Thirteenth Congress Third Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-fourth day of July, two thousand six.
REPUBLIC ACT No. 9387 March 10, 2007
AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF NAVOTAS INTO A HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF NAVOTAS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
ARTICLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Title
This Act shall be known as the "Charter of the City of Navotas".
Section 2. The City of Navotas
The Municipality of Navotas is hereby converted into a highly urbanized city to be known as the City of Navotas, hereinafter referred to as the City, which shall comprise of the present territory of the Municipality of Navotas, Metro Manila.
The foregoing provision shall be without prejudice to the resolution by appropriate agency or forum of any existing boundary dispute between the City and its adjoining local government units: Provided, That, the territorial jurisdiction of the disputed area or areas shall remain with the local government unit which has existing administrative supervision over said area or areas until the final resolution of the case.
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 pertain to a municipal corporation to be exercised in conformity with the provisions of this Charter.
The City shall have the following corporate powers:
Section 4. General Powers of the City
The City shall have a common seal and may alter the same at pleasure. It shall exercise the power to levy taxes, close and open roads, streets, alleys, parks or squares subject to the provisions of the Constitution and existing laws. It may take, purchase, receive, hold, lease, convey and dispose of real and personal property for the general interest of the City, expropriate private property for public use, contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, prosecute and defend to final judgment and execution suits wherein the City is a party, and exercise all the powers as are granted to corporations and/or as hereinafter conferred.
Section 5. General Welfare Clause of the City
The City shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.
Within its territorial jurisdiction, the City shall ensure and support, among other things, preserve and enrich its culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.
Section 6. Liability for Damages
Unless otherwise provided by law, the City of Navotas shall be liable for injuries or damages to persons or property arising from the act or omission of any of its officers or employees while in the performance of their official functions.
Section 7. Jurisdiction of the City
The Jurisdiction of the City of Navotas, for police purpose 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 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 city courts of the City of Navotas shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the city or municipal courts of adjoining municipalities or cities, to try crimes and misdemeanors committed within said drainage area or within said spaces of one hundred meters (100 m.) .
The court first taking cognizance of such an offense shall have jurisdiction to try said cases to the exclusion of others. The police forces of the several municipalities and cities concerned shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the police forces of the City for the maintenance of good order and enforcement of ordinance throughout said zone, area or spaces. But any license that may be issued within said zone, area or spaces 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 concerned and not to the City.
ARTICLE II CITY OFFICIALS IN GENERAL
Section 8. The Officials of the City of Navotas
ARTICLE III THE CITY MAYOR AND CITY VICE MAYOR
Section 9. The City Mayor
Section 10. The City Vice Mayor
Section 11. The Sangguniang Panlungsod
Section 12. Internal Rules of Procedure
Section 13
Full Disclosure of Financial and Business Interests of Sangguniang Panlungsod Members. - (a) Every sangguniang panlungsod member shall, upon assumption to office, make a full disclosure of his business and financial interests. He shall also disclose any professional relationship or any relation by affinity or consanguinity within the fourth civil degree, which he may have with any person, firm or entity affected by any ordinance or resolution under consideration by the sanggunian of which he is a member, which relationship may result in conflict of interests. Such relationship shall include:
Section 14. Sessions
Unless otherwise concurred in by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the sanggunian members present, there being a quorum, no other matter may be considered at a special session except those stated in the notice.
Section 15. 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 result.
Section 16. 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.
Section 17. Veto Power of the City Mayor
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 disapproval thereof shall be sufficient ground for the suspension or dismissal of the official or employee concerned.
Section 20. Effectivity of Ordinances or Resolutions
ARTICLE VI SUCCESSION FOR ELECTIVE CITY OFFICIALS
Section 21
Permanent Vacancy in the Offices of the City Mayor and the City Vice Mayor. - (a) If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the city mayor, the city vice mayor concerned 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 snail become the city vice mayor. If permanent vacancies occur in both the offices of the city mayor and the city vice mayor, the first and second highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod members, or in case of permanent Incapacity of one or both of them, the next highest ranking sangguniang panlungsod member or members shall become the city mayor and city vice mayor, respectively. Subsequent vacancies in the said offices shall be filled automatically by the other sanggunian members according to their ranking as defined herein.
