LocGov Finals

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Local Governments Finals reviewer Prof. D. Gatmaytan 2nd Semester A.Y. 2011-2012
Janz Hanna Ria N. Serrano
Relations with Philippine National Police LGC, 28. Powers of Local Chief Executives over the Units of the Philippine National Police. - The extent of operational supervision and control of local chief executives over the police force, fire protection unit, and jail management personnel assigned in their respective jurisdictions shall be governed by the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Sixty-nine hundred seventy-five (R.A. No. 6975), otherwise known as "The Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990", and the rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto. RA 6975 (1990) as amended by RA 8551 (1998); RA 8551, 62-65. RA 6975, as amended, Sec. 51 . Powers of Local Government Officials Over the PNP Units or Forces . Governors and mayors shall be deputized as representatives of the Commission in their respective territorial jurisdiction. As such, the local executives shall discharge the following functions: (a) Provincial Governor (1) Power to Choose the Provincial Director. The provincial governor shall choose the provincial director from a list of three (3) eligible recommended by the PNP regional director. (2) Overseeing the Provincial Public Safety Plan Implementation. The governor, as chairman of the provincial peace and order council, shall oversee the implementation of the provincial public safety plan, which is prepared taking into consideration the integrated community safety plans, as provided under paragraph (b) (2) of this section. (b) City and Municipal Mayors (1) Operational Supervision and Control. The city and municipal mayors shall exercise operational supervision and control over PNP units in their respective jurisdiction except during the thirty (30) day period immediately preceding and the thirty (30) days following any national, local and barangay elections. During the said period, the local police forces shall be under the supervision and control of the Commission on Elections. The term 'operational supervision and control' shall mean the power to direct, superintend, and oversee the day-to-day functions of police investigation of crime, crime prevention activities, and traffic control in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission. It shall also include the power to direct the employment and deployment of units or elements of the PNP, through the station commander, to ensure public safety and effective maintenance of peace and order within the locality. For this purpose, the terms 'employment' and 'deployment' shall mean as follows: 'Employment' refers to the utilization of units or elements of the PNP for purposes of protection of lives and properties, enforcement of laws, maintenance of peace and order, prevention of crimes, arrest of criminal offenders and bringing the offenders to justice, and ensuring public safety, particularly in the suppression of disorders, riots, lawlessness, violence, rebellious and seditious conspiracy, insurgency, subversion or other related activities. 'Deployment' shall mean the orderly and organized physical movement of elements or units of the PNP within the province, city or municipality for purposes of employment as herein defined." (2) Integrated Community Safety Plans. The municipal/city mayor shall, in coordination with the local peace and order council of which he is the chairman pursuant to Executive Order No. 309, as amended, develop and establish an integrated area/community public safety plan embracing priorities of action and program thrusts for implementation by the local PNP stations. It shall, likewise, be the duty of the city or municipal mayor to sponsor periodic seminars for members of the PNP assigned or detailed in his city or municipality in order to update them regarding local ordinances and legislations. (3) Administrative Disciplinary Powers. In the areas of discipline, city and municipal mayors shall have the powers to impose, after due notice and summary hearings, disciplinary penalties for minor offenses committed by members of the PNP assigned to their respective jurisdictions, as provided in Section 41 of this Act. (4) Other Powers. In addition to the aforementioned powers, city and municipal mayors shall have the following authority over the PNP units in their respective jurisdictions: i. Authority to choose the chief of police from a list of five (5) eligibles recommended by the provincial police director, preferably from the same province, city or municipality: Provided, however, That in no case shall an officer-in-charge be designated for more than thirty (30) days: Provided, further, That the local peace and order council may, through the city or municipal mayor, recommend the recall or reassignment of the chief of police when, in its perception, the latter has been ineffective in combating crime or maintaining peace and order in the city or municipality: Provided, finally, That such relief shall be based on guidelines established by the NAPOLCOM; ii. Authority to recommend to the provincial director the transfer, reassignment or detail of PNP members outside of their respective city or town residences; and iii. Authority to recommend from a list of eligibles previously screened by the peace and order council the appointment of new members of the PNP to be assigned to their respective cities or municipalities without which no such appointments shall be attested: Provided, That whenever practicable and consistent with the requirements of the service, PNP members shall be assigned to the city or municipality of their residence. The control and supervision of anti-gambling operations shall be within the jurisdiction of local government executives. RA 8551, 64. Automatic Deputation of Local Government Executives as Commission Representatives. Governors and mayors, upon having been elected and living qualified as such, are automatically deputized as representatives of the National Police Commission in their respective jurisdiction. As deputized agents of the Commission, local government executives can inspect police forces and units, conduct audit, and exercise other functions as may be duly authorized by the Commission. RA 6975, as amended, Sec. 52. Suspension or Withdrawal of Deputation. Unless reversed by the President, the Commission may, after consultation with the provincial governor and congressman concerned, suspend or withdraw the deputation of any local executive for any of the following grounds: (a) Frequent unauthorized absences; (b) Abuse of authority; (c) Providing material support to criminal elements; or (d) Engaging in acts inimical to national security or which negate the effectiveness of the peace and order campaign. Upon good cause shown, the President may, directly or through the Commission, motu proprio restore such deputation withdrawn from any local executive. Admin Code, Book IV, Chapter 7, Sec. 38(3). Definition of Administrative Relationship. - Unless otherwise expressly stated in the Code or in other laws defining the special relationships of particular agencies, administrative relationships shall be categorized and defined as follows: (3) Attachment. - (a) This refers to the lateral relationship between the department or its equivalent and the attached agency or corporation for purposes of policy and program coordination. The coordination may be accomplished by having the department represented in the governing board of the attached agency or corporation, either as chairman or as a member, with or without voting rights, if this is permitted by the charter; having the attached corporation or agency comply with a system of periodic reporting which shall reflect the progress of programs and projects; and having the department or its equivalent provide general policies through its representative in the board, which shall serve as the framework for the internal policies of the attached corporation or agency; (b) Matters of day-to-day administration or all those pertaining to internal operations shall be left to the discretion or judgment of the executive officer of the agency or corporation. In the event that the Secretary and the head of the board or the attached agency or corporation strongly disagree on the interpretation and application of policies, and the Secretary is unable to resolve the disagreement, he shall bring the matter to the President for resolution and direction; (c) Government-owned or controlled corporations attached to a department shall submit to the Secretary concerned their audited financial statements within sixty (60) days after the close of the fiscal year; and (d) Pending submission of the required financial statements, the corporation shall continue to operate on the basis of the preceding year's budget until the financial statements shall have been submitted. Should any government-owned or controlled corporation incur an operation deficit
