Eleventh Congress
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9018 March 05, 2001
AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF CANDON, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF CANDON
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
ARTICLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Title
This Act shall be known as the "Charter of the City of Candon."
Section 2. The City of Candon
The Municipality of Candon shall be converted into a component city to be known as the City of Candon, hereinafter referred to as the City, which shall comprise the present jurisdiction of the Municipality of Candon and bounded on the north by the Municipality of Santiago; on the northeast by the municipalities of Banayoyo and Lidlidda; on the east by the municipalities of San Emilio and Galimuyod; on the southeast by the Municipality of Salcedo; on the south by the Municipality of Santa Lucia; on the west and northwest by the China Sea. The territorial jurisdiction of the City shall be within the technical metes and bounds of the Municipality of Candon.
The foregoing provision shall be without prejudice to the resolution by the appropriate agency or forum of existing boundary disputes or cases involving questions of territorial jurisdiction between the City of Candon and the adjoining local government units.
Section 3. Corporate Powers of the City
The City constitutes a political body corporate and as such is endowed with the attributes of perpetual succession and possessed of the powers which pertains to a municipal corporation to be exercised in conformity with the provision of this Charter. The City shall have the following corporate powers:
Section 4. General Powers
The City shall have a common seal and may alter the same at pleasure. It shall exercise the powers to levy taxes; to close and open roads, streets, alleys, parks or squares; to take, purchase, receive, hold, lease, convey and dispose of real and personal property for the general interests of the City; to expropriate or condemn private property for public use; to contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued; to prosecute and defend to final judgment and execution suits wherein the City is involved or interested in and to exercise all the powers as are granted to corporations or as hereinafter granted.
Section 5. Liability for Damages
The City and its officials shall not be exempt from liability for death or injury to persons or damage to property.
Section 6. Jurisdiction of the City
The jurisdiction of the City of Candon, for police purposes only, shall be coextensive with its territorial jurisdiction and for the purpose of protecting and ensuring the purity of the water supply of the City, such police jurisdiction shall also extend over all the territory within the drainage area of such water supply, or within one hundred meters (100 m.) of any reservoir, conduit, canal, aqueduct or pumping station used in connection with the city water service.
The regional trial courts and the city courts of the City of Candon shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the regional trial courts and the metropolitan trial courts or city or municipal trial courts of the adjoining municipalities to try crimes and misdemeanor committed within the said drainage area, or within said space of one hundred meters (100 m.). The court first taking jurisdiction of such offense shall thereafter retain exclusive jurisdiction thereof. But any license that may be issued within said zone, area or space shall be granted by the proper authorities of the city or municipality concerned, and the fees arising therefrom shall accrue to the treasury of the said city or municipality.
ARTICLE II CITY OFFICIALS IN GENERAL
Section 7. The Officials of the City of Candon
ARTICLE III THE CITY MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR
Section 8. The City Mayor
Section 9. The City Vice Mayor
Section 10. The Sangguniang Panlungsod
The sangguniang panlungsod, the legislative body of the City, shall be composed of the city vice mayor as presiding officer, ten (10) regular sanggunian members, the president of the city chapter of the liga ng mga barangay, the president of the panlungsod na pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan and the sectoral representatives, as members.
Section 11. Internal Rules of Procedure
The penalty of suspension or expulsion shall require the concurrence of at least two-thirds (2/3) vote of all the sanggunian members. A member convicted by final judgment to imprisonment of at least one (1) year for any crime involving moral turpitude shall be automatically expelled from the sanggunian; and (6)Such other rules as the sanggunian may adopt.
Section 12
Full Disclosure of Financial and Business Interests of Sangguniang Panlungsod Members. -
Section 13. Sessions
Section 14. Quorum
Should a question of quorum be raised during a session, the presiding officer shall immediately proceed to call the roll of the members and thereafter announce the results. (b)Where there is no quorum, the presiding officer may declare a recess until such time as a quorum is constituted, or a majority of the members present may adjourn from day to day and may compel the immediate attendance of any member absent without justifiable cause by designating a member of the sanggunian, to be assisted by a member or members of the police force assigned in the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Candon, to arrest the absent member and present him at the session. (c)If there is still no quorum despite the enforcement of the immediately preceding subsection, no business shall be transacted. The presiding officer, upon proper motion duly approved by the members present, shall then declare the session adjourned for lack of quorum.
Section 15. Approval of Ordinances
If the city mayor approves the same, he shall affix his signature on each and every page thereof; otherwise, he shall veto it and return the same with his objections to the sanggunian, which may proceed to reconsider the same. The sanggunian may override the veto of the city mayor by two-thirds (2/3) vote of all its members, thereby making the ordinance or resolution effective for all legal intents and purposes. (b)The veto shall be communicated by the city mayor to the sanggunian within ten (10) days; otherwise, the ordinance shall be deemed approved as if he had signed it.
Section 16. Veto Power of the City Mayor
Section 17. Review of City Ordinances by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Section 18. Review of Barangay Ordinances by the Sangguniang Panlungsod
Section 19. Enforcement of Disapproved Ordinances or Resolutions
Any attempt to enforce any ordinance or any resolution approving the local development plan and public investment program, after the disapproval thereof, shall be sufficient ground for the suspension or dismissal of the official or employee concerned.
Section 20. Effectivity of Ordinances or Resolutions
Section 21. Disqualifications for Elective City Officials
The following persons are not qualified from running for any elective position in the City:
Section 22. Permanent Vacancy in the Office of the City Mayor and City Vice Mayor
If the vice mayor refuses to assume the position of city mayor, the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member shall become the city mayor.
