Corporate Character and Powers
- Davao is a political body corporate with perpetual succession.
- It has a common seal and powers akin to municipal corporations, including owning property, contracting, suing and being sued.
Liability and Jurisdiction
- The city is not liable for damages arising from failure or negligence in enforcement of laws by officials or employees.
- Police jurisdiction extends co-extensively with territorial jurisdiction and an additional three miles offshore, and includes protection of water supply areas.
The Mayor and Vice-Mayor
- The mayor is the chief executive with a four-year term, must meet age and residency requirements, and receive salary plus allowances.
- The vice-mayor performs mayoral duties during absence or incapacity and succeeds in case of vacancy.
- If both mayor and vice-mayor are incapacitated, councilors with highest votes succeed in order.
Powers and Duties of the Mayor
- Enforces laws and ordinances, protects city property, oversees revenue collection and expenditures.
- Represents the city, submits annual budget, handles administrative petitions and grants or revokes licenses.
- Has veto power on ordinances.
City Secretary
- Appointed by the mayor; manages records and official documents.
- Acts as local civil registrar, secretary to boards, and attests official acts.
- Collects fees for certified records.
City Council - Composition and Procedure
- Legislative body composed of vice-mayor and ten councilors elected at large.
- Members must be qualified electors, residents, and at least 23 years old.
- Council sessions are generally open; quorum and voting requirements set for business and ordinance approval.
- Mayor has veto power subject to override by two-thirds council vote.
Legislative Powers of the City Council
- Levy and collect taxes including real property tax up to 2%.
- Fix salaries, fees, and regulate various businesses, public works, sanitation, police and fire services.
- Enact ordinances for public safety, order, welfare, and city administration with penalties up to P200 fine or six months imprisonment.
Restrictions on Signs and Billboards
- Commercial signs or billboards on public lands must not be offensive or considered a nuisance; removal ordered by mayor.
City Departments and Administration
- Departments: Finance, Engineering and Public Works, Law, Health, Police, Fire, Assessment, Public Services.
- Heads of departments have control under mayor's supervision, prepare estimates and are accountable for departmental operations.
- Appointment of key city officials by the President of the Philippines with consent, others by the mayor.
- Prohibits city officers’ engagement in business transactions with the city to avoid conflicts of interest.
Finance Department and City Treasurer
- Treasurer acts as chief fiscal officer; collects taxes, fees, rents, administers markets/slaughterhouses.
- Handles city funds, disbursements, and submits monthly financial statements.
Engineering Department
- City engineer manages all surveying, public works plans, inspections, and public property supervision.
- Public works costing P3,000 or more require public bidding and mayor’s award; engineer may execute with approval.
Law Department and City Fiscal
- City fiscal serves as legal adviser and prosecutor, represents city in civil cases.
- Has investigative powers including subpoena; prosecutes violations of city ordinances.
- Assistant city fiscals support the city fiscal.
Health Department
- City health officer supervises public health and sanitation.
- Enforces health laws, recommends ordinances, prosecutes violations, oversees sanitary inspection.
- Director of Disease Control assumes control during epidemics.
Police Department
- Chief of police controls police force, enforces laws, handles arrests, supervises city prison.
- Police and officials are peace officers with authority for criminal process execution and arrest powers.
- May request military aid during public emergencies.
Fire Department
- Chief manages fire-fighting apparatus and personnel, issues regulations, investigates fires.
- Has police powers at fire scenes, may demolish structures to prevent spread.
- Regulates electrical installations and combustible materials; approves building plans for fire safety.
Assessment Department
- City assessor annually assesses real estate for taxation.
- Maintains tax lists and property valuation; may revise assessments.
- Owners must declare acquisitions and improvements or be deemed to have waived notice rights.
- Board of Assessment Appeals hears valuation disputes and can amend assessments.
Public Services Department
- City public service officer oversees sanitary inspection, street and public building maintenance.
- Charges fees for services; may declare nuisances related to land and communicate with mayor.
- Enforces laws and prosecutes violations related to public services.
Tax Allotments and Special Assessments
- City receives share of internal revenue equivalent to a province.
- City Council may levy special assessments for public improvements benefiting properties.
- Procedures include ordinance publication, landowner protests, hearings, appeals, and collection methods.
- Proceeds dedicated exclusively to the intended public works.
City Budget
- Annual budget prepared by treasurer and mayor, submitted to council with expenditure limits.
- Supplemental budgets allowed; failure to enact results in re-enactment of previous appropriation.
- City funds include general and special funds with restrictions on their use.
City Court
- Comprises three branches with appointed judges receiving fixed salaries.
- Clerk of court, deputy clerks, and sheriffs appointed; court keeps records, seals, and administers oaths.
- Jurisdiction includes civil and criminal cases under city ordinances.
- Procedures adhere to general judicial rules; appeals managed under the Revised Rules of Court.
- Costs, fees, fines collected by clerk and remitted to city treasury.
Final Provisions
- Elective officials continue until term expiration; appointive officials maintain benefits without new appointments.
- National salary standardization laws supersede local salary provisions.
- City remains part of a single representative district with the province for congressional representation.
- Repeals inconsistent laws; act effective upon approval except salary provisions retroactive to July 1, 1964.