at the close of its fiscal year, it shall be subject to administrative supervision of the department; and the corporation's operating and capital budget shall be subject to the department's examination, review, modification and approval. Carpio v. Exec. Sec. Under the doctrineof Qualified Political Agency, which recognizes the establishment of a single executive, "all executive and administrative organizations are adjuncts of the Executive Department, the heads of the various executive departments are assistants and agents of the Chief Executive, and, except in cases where the Chief Executive is required by the Constitution or law to act in person on the exigencies of the situation demand that he act personally, the multifarious executive and administrative functions of the Chief Executive are performed by and through the executive departments, and the acts of the Secretaries of such departments, performed and promulgated in the regular course of business, unless disapproved or reprobated by the Chief Executive presumptively the acts of the Chief Executive." Thus, and in short, "the President's power of control is directly exercised by him over the members of the Cabinet who, in turn, and by his authority, control the bureaus and other offices under their respective jurisdictions in the executive department." Additionally, the circumstance that the NAPOLCOM and the PNP are placed under the reorganized Department of Interior and Local Government is merely an administrative realignment that would bolster a system of coordination and cooperation among the citizenry, local executives and the integrated law enforcement agencies and public safety agencies created under the assailed Act, the funding of the PNP being in large part subsidized by the national government. Such organizational set-up does not detract from the mandate of the Constitution that the national police force shall be administered and controlled by a national police commission as at any rate, and in fact, the Act in question adequately provides for administration and control at the commission level. || There is no usurpation of the power of control of the NAPOLCOM under Section 51 because under this very same provision, it is clear that the local executives are only acting as representatives of the NAPOLCOM. . . . As such deputies, they are answerable to the NAPOLCOM for their actions in the exercise of their functions under that section. Thus, unless countermanded by the NAPOLCOM, their acts are valid and binding as acts of the NAPOLCOM." It is significant to note that the local officials, as NAPOLCOM representatives, will choose the officers concerned from a list of eligibles (those who meet the general qualifications for appointment to the PNP) to be recommended by PNP officials. Andaya v. RTC. Under Republic Act No. 6975, Section 51, the mayor of Cebu City shall be deputized as representative of the Commission (National Police Commission) in his territorial jurisdiction and as such the mayor shall have authority to choose the chief of police from a list of five (5) eligibles recommended by the Police Regional Director. The City Police Station of Cebu City is under the direct command and control of the PNP Regional Director, Regional Police Command No. 7, and is equivalent to a provincial office. Then, the Regional Director, Regional Police Command No. 7 appoints the officer selected by the mayor as the City Director, City Police Command (chief of police) Cebu City. It is the prerogative of the Regional Police Director to name the five (5) eligibles from a pool of eligible officers screened by the Senior Officers Promotion and Selection Board, Headquarters, Philippine National Police, Camp Crame, Quezon City, without interference from local executives . In case of disagreement between the Regional Police Director and the Mayor, the question shall be elevated to the Regional Director, National Police Commission, who shall resolve the issue within five (5) working days from receipt and whose decision on the choice of the Chief of Police shall be final and executory. As deputy of the Commission, the authority of the mayor is very limited. In reality, he has no power of appointment; he has only the limited power of selecting one from among the list of five eligibles to be named the chief of police. Actually, the power to appoint the chief of police of Cebu City is vested in the Regional Director, Regional Police Command No. 7. Much less may the mayor require the Regional Director, Regional Police Command, to include the name of any officer, no matter how qualified, in the list of five to be submitted to the mayor. The purpose is to enhance police professionalism and to isolate the police service from political domination. Canonizado v. Aguirre. The creation and abolition of public offices is primarily a legislative function. It is acknowledged that Congress may abolish any office it creates without impairing the officer's right to continue in the position held and that such power may be exercised for various reasons, such as the lack of funds or in the interest of economy. However, in order for the abolition to be valid, it must be made in good faith, not for political or personal reasons, or in order to circumvent the constitutional security of tenure of civil service employees. || An abolition of office connotes an intention to do away with such office wholly and permanently, as the word "abolished" denotes. Where one office is abolished and replaced with another office vested with similar functions, the abolition is a legal nullity || It is exceedingly apparent to this Court that RA 8551 effected a reorganization of the PNP, not of the NAPOLCOM. They are two separate and distinct bodies, with one having supervision and control over the other. In fact, it is the NAPOLCOM that is given the duty of submitting a proposed reorganization plan of the PNP to Congress. As mentioned earlier, the basic structure of the NAPOLCOM has been preserved by the amendatory law. There has been no revision in its lines of control, authority and responsibility, neither has there been a reduction in its membership, nor a consolidation or abolition of the offices constituting the same. Adding the Chief of the PNP as an ex-officio member of the Commission does not result in a reorganization. No bona fide reorganization of the NAPOLCOM having been mandated by Congress, RA 8551, insofar as it declares the terms of office of the incumbent Commissioners, petitioners herein, as expired and resulting in their removal from office, removes civil service employees from office without legal cause and must therefore be struck down for being constitutionally infirm. Canonizado v. Aguirre, Resolution. Abandonment of an office is the voluntary relinquishment of an office by the holder, with the intention of terminating his possession and control thereof. In order to constitute abandonment of office, it must be total and under such circumstances as clearly to indicate an absolute relinquishment. There must be a complete abandonment of duties of such continuance that the law will infer a relinquishment. Abandonment of duties is a voluntary act; it springs from and is accompanied by deliberation and freedom of choice. There are, therefore, two essential elements of abandonment: first, an intention to abandon and second, an overt or external act by which the intention is carried into effect. Generally speaking, a person holding a public off ice may abandon such office by nonuser or acquiescence. Non-user refers to a neglect to use a right or privilege or to exercise an office. However, nonperformance of the duties of an office does not constitute abandonment where such nonperformance results from temporary disability or from involuntary failure to perform. Abandonment may also result from an acquiescence by the officer in his wrongful removal or discharge, for instance, after a summary removal, an unreasonable delay by an officer illegally removed in taking steps to vindicate his rights may constitute an abandonment of the office. Where, while desiring and intending to hold the office, and with no willful desire or intention to abandon it, the public officer vacates it in deference to the requirements of a statute which is afterwards declared unconstitutional, such a surrender will not be deemed an abandonment and the officer may recover the office. Rodriguez v. CA . Clearly, where a police officer is dismissed by the PNP Director General and the dismissal is affirmed by the NAPOLCOM National Appellate Board, the proper remedy is to appeal the dismissal with the DILG Secretary. That the NAPOLCOM Chairman is also the DILG Secretary is of no moment, for under the aforecited laws and regulations, only the DILG Secretary can act on the appeal. Besides, what is involved here is not the sole act of the NAPOLCOM Chairman, but the decision of the Commission. Should the DILG Secretarys decision prove adverse to appellant, then he as the aggrieved party may bring an appeal to the Civil Service Commission. In instances where the CSC denies the appeal, the remedy under R.A. No. 7902 would be to appeal the adverse decision to the Court of Appeals. In the instant case, petitioner had three opportunities to appeal the decision of the NAPOLCOM. He chose not to avail of them, but instead opted to file an action for certiorari and mandamus with the appellate court. People v. Velarde. Under the circumstances, Atty. Domingo cannot be considered as an independent counsel. He was the mayor of Malolos at the time. As such, he exercised operational supervision and control over the PNP unit in that municipality. His powers included the utilization of the elements thereof for the maintenance of peace and order, the prevention of crimes, the arrest of criminal offenders and the bringing of offenders to justice. As mayor of Malolos, his duties were inconsistent with those of his responsibilities to appellant, who was already incarcerated and tagged as the main suspect in the rape-slay case. Serving as counsel of appellant placed him in direct conflict with his duty of operational supervision and control over the police. What the Constitution requires in Article III Section 12 (1) is the presence of competent and independent counsel, one who will effectively undertake his clients defe nse