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 number of registered voters In the City in the immediately preceding local election.
Section 22. Permanent Vacancies in the Sangguniang Panlungsod
Permanent vacancies in the sangguniang panlungsod where automatic succession as provided above does not apply shall be filled by appointments in the following manner:
In the appointment herein mentioned, a nomination and a certificate of membership of the appointee from the highest official of the political party concerned are conditions sine qua non, and any appointment without such nomination and certification shall be null and void ab initio and shall be a ground for administrative action against the official responsible therefor;
Section 23. 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.
ARTICLE VII THE APPOINTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE CITY: THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES
Section 24. The Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod
Section 25. The City Treasurer
Section 26. The Assistant City Treasurer
Section 27. The City Assessor
Section 28. The Assistant City Assessor
Section 29. The City Engineer
Section 30. The Assistant City Engineer
Section 31. The City Health Officer
Section 32. The Assistant City Health Officer
Section 33. The City Civil Registrar
Section 34. The Assistant City Civil Registrar
Section 35. The City Accountant
Section 36. The Assistant City Accountant
Section 37. The City Social Welfare and Development Officer
Section 38. The City Budget Officer
Section 39. The City Planning and Development Officer
Section 40. The City Administrator
Section 41. The City Legal Officer
Section 42. The City General Services Officer
Section 43. The City Environment and Natural Resources Officer
Section 44. The City Architect
Section 45. The City Human Resource Development Officer
Section 46. The City Information Officer
Section 47. The City Cooperatives Officer
Section 48. The City Population Officer
Section 49. The City Agriculturist
Section 50. The City Veterinarian
Section 51. The City Building Official
Section 52. The City Tourism Officer
Section 53. The City Fire Station Service
Section 54. The City Jail Service
Section 55. The Office of the City Prosecutor and Public Schools Division
The City of Navotas shall remain within the jurisdiction of the office of the city prosecutor of Malabon City, which shall be known hence as the office of the city prosecutor of Malabon and Navotas. Likewise, the public schools division for the cities of Malabon and Navotas shall continue to administer public education in both local government units.
ARTICLE IX TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Section 56. Municipal Ordinances Existing at the Time of the Approval of this Act
All municipal ordinances of the Municipality of Navotas existing at the time of the approval of this Act shall continue to be in force and effect within the City of Navotas until the sangguniang panlungsod shall provide otherwise.
Section 57. Officials of the City of Navotas
The present elective officials of the municipality shall continue to exercise their powers and functions until such 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 shall likewise continue exercising their functions and duties and they shall automatically be absorbed by the city government of Navotas.
Section 58. Legislative District
The City of Navotas shall have its own Legislative District with the first representative to be elected in the next national elections after the effectivity of this Act. Until such time, the City of Navotas shall continue to be represented by the incumbent representative in the House of Representatives.
Section 59. Suspension of Increase in Rates of Local Taxes
No increase in the rates of local taxes shall be imposed by the City within a period of five years from its acquisition of corporate existence.
Section 60. Plebiscite
The City of Navotas 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 Navotas within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act. The expenses for such plebiscite shall be borne by the Municipality of Navotas. The Commission on Elections shall conduct and supervise such plebiscite.
Section 61. Applicability of Laws
The provision of the Local Government Code of 1991, and such laws as are applicable to highly-urbanized cities shall govern the City of Navotas insofar as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.
Section 62. Separability Clause
If any part of this Act Is declared Invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions hereof shall remain valid and effective.
Section 63. 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 Navotas and any of the adjoining local government units even after the effectivity of this Act.
Section 64. 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 65. Effectivity
This Act shall take effect upon its complete publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
| JOSE DE VENECIA JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives | MANNY VILLAR President of the Senate |
This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on December 19, 2006 and November 14, 2006, respectively.
| ROBERTO P. NAZARENO Secretary General House of Representatives | OSCAR G. YABES Secretary of Senate |
Approved:
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO President of the Philippines
Lapsed into law on MAR 10 2007 without the signature of the President, in accordance with Article VI, Section 27 (1) of the Constitution.
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.