Law Summary
Liability
- The city is not liable for damages arising from failure or negligence of the mayor, municipal board, or city officers in enforcing laws or ordinances.
Boundaries
- The law provides detailed metes and bounds defining the geographic limits of the City of Manila.
Municipal Districts
- The City is divided into fourteen municipal districts for administrative purposes: Tondo, San Nicolas, Binondo, Santa Cruz, Quiapo, San Miguel, Sampaloc, Intramuros, Port Area, Ermita, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, and Santa Ana.
Representative Districts
- Manila is divided into four representative districts for national representation, each electing one House Representative.
Police Jurisdiction
- Extends three miles into Manila Bay and covers the water supply drainage area for public health protection.
- Certain courts have concurrent jurisdiction within these areas.
Office of the Mayor
- The mayor is the chief executive of the city, elected at large, with a term of four years.
- Qualifications include minimum age of 30 years and residency of at least 5 years.
- Mayor’s duties include law enforcement, property safeguard, taxation oversight, legal action initiation, personnel supervision, budget submission, licensing authority, emergency action, and appointment powers.
Vice-Mayor
- Assumes mayoral duties during absence or vacancy.
- Elected with the same qualifications; salary set.
Secretary to the Mayor
- Custodian of city records and official documents.
- Attests and manages seals on ordinances and documents.
- Serves during the mayor’s term.
Municipal Board
- Legislative body composed of nine elected members (three per representative district).
- Elects a president annually, who presides over meetings and signs official documents.
- Members have qualifications similar to the mayor.
- Has a secretary to maintain records and ordinances.
- Responsible for appropriations, legislative procedures, and ordinance enactment including publication and mayoral approval/veto.
Legislative Powers of the Board
- Levy and collection of taxes and fees.
- Regulation and licensing of businesses, public safety, health, and nuisances.
- Establish police force, municipal courts, fire limits, and public infrastructure regulations.
- Regulate public utilities, transportation, markets, and various trades.
- Enact ordinances for sanitation, safety, welfare, and impose penalties.
Departments and Officers
- City government departments include Engineering and Public Works, Police, Law, Fire, Finance, Assessment, Health, and Public Services.
- Department heads report to the mayor, certify financial documents, prepare budgets, and supervise operations.
- Appointment and removal processes detailed, with certain officials appointed by the President.
Relation to National Bureaus
- City officials interact with General Auditing Office, Bureau of the Treasury, Procurement Office, Bureau of Public Schools, and Bureau of Prisons.
City Engineer Duties
- Responsible for city infrastructure planning, construction, inspection, surveys, property supervision, and public safety.
- Authority to regulate dangerous buildings and manufacturing appliances.
- Public works contracts awarded to lowest bidders unless otherwise approved.
Police Department
- Chief of police leads city police and detective forces, has authority over law enforcement, arrests, jail supervision, and process service.
- Deputies assist and assume responsibilities as needed.
- Police officers are peace officers with authority to execute court processes.
- Mayor can appoint special police for emergencies.
Law Department
- Headed by the city fiscal and assistants.
- Fiscal serves as chief legal adviser, city prosecutor in civil and criminal matters, and legal document drafter.
- Empowered to investigate crimes, take evidence, and request medico-legal assistance.
Municipal Court
- Composed of a presiding judge and five judges with specific distinctions for traffic and night sessions.
- Jurisdiction over city ordinances, minor crimes, preliminary examinations, and concurrent jurisdiction on certain offenses.
- Has powers to issue writs, punish contempt, and require bonds.
- Proper procedure for appeals to the Court of First Instance.
Fire Department
- Chief manages all fire prevention and control functions including equipment, fire investigations, and electrical safety.
Department of Finance
- City treasurer acts as chief fiscal officer and collector, responsible for city funds, tax collection, market administration, reporting, and budgeting.
Department of Assessment
- City assessor values all real estate for taxation excluding certain machinery and tools.
- Maintains lists of taxable and exempt real estate.
- Handles tax assessments, revisions, exemptions, delinquency procedures including distraint and tax sales, and property redemption.
- Establishes the Board of Tax Appeals for hearing disputes.
- Annual real estate tax and penalties are detailed with provisions for collection and appeals.
Health Department
- City health officer supervises public health and sanitation, enforces laws, supervises social services, and coordinates with the Director of Health.
- Director of Health assumes full control during epidemics.
Department of Public Services
- Responsible for sanitation, building permits inspection, garbage collection, public building maintenance, and health-related nuisances.
- Has authority to impose fees for public services.
Special Assessments for Public Improvements
- Municipal Board can levy special assessments for public infrastructure benefiting specific districts.
- The process includes ordinance publication, public hearing, mayoral approval, and assessment and collection procedures.
- Appeals allowed to the Board of Tax Appeals.
Special Assessments for National Roads
- Similar special assessment powers apply for national road projects upon presidential direction.
- Process includes notice, protest handling, mayoral approval, and assessment with appeal mechanisms.
Regulation of Places of Amusement and Intoxicating Liquors
- Existing laws regarding regulation of amusement places and liquor sales continue until replaced by city ordinances promulgated by the Municipal Board and Mayor.
Acquisition and Administration of Landed Estates
- The city administers lands purchased by the National Government for resale to tenants under terms set by ordinance prioritizing tenants and laborers.
- City can acquire and resell private lands to residents on easy terms.
- Existing contracts subject to revision to conform with provisions favoring purchasers.
Final Provisions
- Current Municipal Board members continue until term expiration or reassigned by the President for district representation.
- Repeal of inconsistent laws and provisions upon approval.
- This Act takes effect immediately after approval.