without any intervening conflict of interest. Evidently Atty. Domingo, being the mayor of the place where the investigation was taken, could not act as counsel, independent or otherwise, of appellant. Inter-Local Government Relations LGC, 3(e). Operative Principles of Decentralization. - The formulation and implementation of policies and measures on local autonomy shall be guided by the following operative principles: (e) Provinces with respect to component cities and municipalities, and cities and municipalities with respect to component barangays, shall ensure that the acts of their component units are within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions LGC, 29. Provincial Relations with Component Cities and Municipalities. - The province, through the governor, shall ensure that every component city and municipality within its territorial jurisdiction acts within the scope of its prescribed powers and functions. Highly urbanized cities and independent component cities shall be independent of the province. LGC, 30. Review of Executive Orders. (a) Except as otherwise provided under the Constitution and special statutes, the governor shall review all executive orders promulgated by the component city or municipal mayor within his jurisdiction. The city or municipal mayor shall review all executive orders promulgated by the punong barangay within his jurisdiction. Copies of such orders shall be forwarded to the governor or the city or municipal mayor, as the case may
be, within three (3) days from their issuance. In all instances of review, the local chief executive concerned shall ensure that such executive orders are within the powers granted by law and in conformity with provincial, city, or municipal ordinances. (b) If the governor or the city or municipal mayor fails to act on said executive orders within thirty (30) days after their submission, the same shall be deemed consistent with law and therefore valid. LGC, 31. Submission of Municipal Questions to the Provincial Legal Officer or Prosecutor. - In the absence of a municipal legal officer, the municipal government may secure the opinion of the provincial legal officer, and in the absence of the latter, that of the provincial prosecutor on any legal question affecting the municipality. LGC, 32. City and Municipal Supervision over Their Respective Barangays. - The city or municipality, through the city or municipal mayor concerned, shall exercise general supervision over component barangays to ensure that said barangays act within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions. LGC, 33. Cooperative Undertakings Among Local Government Units. - Local government units may, through appropriate ordinances, group themselves, consolidate, or coordinate their efforts, services, and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them. In support of such undertakings, the local government units involved may, upon approval by the sanggunian concerned after a public hearing conducted for the purpose, contribute funds, real estate, equipment, and other kinds of property and appoint or assign personnel under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the participating local units through Memoranda of Agreement. Relations with Peoples and Non-governmental Organizations LGC, 34. Role of People's and Non-governmental Organizations. - Local government units shall promote the establishment and operation of people's and nongovernmental organizations to become active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy. LGC, 35. Linkages with People's and Non-governmental Organizations. - Local government units may enter into joint ventures and such other cooperative arrangements with people's and non-governmental organizations to engage in the delivery of certain basic services, capability-building and livelihood projects, and to develop local enterprises designed to improve productivity and income, diversity agriculture, spur rural industrialization, promote ecological balance, and enhance the economic and social well-being of the people. LGC, 36. Assistance to People's and Non-governmental Organizations. - A local government unit may, through its local chief executive and with the concurrence of the sanggunian concerned, provide assistance, financial or otherwise, to such people's and non-governmental organizations for economic, socially-oriented, environmental, or cultural projects to be implemented within its territorial jurisdiction. Local Pre-qualification, Bids and Awards Committee LGC, 37. Local Prequalification, Bids and Awards Committee (Local PBAC). (a) There is hereby created a local prequalification, bids and awards committee in every province, city, and municipality, which shall be primarily responsible for the conduct of prequalification of contractors, bidding, evaluation of bids, and the recommendation of awards concerning local infrastructure projects. The governor or the city or municipal mayor shall act as the chairman with the following as members: (1) The chairman of the appropriations committee of the sanggunian concerned; (2) A representative of the minority party in the sanggunian concerned, if any, or if there be none, one (1) chosen by said sanggunian from among its members; (3) The local treasurer; (4) Two (2) representatives of non-governmental organizations that are represented in the local development council concerned, to be chosen by the organizations themselves; and (5) Any practicing certified public accountant from the private sector, to be designated by the local chapter of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, if any. Representatives of the Commission on Audit shall observe the proceedings of such committee and shall certify that the rules and procedures for prequalification, bids and awards have been complied with. (b) The agenda and other information relevant to the meetings of such committee shall be deliberated upon by the committee at lea st one (1) week before the holding of such meetings. (c) All meetings of the committee shall be held in the provincial capitol or the city or municipal hall. The minutes of such meetings of the committee and any decision made therein shall be duly recorded, posted at a prominent place in the provincial capitol or the city or municipal hall, and delivered by the most expedient means to elective local officials concerned. LGC, 38. Local Technical Committee. (a) There is hereby created a local technical committee in every province, city and municipality to provide technical assistance to the local prequalification, bids and awards committees. It shall be composed of the provincial, city or municipal engineer, the local planning and development coordinator, and such other officials designated by the local prequalification, bids and awards committee. (b) The chairman of the local technical committee shall be designated by the local prequalification, bids and awards committee and shall attend its meeting in order to present the reports and recommendations of the local technical committee. Title Two: Elective Officials [LGC, 39-75] Qualifications and Elections LGC, 39. Qualifications. (a) An elective local official must be a citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter in the barangay, municipality, city, or province or, in the case of a member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang bayan, the district where he intends to be elected; a resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election; and able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect. (b) Candidates for the position of governor, vice-governor, or member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, or mayor, vice-mayor or member of the sangguniang panlungsod of highly urbanized cities must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on election day. (c) Candidates for the position of mayor or vice-mayor of independent component cities, component cities, or municipalities must be at least twentyone (21) years of age on election day. (d) Candidates for the position of member of the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan must be at least eighteen (18) years of age on election day. (e) Candidates for the position of punong barangay or member of the sangguniang barangay must be at least eighteen (18) years of age on election day. (f) Candidates for the sangguniang kabataan must be at least fifteen (15) years of age but not more than twenty-one (21) years of age on election day. LGC, 40. Disqualifications. - The following persons are disqualified from running for any elective local position: (a) Those sentenced by final judgment for an offense involving moral turpitude or for an offense punishable by one (1) year or more of imprisonment, within two (2) years after serving sentence; (b) Those removed from office as a result of an administrative case; (c) Those convicted by final judgment for violating the oath of allegiance to the Republic; (d) Those with dual citizenship; (e) Fugitives from justice in criminal or non-political cases here or abroad; (f) Permanent residents in a foreign country or those who have acquired the right to reside abroad and continue to avail of the same right after the effectivity of this Code; and (g) The insane or feeble-minded. LGC, 41. Manner of Election. (a) The governor, vice-governor, city mayor, city vice-mayor, municipal mayor, municipal vice-mayor, and punong barangay shall be elected at large in their respective units by the qualified voters therein. However, the sangguniang kabataan chairman for each barangay shall be elected by the registered voters of the katipunan ng kabataan, as provided in this Code.