If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the city vice mayor, the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member or, in case of his permanent incapacity, the second highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member shall become the city mayor or city vice mayor, as the case may be. Subsequent vacancies in said offices shall be filled automatically by the other sanggunian members according to their ranking as defined herein. (b)A tie between or among the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod members shall be resolved by drawing of lots. (c)The successors as defined herein shall serve only the unexpired terms of their predecessors. For purposes of this Act, a permanent vacancy arises when an elective local official fills a higher vacant office, refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, dies, is removed from office, voluntarily resigns or is otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of his office.
For purposes of succession as provided in this Act, ranking in the sanggunian shall be determined on the basis of the proportion of votes obtained by each winning candidate to the total number of registered voters in the City in the immediately preceding local election.
Section 23. Permanent Vacancies in the Sanggunian
Section 24. Temporary Vacancy in the Office of the City Mayor
In case where the temporary incapacity is due to legal cause, the city mayor shall also submit necessary documents showing the said legal cause no longer exists. (c)When the city mayor is traveling within the country but outside territorial jurisdiction for a period not exceeding three (3) consecutive days, he may designate in writing the officer-in-charge of his office. Such authorization shall specify the powers and functions that the local official concerned shall exercise in the absence of the city mayor except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees. (d)In the event, however, that the city mayor fails or refuses to issue such authorization, the city vice mayor shall have the right to assume the powers, duties and functions of the said office on the fourth day of absence of the city mayor, subject to the limitations provided in subsection (c) hereof. (e)Except as provided above, the city mayor shall in no case authorize any local official to assume the powers, duties and functions of the office, other than the city vice mayor or the highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member, as the case may be. ARTICLE VII THE APPOINTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE CITY: THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES
Section 25. The Secretary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod
Section 26. The City Treasurer
Section 27. The Assistant City Treasurer
Section 28. The City Assessor
Section 29
The Assistant City Assessor.-
Section 30. The City Accountant
Section 31. The City Budget Officer
Section 32. The City Planning and Development Coordinator
Section 33. The City Engineer
Section 34. The City Health Officer
Section 35. The City Civil Registrar
Section 36
The City Administrator.-
Section 37. The City Legal Officer
Section 38. The City Social Welfare and Development Officer
Section 39. The City Veterinarian
Section 40. The City General Services Officer
Section 41. The City Environment and Natural Resources Officer
Section 42. The City Architect
Section 43. The City Information Officer
Section 44. The City Cooperatives Officer
Section 45. The City Population Officer
Section 46. The City Agriculturist
Section 47. The City Fire Station Service
Section 48. The City Jail Service
Section 49
The City School Division.-
Section 50. The City Prosecution Service
Section 51
Municipal Ordinances Existing at the Time of the Approval of this Act.- All municipal ordinances of the Municipality of Candon existing at the time of the approval of this Act shall continue to be in force within the City of Candon until the sangguniang panlungsod ordinance shall provide otherwise.
Section 52
Plebiscite.- The City of Candon shall acquire corporate existence upon the ratification of its creation by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters in a plebiscite to be conducted in the present Municipality of Candon within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act. The expenses for such plebiscite shall be borne by the Municipality of Candon. The Commission on Elections shall conduct and supervise such plebiscite.
Section 53. Officials of the City of Candon
The present elective officials of the Municipality of Candon shall continue to exercise their powers and functions until such a time that a new election is held and the duly-elected officials shall have already qualified and assumed their offices. The appointive officials and employees of the Municipality of Candon shall likewise continue exercising their functions and duties and they shall be automatically absorbed by the City Government of Candon.
Section 54. Succession Clause
The City of Candon shall succeed to all the assets, properties, liabilities and obligations of the Municipality of Candon.
Section 55
Election of Provincial Governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members of the Province of Ilocos Sur. - The qualified voters of the City of Candon shall qualify to vote and run for any elective position in the elections for provincial governor, provincial vice governor, sangguniang panlalawigan members and other elective offices for the Province of Ilocos Sur.
Section 56. Jurisdiction of the Province of Ilocos Sur
The City of Candon shall, unless otherwise provided by law, continue to be under the jurisdiction of Ilocos Sur Province.
Section 57. Suspension of Increase in Rates of Local Taxes
No increase in the rates of local taxes shall be imposed by the City within the period of five (5) years from its acquisition of corporate existence.
Section 58. Representative District
Until otherwise provided by law, the City of Candon shall continue to be a part of the Second Congressional District of Ilocos Sur Province.
Section 59
Applicability of Laws.- The provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, and such laws as are applicable to component cities shall govern the City of Candon insofar as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.
Section 60. Separability Clause
If any part of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective.
Section 61
Reservation.- Nothing herein contained shall preclude the determination by the appropriate agency or forum of boundary disputes or cases involving questions of territorial jurisdiction between the City of Candon and any of the adjoining local government units even after the effectivity of this Act.
Section 62
Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Section 63. Effectivity
This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general and local circulation.
Approved,
| (Sgd.) AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL JR. President of the Senate | (Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives |
This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 7260 and Senate Bill No. 2242 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 8, 2001.
LUTGARDO B. BARBO
Secretary of Senate
ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
Secretary General House of Representatives
Approved: March 5, 2001
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines
For information and research only, and not legal advice. This text may not reflect later amendments. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.