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. 9388 March 11, 2007
AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JUAN INTO A HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF SAN JUAN
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 San Juan".
Section 2. The City of San Juan
The Municipality of San Juan is hereby converted into a highly urbanized city to be known as the City of San Juan, hereinafter referred to as the City, which shall comprise of the present territory of the Municipality of San Juan, Metro Manila, over which it has jurisdiction. It is bounded on the north by Quezon City with Ermita'o Creek, Santolan Road and EDSA as its natural boundary lines; on the west, by the City of Manila with San Juan River as the natural boundary line; and on the east and south, by Mandaluyong City with Connecticut Street on the east side; Wack-Wack Road, Araullo Street and the Maytunas Creek; on the south side as its natural boundary lines at coordinates 12'36Â latitude north and 121'02Â longitude due east.
The foregoing provision shall be without prejudice to the resolution by appropriate agency or forum of any existing boundary dispute between the City of San Juan and its adjoining local government units (LGUs) : 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 the 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, 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 San Juan 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 San Juan, 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 San Juan 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 San Juan
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. -
Section 14. Sessions
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 results.
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
Section 21. Permanent Vacancy in the Offices of the City Mayor and City Vice 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 vice mayor.
If permanent vacancies occur in both the offices of the city mayor and 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.
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:
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.
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 Architect
Section 44. The City Human Resource Development Officer
Section 45. The City Environment and Natural Resources Officer
Section 46. The City Information Officer
Section 47. The City Cooperatives Officer
Section 48. The City Population Officer
Section 49. The City Veterinarian
Section 50. The City Building Official
Section 51. The City Tourism Officer
Section 52. The City Fire Station Service
Section 53. The City Jail Service
Section 54
The City Registry of Deeds Office.- There shall be established in the City a registry of deeds office, subject to the standards, rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) , and shall discharge its duties under the general supervision of the administrator of the Land Registration Authority and the Secretary of the DOJ.
Section 55. The City Register of Deeds
Section 56
Municipal Ordinances Existing at the Time of the Approval of This Act.- All municipal ordinances of the Municipality of San Juan existing at the time of the approval of this Act shall continue to be in force and effect within the City of San Juan until the sangguniang panlungsod shall provide otherwise.
Section 57
Officials of the City of San Juan.- 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 San Juan.
Section 58
Legislative District.- The City of San Juan shall continue to have its own legislative district.
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 San Juan 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 San Juan within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act. The expenses for such plebiscite shall be borne by the Municipality of San Juan. The Commission on Elections shall conduct and supervise such plebiscite.
Section 61
Applicability of Laws.- The provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 and such laws as are applicable to highly-urbanized cities shall govern the City of San Juan insofar as these 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 San Juan 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 January 30, 2007 and January 29, 2007, 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 11 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.