(b) The regular members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan shall be elected by district, as may be provided for by law. Sangguniang barangay members shall be elected at large. The presidents of the leagues of sanggunian members of component cities and municipalities shall serve as ex officio members of the sangguniang panlalawigan concerned. The presidents of the "liga ng mga barangay and the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan" elected by their respective chapters, as provided in this Code, shall serve as ex officio members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan. (c) In addition thereto, there shall be one (1) sectoral representative from the women, one (1) from the workers, and one (1) from any of the following sectors: the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, disabled persons, or any other sector as may be determined by the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of the next local elections as may be provided for by law. The COMELEC shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively provide for the election of such sectoral representatives. LGC, 42. Date of Election. - Unless otherwise provided by law, the elections for local officials shall be held every three (3) years on the second Monday of May. LGC, 43. Term of Office. (a) The term of office of all local elective officials elected after the effectivity of this Code shall be three (3) years, starting from noon of June 30, 1992 or such date as may be provided for by law, except that of elective barangay officials: Provided, That all local officials first elected during the local elections immediately following the ratification of the 1987 Constitution shall serve until noon of June 30, 1992. (b) No local elective official shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same position. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official concerned was elected. (c) The term of office of barangay officials and members of the sangguniang kabataan shall be for three (3) years, which shall begin after the regular election of barangay officials on the second Monday of May 1994. Members of the Sanggunian LGC, 41, supra. RA 6636 (1987). An Act Resetting the Local Elections from November 9, 1987 to January 18, 1988, Amending for this Purpose EO 270. RA 7166 (1991). An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms, Authorizing Appropriations therefor, and for Other Purposes. RA 7887 (1995). An Act Instituting Electoral Reforms for the Purpose of Amending Sec. 3, paragraphs (c) and (d) of RA 7166 Sec. 1. Section 3, paragraphs (c) and (d) of Republic Act No. 7166, is hereby amended to read as follows: (c) The number and election of elective members of the sangguniang panlungsod and sangguniang bayan in the Metro Manila area, City of Cebu, City of Davao and any other city with two (2) or more legislative districts shall be elected by districts and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2 and 3 of Republic Act No. 6636: provided, that, all cities with one (1) legislative district and all municipalities in the Metro Manila area shall have twelve (12) councilors each: provided, further, that, the Commission shall divide all cities with one legislative district and each of the municipalities in Metro Manila area into two (2) districts by barangay for purposes of representation in the sangguniang bayan as nearly as practicable according to the number of inhabitants, each district comprising a compact, contiguous and adjacent territory; and (d) For purposes of the regular elections on May 11, 1992 and all general elections thereafter, the regular elective members of the sangguniang panlungsod and sangguniang bayan, shall be elected at large in accordance with existing laws. The Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of law which may hereafter be enacted providing for the election of sectoral representatives." RA 8553 (1998). An Act Amending Section 41(B) of RA 7160 Sec. 1. Sec. 41(b) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: (b) The regular members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan shall be elected by district as follows: First and second-class provinces shall have ten (10) regular members; third and fourth-class provinces, eight (8); and fifth and sixth-class provinces, six (6): Provided, That in provinces having more than five (5) legislative districts, each district shall have two (2) sangguniang panlalawigan members, without prejudice to the provisions of Sec. 2 of Republic Act No. 6637. Sangguniang barangay members shall be elected at large. The presidents of the leagues of sanggunian members of component cities and municipalities shall serve as ex officio members of the sangguniang panlalawigan concerned. The presidents of the liga ng mga barangay and the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan elected by their respective chapters, as provided in this Code, shall serve as ex officio members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan." Sec. 2. Upon the petition of the provincial board, the election for any additional regular member to the sangguniang panlalawigan as provided for under this Act, shall be held not earlier than six (6) months after the May 11, 1998 national and local elections. Herrera v. COMELEC. Under R.A. 7166 and Comelec Resolution No. 2313, the basis for division into districts shall be the number of inhabitants of the province concerned and not the number of listed or registered voters as theorized upon by petitioners. Thus, Comelec did not act with grave abuse of discretion in issuing the assailed Resolution because clearly, the basis for the districting is the number of inhabitants of the Province of Guimaras by municipality based on the official 1995 Census of Population as certified to by Tomas P. Africa, Administrator of the National Statistics Office. Qualifications RA 9164 (2002), Sec. 6. Section 424 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 424. Katipunan ng Kabataan. The katipunan ng kabataan shall be composed of Filipino citizens actually residing in the barangay for at least six (6) months, who are fifteen (15) but less than eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the election, and who are duly registered in the list of the sangguniang kabataan or in the official barangay list in the custody of the barangay secretary." RA 9164 (2002), Sec. 7. Section 428 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 428. Qualifications. An elective official of the sangguniang kabataan must be a Filipino citizen, a qualified voter of the katipunan ng kabataan, a resident of the barangay for at least one (1) year immediately prior to election, at least fifteen (15) years but less than eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the election, able to read and write Filipino, English, or the local dialect, and must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude." RA 8171 (1995). An Act Providing For The Repatriation Of Filipinos Who Have Lost Their Philippine Citizenship By Marriage to Aliens And Of Natural-Born Filipinos Sec. 1. Filipino women who have lost their Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens and natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship, including their minor children, on account of political or economic necessity, may reacquire Philippine citizenship through repatriation in the manner provided in Section 4 of Commonwealth Act No. 63, as amended: Provided, That the applicant is not a: (1) Person opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing organized government; (2) Person defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault, or association for the predominance of their ideas; (3) Person convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude; or (4) Person suffering from mental alienation or incurable contagious diseases. Sec. 2. Repatriation shall be effected by taking the necessary oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and registration in the proper civil registry and in the Bureau of Immigration. The Bureau of Immigration shall thereupon cancel the pertinent alien certificate of registration and issue the certificate of identification as Filipino citizen to the repatriated citizen. Salcedo II v. COMELEC. At any rate, its has been said that the filing of a certificate of candidacy is a technicality that should be enforced befor e the election, but can be disregarded after the electorate has made the choosing. This rule is in consonance with the policy announced in many decisions that the rules and
regulations, for the conduct of elections, are mandatory before the elections, but when it is sought to enforce them after the elections, they are held to be directory only. || Every person aspiring to hold any elective public office must file a sworn certificate of candidacy. One of the things which should be stated therein is that the candidate is eligible for the office. In case there is a material misrepresentation in the certificate of candidacy, the Comelec is authorized to deny due course to or cancel such certificate upon the filing of a petition by any person pursuant to section 78 of the Code. If the petition is filed within the statutory period and the candidate is subsequently declared by final judgment to be disqualified before the election, he shall not be voted for, and the votes cast for him shall not be counted . If for any reason a candidate is not declared by final judgment before an election to be disqualified and he is voted for and receives the winning number of votes in such election, the Court or the Comelec shall continue with the trial and hearing of the action, inquiry, or protest and, upon motion of the complainant or any intervenor, may during the pendency thereof order the suspension of the proclamation of such candidate whenever the evidence of his guilt is strong. The fifteen-day period in section 78 for deciding the petition is merely directory. As stated in the law, in order to justify the cancellation of the certificate of candidacy under section 78, it is essential that the false representation mentioned therein pertain to a material matter for the sanction imposed by this provision would affect the substantive rights of a candidate - the right to run for the elective post for which he filed the certificate of candidacy. Although the law does not specify what would be consi dered as a material representation, the Court has interpreted this phrase in a line of decisions applying section 78 of the Code. Cipriano v. COMELEC. The Commission may not, by itself, without the proper proceedings, deny due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy filed in due form. When a candidate files his certificate of candidacy, the COMELEC has a ministerial duty to