts involving national government units.
City Financial Management: Treasurer and Assistant
- City Treasurer: chief fiscal officer with salary Php 15,000.
- Duties include collection of taxes, fees, and rents; administration of markets and public properties; accountable for city funds.
- Authorized to purchase supplies with certain limits on bidding.
- Disbursements restricted by collection limits, except in emergencies with proper authorization.
- Assistant Treasurer appointed by Mayor; salary Php 10,200.
- Assistant may administer oaths related to treasury matters.
Engineering Department and City Engineer
- City Engineer in charge of public works, streets, parks, water systems, and city property surveys.
- Powers include inspection, approval or removal orders for buildings and construction safety.
- Supervises sanitation and regulatory fees.
- Authorized to execute public works projects without national department intervention.
City Legal and Law Departments
- City Legal Officer advises city, represents it in civil cases, prosecutes breaches of contracts and grants opinions on legal matters.
- Has assistants and additional personnel as determined by Municipal Board.
- City Registrar issues marriage licenses, keeps civil registry including vital statistics and changes of name.
City Fiscal
- Chief prosecutor for city crimes and ordinance violations.
- Conducts investigations, issues subpoenas, can enforce attendance.
- May request medico-legal examinations and expert assistance.
Health Department
- City Health Officer (salary Php 15,000) oversees public health, sanitation, prosecution of violations, inspections, refuse disposal, cemeteries, civil registration and vital statistics.
- Assistant Health Officer manages executive functions and acts during absences.
- Collaborates with Department of Health during epidemics.
Police Department
- Chief of Police (salary Php 15,000) commands police force, maintains peace, supervises jail, arrests ordinance violators, executes court processes.
- Deputy Chief of Police assists and acts in Chief’s absence.
- Detective Chief manages detective bureau.
- Peace Officers have authority to serve court processes, arrest without warrant under certain conditions, and maintain order within city jurisdiction.
- Mayor may request military assistance during emergencies.
Fire Department
- Fire Chief (salary Php 15,000) administrates fire force, issues regulations, controls fire apparatus and fire safety.
- Has full police powers near fires.
- Authorized to demolish properties to prevent fires.
- Oversees electrical safety and hazardous materials.
- Deputy Chief acts in Chief’s absence with salary Php 10,200.
Assessment Department
- City Assessor (salary Php 15,000) assesses taxable real estate, establishes valuations, maintains property lists.
- Has powers to administer oaths and correct assessments.
- Certain properties (government, religious, small valued residential properties, machinery) exempt from tax.
- Assessment lists are published with procedures for complaints and appeals.
- City Board of Tax Appeals settles valuation and assessment disputes; members appointed by Mayor.
Real Estate Taxation
- Annual ad valorem tax on real property set not exceeding 2%, with current rate at 1% plus additional 1% under other law.
- Payment schedule and penalties for delinquency defined.
- Collection enforcement includes seizure and sale of personal property, tax lien superiority, tax sale of real estate after notification.
- Redemption rights preserve taxpayer’s ability to reclaim property under specified conditions.
City Development Council
- Established to plan and coordinate city development.
- Composed of the Mayor, government office heads, and representatives from key organizations.
- City Administrator serves as executive director.
- Duties include development planning, priority setting, program formulation, and coordination of resources.
Caloocan City General Hospital
- Hospital Administrator appointed by Mayor, salary Php 15,000.
- Oversees hospital operations, staffing, budget, cooperation with other agencies, and procurement of supplies.
Budgeting and Appropriation
- City Treasurer prepares financial statements; Mayor formulates budget submitted to Municipal Board.
- Appropriations limited by revenue estimates.
- Supplemental budgets allowed under special circumstances.
- Previous appropriations reenacted if new ones are delayed.
- Representation allowances established for key officials.
City Court
- City Judge and auxiliary judge appointed; salary allocations from national and city funds.
- Clerk of Court appointed by Judge; maintains records