receive and acknowledge its receipt. The Court has ruled that the Commission has no discretion to give or not to give due course to petitioners certificate of candidacy.The duty of the C OMELEC to give due course to certificates of candidacy filed in due form is ministerial in character. While the Commission may look into patent defects in the certificates, it may not go into matters not appearing on their face. The question of eligibility or ineligibility of a candidate is thus beyond the usual and proper cognizance of said body. Bautista v. COMELEC. [on issue of jurisdiction] A division of the COMELEC should have first heard this case. The COMELEC en banc can only act on the case if there is a motion for reconsideration of the decision of the COMELEC division. Hence, the COMELEC en banc acted without jurisdiction when it ordered the cancellation of Bautistas certificate of candidacy without first referring the case to a division for summary hearing. The proceeding on the cancellation of a certificate of candidacy does not merely pertain to the administrative functions of the COMELEC. Cancellation proceedings involve the COMELE Cs quasi-judicial functions. || [on merits] It is thus clear that the law as it now stands requires a candidate for Punong Barangay to be a registered voter of the barangay where he intends to run for office. Bautista was aware when he filed his certificate of candidacy for the office of Punong Barangay that he lacked one of the qualifications that of being a registered voter in the barangay where he ran for office. He therefore made a misrepresentation of a material fact when he made a false statement in his certificate of candidacy that he was a registered voter in Barangay Lumbangan. An elective office is a public trust. He who aspires for elective office should not make a mockery of the electoral process by falsely representing himself. The importance of a valid certificate of candidacy rests at the very core of the electoral process. Under Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code, false representation of a material fact in the certificate of candidacy is a ground for the denial or cancellation of the certificate of candidacy. The material misrepresentation contemplated by Section 78 refers to qualifications for elective office. A candidate guilty of misrepresentation may be (1) prevented from running, or (2) if elected, from serving, or (3) prosecuted for violation of the election laws Matugas v. COMELEC. Basic in the law of evidence is that one who alleges a fact has the burden of proving it. In administrative cases, the quantum of proof required is substantial evidence. Petitioner did not overcome his burden. The documentary evidence he submitted fails to establish that private respondent is not a Filipino citizen. Japzon v. COMELEC. There is no dispute that Ty was a natural-born Filipino. He was born and raised in the Municipality of General Macarthur, Eastern Samar, Philippines. However, he left to work in the USA and eventually became an American citizen. On 2 October 2005, Ty reacquired his Philippine citizenship by taking his Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines before Noemi T. Diaz, Vice Consul of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California, USA, in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9225. At this point, Ty still held dual citizenship, i.e., American and Philippine. It was only on 19 March 2007 that Ty renounced his American citizenship before a notary public and, resultantly, became a pure Philippine citizen again. || It bears to point out that Republic Act No. 9225 governs the manner in which a natural-born Filipino may reacquire or retain his Philippine citizenship despite acquiring a foreign citizenship, and provides for his rights and liabilities under such circumstances. A close scrutiny of said statute would reveal that it does not at all touch on the matter of residence of the natural-born Filipino taking advantage of its provisions. Republic Act No. 9225 imposes no residency requirement for the reacquisition or retention of Philippine citizenship; nor does it mention any effect of such reacquisition or retention of Philippine citizenship on the current residence of the concerned natural-born Filipino. Clearly, Republic Act No. 9225 treats citizenship independently of residence. This is only logical and consistent with the general intent of the law to allow for dual citizenship. Since a natural-born Filipino may hold, at the same time, both Philippine and foreign citizenships, he may establish residence either in the Philippines or in the foreign country of which he is also a citizen. Corodora v. COMELEC. We agree with Commissioner Sarmientos observation that Tambunting posses ses dual citizenship. Because of the circumstances of his birth, it was no longer necessary for Tambunting to undergo the naturalization process to acquire American citizenship. The process involved in INS Form I-130 only served to confirm the American citizenship which Tambunting acquired at birth. The certification from the Bureau of Immigration which Cordora presented contained two trips where Tambunting claimed that he is an American. However, the same certification showed nine other trips where Tambunting claimed that he is Filipino. Clearly, Tambunting possessed dual citizenship prior to the filing of his certificate of candidacy before the 2001 elections. The fact that Tambunting had dual citizenship did not disqualify him from running for public office || We deem it necessary to reiterate our previous ruling in Mercado v. Manzano, wherein we ruled that dual citizenship is not a ground for disqualification from running for any elective local position. || To begin with, dual citizenship is different from dual allegiance. The former arises when, as a result of the concurrent application of the different laws of two or more states, a person is simultaneously considered a national by the said states. For instance, such a situation may arise when a person whose parents are citizens of a state which adheres to the principle of jus sanguinis is born in a state which follows the doctrine of jus soli. Such a person, ipso facto and without any voluntary act on his part, is concurrently considered a citizen of both states. || In Sections 2 and 3 of R.A. No. 9225, the framers were not concerned with dual citizenship per se, but with the status of naturalized citizens who maintain their allegiance to their countries of origin even after their naturalization. Section 5(3) of R.A. No. 9225 states that naturalized citizens who reacquire Filipino citizenship and desire to run for elective public office in the Philippines shall "meet the qualifications for holding such public office as required by the Constitution and existing laws and, at the time of filing the certificate of candidacy, make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath" aside from the oath of allegiance prescribed in Section 3 of R.A. No. 9225. The twin requirements of swearing to an Oath of Allegiance and executing a Renunciation of Foreign Citizenship served as the bases for our recent rulings in Jacot v. Dal and COMELEC,13 Velasco v. COMELEC,14 and Japzon v. COMELEC,15 all of which involve natural-born Filipinos who later became naturalized citizens of another country and thereafter ran for elective office in the Philippines. In the present case, Tambunting, a natural-born Filipino, did not subsequently become a naturalized citizen of another country. Hence, the twin requirements in R.A. No. 9225 do not apply to him. Maruhom v. COMELEC. Following the clear and plain words of Minute Resolution No. 00-1513, therefore, Maruhoms earlier registration in Marawi is deemed valid, while her subsequent registration in Marantao is void ab initio. Accordingly, Maruhom cannot be considered a registered voter in Marantao and, thus, she made a false representation in her COC when she claimed to be one. Maruhoms voter registration constitutes a material fact because it affects her eligibility to be elected as municipal mayor of Marantao. Section 39(a) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991,27 requires that an elective local official must be, among other things, a registered voter in the barangay, municipality, city or province where he intends to be elected. Labo v. COMELEC and Ortega. Contrary to Labo's claim, the petition for quo warranto was filed on time. Lardizabal did not immediately pay the filing fee because the COMELEC had at first considered the petition as a pre-proclamation proceeding, which does not require the payment of such a fee. When the COMELEC reclassified the petition, Lardizabal immediately paid the filing fee -- thus, he still complied with the prescribed 10-day period. Furthermore, the Court held that such technicalities should not hinder judicial decisions on significant issues, such as the one being decided in this case. || Labo is not a Filipino citizen. He had lost his Philippine citizenship by all 3 modes specified in the Constitution: (1) naturalization in a foreign country, (2) express renunciation of citizenship, and (3) subscribing to an oath of allegiance to support the Constitution or laws of a foreign country. He has not reacquired Philippine citizenship by any of the 3 methods prescribed in the Constitution: (1) direct act of Congress, (2) naturalization, and (3) repatriation. Contrary to Labo's claim, his naturalization in Australia did not confer him with dual citizenship. The Constitution explicitly states that dual citizenship is inimical to national interest. The contention that his marriage to an Australian national did not automatically divest him of Filipino citizenship is irrelevant. There was no claim that Labo had automatically ceased to be a Filipino because of that marriage. Also, his Filipino citizenship has not been automatically restored upon the annulment of his Australian citizenship, when his marriage was declared void on the grounds of bigamy. The Commission on Immigration
and Deportation held in in 1988 that Labo was not a Filipino citizen. The earlier contrary decision by the COMELEC in 1982 is totally baseless, and is even alleged to have been politically motivated. The latter can be reversed because the doctrine of res judicata does not apply to questions of citizenship. Thus, Labo is not eligible to hold public office in the Philippines. He was not even a qualified voter when he was elected. Frivaldo v. COMELEC. The Commission on Elections has the primary jurisdiction over the question as the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns and qualifications of the me mbers of the Congress and elective provincial and city officials. However, the decision on Frivaldos citizenship has already been made by the COMELEC through its counsel, the Solicitor General, who categorically claims that Frivaldo is a foreigner. The Solicitors stance is assumed to have bben taken by him after consultation with COMELEC and with its approval. It therefore represents the decision of the COMELEC itself that the Supreme Court may review. In the certificate of candidacy filed on 19 November 1987, Frivaldo described himself as a natural -born citizen of the Philippines, omitting mention of any subsequent loss of such status. The evidence shows, however, that he was naturalized as a citizen of the United States in 1983 per the certification from the United States District Court, Northern District of California, as duly authenticated by Vice Consul Amado P. Cortez of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, California, U.S.A. There were many other Filipinos in the United States similarly situated as Frivaldo, and some of them subject to greater risk than he, who did not find it necessary nor do they claim to have been coerced to abandon their cherished status as Filipinos. Still, if he really wanted to disavow his American citizenship and reacquire Philippine citizenship, Frivaldo should have done so in accordance with the laws of our country. Under CA No. 63 as amended by CA No. 473 and PD No. 725, Philippine citizenship may be reacquired by direct act of Congress, by naturalization, or by repatriation. He failed to take such categorical acts. Rhe anomaly of a person sitting as provincial governor in this country while owing exclusive allegiance to another country cannot be permitted. The fact that he was elected by the people of Sorsogon does not excuse this patent violation of the salutary rule limiting public office and employment only to the citizens of this country. The will of the people as expressed through the ballot cannot cure the vice of ineligibility. Qualifications for public office are continuing requirements and must be possessed not only at the time of appointment or election or assumption of office but during the officers entire tenure. Once any of the required qualifications is lost, his title may be seasonably challenged. Frivaldo is disqualified from serving as governor of Sorsogon. Altajeros v. COMELEC. The law is clear that repatriation is effected by taking the oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and registration in the proper civil registry and in the Bureau of Immigration. Hence, in addition to taking the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, the registration of the Certificate of Repatriation in the proper civil registry and the Bureau of Immigration is a prerequisite in effecting the repatriation of a citizen. In this case, petitioner took his Oath of Allegiance on December 17, 1997, but his Certificate of Repatriation was registered with the Civil Registry of Makati City only after six years or on February 18, 2004, and with the Bureau of Immigration on March 1, 2004. Petitioner, therefore, completed all the requirements of repatriation only after he filed his certificate of candidacy for a mayoralty position, but before the elections. In Re: Disqualification of Tess-Dumpit Michelena. Dumpit-Michelena failed to prove that she has complied with the residency requirement. || To effect change, there must be animus manendi coupled with animus non revertendi. The intent to remain in the new domicile of choice must be for an indefinite period of time, the change of residence must be voluntary, and the residence at the place chosen for the new domicile must be actual. The Court agrees with the COMELEC Second Division that Dumpit-Michelena failed to establish that she has abandoned her former domicile. Among the documents submitted by Dumpit-Michelena is a Special Power of Attorney authorizing Clyde Crispino (Crispino) to apply, facilitate and follow up the issu ance of a building permit of the beach house she intended to put up in her lot. She also authorized Crispino to help her caretaker oversee the lot and the construction of the beach house. As correctly pointed out by the COMELEC Second Division, a beach house is at most a place of temporary relaxation. It can hardly be considered a place of residence. Torayno v. COMELEC. In the case at bar, the Comelec found that private respondent and his family had actually been residing in Capistrano Subdivision, Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City, in a house he had bought in 1973. Furthermore, during the three terms (1988-1998) that he was governor of Misamis Oriental, he physically lived in that city, where the seat of the provincial government was located. In June 1997, he also registered as voter of the same city. Based on our ruling in Mamba-Perez, these facts indubitably prove that Vicente Y. Emano was a resident of Cagayan de Oro City for a period of time sufficient to qualify him to run for public office therein. Moreover, the Comelec did not find any bad faith on the part of Emano in his choice of residence. || Petitioners put much emphasis on the fact that Cagayan de Oro City is a highly urbanized city whose voters cannot participate in the provincial elections. Such political subdivisions and voting restrictions, however, are simply for the purpose of parity in representation. The classification of an area as a highly urbanized or independent component city, for that matter, does not completely isolate its residents, politics, commerce and other businesses from the entire province -- and vice versa -especially when the city is located at the very heart of the province itself, as in this case. || Undeniably, Cagayan de Oro City was once an integral part of Misamis Oriental and remains a geographical part of the province. Not only is it at the center of the province; more important, it is itself the seat of the provincial government. As a consequence, the provincial officials who carry out their functions in the city cannot avoid residing therein; much less, getting acquainted with its concerns and interests. Vicente Y. Emano, having been the governor of Misamis Oriental for three terms and consequently residing in Cagayan de Oro City within that period, could not be said to be a stranger or newcomer to the city in the last year of his third term, when he decided to adopt it as his permanent place of residence. || We stress that the residence requirement is rooted in the desire that officials of districts or localities be acquainted not only with the metes and bounds of their constituencies but, more important, with the constituents themselves -- their needs, difficulties, aspirations, potentials for growth and development, and all matters vital to their common welfare. The requisite period would give candidates the opportunity to be familiar with their desired constituencies, and likewise for the electorate to evaluate the former's qualifications and fitness for the offices they seek. Papandayan v. COMELEC. Petitioners statement that [he] was living in Marawi City cannot be rea d as saying he was a resident of Marawi City, because, when asked whether he was residing in Bayang, Lanao del Sur, he replied: No, Im in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur. What he seems to be saying is that although he worked as a private secretary of the Mayor of Bayang, he was not a resident of Bayang, because he was living in Tubaran. When the evidence of the alleged lack of residence qualification of a candidate for an elective position is weak or inconclusive and it clearly appears that t he purpose of the law would not be thwarted by upholding the victors right to the office, the will of the electorate should be respected. For the purpose of election laws is to give effect to, rather than frustrate, the will of the voters. To successfully challenge petitioners disqualification, respondent must clearly demonstrate that petitioners ineligibility is so patently antagonistic to constitutional and legal principles that overridin g such ineligibility and thereby giving effect to the apparent will of the people would ultimately create greater prejudice to the very democratic institutions and juristic traditions that our Constitution and laws so zealously protect and promote. Respondent failed to substantiate her claim that petitioner is ineligible to be mayor of Tubaran. Coquilla v. COMELEC. The term residence is to be understood not in its common acceptation as referring to dwelling or habitation, [21] but rather to domicile or legal residence, that is, the place where a party actually or constructively has his permanent home, where he, no matter where he may be found at any given time, eventually intends to return and remain ( animus manendi ). A domicile of origin is acquired by every person at birth. It is usually the place where the childs parents reside and continues until the same is abandoned by acquisition of new domicile (domicile of choice). In the case at bar, petitioner lost his domicile of origin in Oras by becoming a U.S. citizen after enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1965. From then on and until November 10, 2000, when he reacquired Philippine citizenship, petitioner was an alien without any right to reside in the Philippines save as our immigration laws may have allowed him to stay as a visitor or as a resident alien. Disqualification RA 8295 (1997), Sec. 4. Disqualification. In addition to the disqualifications mentioned in Sec.s 12 and 68 of the Omnibus Election Code and Sec. 40 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, whenever the evidence of guilt is strong, the following persons are disqualified to run in a special election called to fill the vacancy in an elective office, to wit: a) Any elective official who has resigned from his office by accepting an appointive office or for whatever reason which he previously occupied but has caused to become vacant due to his resignation; and b) Any person who, directly or indirectly, coerces, bribes, threatens, harasses, intimidates or actually causes, inflicts or produces any violence, injury, punishment, torture, damage, loss or disadvantage to any person or persons aspiring to become a candidate or that of the immediate member of his family, his honor or property that is meant to eliminate all other potential candidate. RA 8295 (1997), Sec. 5. Prohibited acts, election offenses and penalties . Any act of coercion, bribery, threat, harassment, intimidation, terrorism, or actually causing, inflicting or producing violence, injury, punishment, torture, damage, loss or disadvantage to discourage any other person or persons from filing a certificate of candidacy in order to eliminate all other potential candidate from running in a special election shall constitute as an election offense. Violations of this provision shall be prosecuted and penalized in accordance with the provision of Sec. 264 of the Omnibus Election Code.
RA 9165 (2002), Sec. 11. Possession of Dangerous Drugs . - The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who, unless authorized by law, shall possess any dangerous drug in the following quantities, regardless of the degree of purity thereof: (1) 10 grams or more of opium; (2) 10 grams or more of morphine; (3) 10 grams or more of heroin; (4) 10 grams or more of cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride; (5) 50 grams or more of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu"; (6) 10 grams or more of marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil; (7) 500 grams or more of marijuana; and (8) 10 grams or more of other dangerous drugs such as, but not limited to, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDA) or "ecstasy", paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA), trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA), lysergic acid diethylamine (LSD), gamma hydroxyamphetamine (GHB), and those similarly designed or newly introduced drugs and their derivatives, without having any therapeutic value or if the quantity possessed is far beyond therapeutic requirements, as determined and promulgated by the Board in accordance to Section 93, Article XI of this Act. Otherwise, if the quantity involved is less than the foregoing quantities, the penalties shall be graduated as follows: (1) Life imprisonment and a fine ranging from Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), if the quantity of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" is ten (10) grams or more but less than fifty (50) grams; (2) Imprisonment of twenty (20) years and one (1) day to life imprisonment and a fine ranging from Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), if the quantities of dangerous drugs are five (5) grams or more but less than ten (10) grams of opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride, marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil, methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu", or other dangerous drugs such as, but not limited to, MDMA or "ecstasy", PMA, TMA, LSD, GHB, and those similarly designed or newly introduced drugs and their derivatives, without having any therapeutic value or if the quantity possessed is far beyond therapeutic requirements; or three hundred (300) grams or more but less than five (hundred) 500) grams of marijuana; and (3) Imprisonment of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years and a fine ranging from Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) to Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00), if the quantities of dangerous drugs are less than five (5) grams of opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride, marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil, methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu", or other dangerous drugs such as, but not limited to, MDMA or "ecstasy", PMA, TMA, LSD, GHB, and those similarly designed or newly introduced drugs and their derivatives, without having any therapeutic value or if the quantity possessed is far beyond therapeutic requirements; or less than three hundred (300) grams of marijuana. RA 9165 (2002), Sec. 15. Use of Dangerous Drugs. A person apprehended or arrested, who is found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug, after a confirmatory test, shall be imposed a penalty of a minimum of six (6) months rehabilitation in a government center for the first offense, subject to the provisions of Article VIII of this Act. If apprehended using any dangerous drug for the second time, he/she shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and a fine ranging from Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00): Provided, That this Section shall not be applicable where the person tested is also found to have in his/her possession such quantity of any dangerous drug provided for under Section 11 of this Act, in which case the provisions stated therein shall apply. RA 9165 (2002), Sec. 27. Criminal Liability of a Public Officer or Employee for Misappropriation, Misapplication or Failure to Account for the Confiscated, Seized and/or Surrendered Dangerous Drugs, Plant Sources of Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals, Instruments/Paraphernalia and/or Laboratory Equipment Including the Proceeds or Properties Obtained from the Unlawful Act Committed. The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00), in addition to absolute perpetual disqualification from any public office, shall be imposed upon any public officer or employee who misappropriates, misapplies or fails to account for confiscated, seized or surrendered dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment including the proceeds or properties obtained from the unlawful acts as provided for in this Act. Any elective local or national official found to have benefited from the proceeds of the trafficking of dangerous drugs as prescribed in this Act, or have received any financial or material contributions or donations from natural or juridical persons found guilty of trafficking dangerous drugs as prescribed in this Act, shall be removed from office and perpetually disqualified from holding any elective or appointive positions in the government, its divisions, subdivisions, and intermediaries, including government-owned or controlled corporations. RA 9165 (2002), Sec. 28. Criminal Liability of Government Officials and Employees. The maximum penalties of the unlawful acts provided for in this Act shall be imposed, in addition to absolute perpetual disqualification from any public office, if those found guilty of such unlawful acts are government officials and employees. RA 9165 (2002), Sec. 36(g). Authorized Drug Testing. Authorized drug testing shall be done by any government forensic laboratories or by any of the drug testing laboratories accredited and monitored by the DOH to safeguard the quality of test results. The DOH shall take steps in setting the price of the drug test with DOH accredited drug testing centers to further reduce the cost of such drug test. The drug testing shall employ, among others, two (2) testing methods, the screening test which will determine the positive result as well as the type of the drug used and the confirmatory test which will confirm a positive screening test. Drug test certificates issued by accredited drug testing centers shall be valid for a one-year period from the date of issue which may be used for other purposes. The following shall be subjected to undergo drug testing: (g) All candidates for public office whether appointed or elected both in the national or local government shall undergo a mandatory drug test. RA 9225 (2003). An Act Making the Citizenship of Philippine Citizens Who Acquire Foreign Citizenship Permanent, Amending for the Purpose Commonwealth Act 63, as amended and for other purposes. Sec. 1. Short Title this act shall be known as the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003." Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State that all Philippine citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions of this Act. Sec. 3. Retention of Philippine Citizenship - Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, natural-born citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are hereby deemed to have re-acquired Philippine citizenship upon taking the following oath of allegiance to the Republic: "I _____________________, solemny swear (or affrim) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines; and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; and that I imposed this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion." Natural born citizens of the Philippines who, after the effectivity of this Act, become citizens of a foreign country shall retain their Philippine citizenship upon taking the aforesaid oath. Sec. 4. Derivative Citizenship - The unmarried child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, below eighteen (18) years of age, of those who reacquire Philippine citizenship upon effectivity of this Act shall be deemed citizenship of the Philippines. Sec. 5. Civil and Political Rights and Liabilities - Those who retain or re-acquire Philippine citizenship under this Act shall enjoy full civil and political rights and be subject to all attendant liabilities and responsibilities under existing laws of the Philippines and the following conditions: (1) Those intending to exercise their right of surffrage must Meet the requirements under Section 1, Article V of the Constitution, Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as "The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003" and other existing laws; (2) Those seeking elective public in the Philippines shall meet the qualification for holding such public office as required by the Constitution and existing laws and, at the time of the filing of the certificate of candidacy, make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath; (3) Those appointed to any public office shall subscribe and swear to an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and its duly constituted authorities prior to their assumption of office: Provided, That they renounce their oath of allegiance to the country where they took that oath; (4) Those intending to practice their profession in the Philippines shall apply with the proper authority for a license or permit to engage in such practice; and (5) That right to vote or be elected or appointed to any public office in the Philippines cannot be exercised by, or extended to, those who:
(a) are candidates for or are occupying any public office in the country of which they are naturalized citizens; and/or (b) are in active service as commissioned or non-commissioned officers in the armed forces of the country which they are naturalized citizens. De la Torre v. COMELEC. Particularly involved in the first issue is the first of two instances contemplated in Section 40 (a) when prior conviction of a crime becomes a ground for disqualification - i, e., when the conviction by final judgment is for an offense involving moral turpitude. And in this connection, the Court has consistently adopted the definition in Blacks Law Dictionary of moral turpitude as: x x x an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private duties which a man owes his fellowmen, or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and duty between man and woman or conduct contrary to justice, honesty, modesty, or good morals. Not every criminal act, however, involves moral turpitude. It is for this reason that as to what crime involves moral turpitude, is for the Supreme Court to determine. In resolving the foregoing question, the Court is guided by one of the general rules that crimes mala in se involve moral turpitude, while crimes mala prohibita do not. || Anent the second issue where petitioner contends that his probation had the effect of suspending the applicability of Section 40 (a) of the Local Government Code, suffice it to say that the legal effect of probation is only to suspend the execution of the sentence.[16] Petitioners conviction of fencing which we have heretofore declared as a crime of moral turpitude and thus falling squarely under the disqualification found in Section 40 (a), subsists and remains totally unaffected notwithstanding the grant of probation. In fact, a judgment of conviction in a criminal case ipso factoattains finality when the accused applies for probation, although it is not executory pending resolution of the application for probation. Clearly then, petitioners theory has no merit. Magno v. COMELEC. In accordance therewith, Section 40 of RA 7160 is deemed to have repealed Section 12 of BP 881. Furthermore, Article 7 of the Civil Code provides that laws are repealed only by subsequent ones, and not the other way around. When a subsequent law entirely encompasses the subject matter of the former enactment, the latter is deemed repealed. Therefore, although his crime of direct bribery involved moral turpitude, petitioner nonetheless could not be disqualified from running in the 2001 elections. Article 12 of the Omnibus Election Code (BP 881) must yield to Article 40 of the Local Government Code (RA 7160). Petitioners disqualification ceased as of March 5, 2000 and he was therefore under no such disqualification anymore when he ran for mayor of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija in the May 14, 2001 elections. Kare v. COMELEC. It is clear that the period for appeal is interrupted by the filing of either a motion for reconsideration or a motion for a new trial. Moll makes it appear that his filing of a motion for reconsideration should have stayed the running of the period for filing an appeal. What he did file, however, was a Motion to Quash the Information; and when it was denied, he filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the denial. Indubitably , since no appeal of the conviction was seasonably filed by Moll, the judgment against him has become final.[10] Thus, the Comelec en banc correctly ruled that he was disqualified from running for mayor, under Section 40(a) of the Local Government Code (RA No. 7160), Malinao v. Reyes. Contrary to petitioners claim, what the minutes only show is that on August 12, 1994 the Sanggunian took a vote on the administrative case of respondent Mayor and not that it then rendered a decision as required by 66(a) of the Local Government Code (R.A. No. 7160) which provides as follows: 66. Form and Notice of Decision. - (a) The investigation of the case shall be terminated within ninety (90) days from the start thereof. Within thirty (30) days after the end of the investigation, the Office of the President or the sanggunian concerned shall render a decision in writing stating clearly and distinctly the facts and the reasons for such decision. Copies of said decision shall immediately be furnished the respondent and all interested parties. In order to render a decision in administrative cases involving elective local officials, the decision of the Sanggunian must thus be in writing stating clearly and distinctly the facts and the reasons for such decision. What the Sanggunian, therefore, did on August 12, 1994 was not to render a decision. Reyes v. COMELEC. The next question is whether the reelection of petitioner rendered the administrative charges against him moot and academic. Petitioner invokes the ruling in Aguinaldo v. COMELEC,[11] in which it was held that a public official could not be removed for misconduct committed during a prior term and that his reelection operated as a condonation of the officers previous misconduct to the extent of cutting off the right to remove him therefor. But that was because in that case, before the petition questioning the validity of the administrative decision removing petitioner could be decided, the term of office during which the alleged misconduct was committed expired.[12] Removal cannot extend beyond the term during which the alleged misconduct was committed. If a public official is not removed before his term of office expires, he can no longer be removed if he is thereafter reelected for another term. This is the rationale for the ruling in the two Aguinaldo cases. The case at bar is the very opposite of those cases. Here, although petitioner Reyes brought an action to question the decision in the administrative case, the temporary restraining order issued in the action he brought lapsed, with the result that the decision was served on petitioner and it thereafter became final on April 3, 1995, because petitioner failed to appeal to the Office of the President. He was thus validly removed from office and, pursuant to 40 (b) of the Local Government Code, he was disqualified from running for reelection. It is noteworthy that at the time the Aguinaldo cases were decided there was no provision similar to 40 (b) which disqualifies any person from running for any elective position on the ground that he has been removed as a result of an administrative case. The Local Government Code of 1991 (R.A. No. 7160) could not be given retroactive effect. Lingating v. COMELEC. However, Reyes cannot be applied to this case because it appears that the 1992 decision of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, finding respondent Sulong guilty of dishonesty, falsification and malversation of public funds, has not until now become final. The records of this case show that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Sur rendered judgment in AC No. 12-91 on February 4, 1992, a copy of which was received by respondent Sulong on February 17, 1992; that on February 18, 1992, he filed a motion for reconsideration and/or notice of appeal; that on February 27, 1992, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, required Jim Lingating, the complainant in AC No. 12-91, to comment; and that the complainant in AC No. 12-91 has not filed a comment nor has the Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolved respondents motion. The filing of his motion for reconsideration prevented the decision of Sangguniang Panlalawigan from becoming final. While R.A. No. 7160 on disciplinary actions is silent on the filing of a motion for reconsideration, the same cannot be interpreted as a prohibition against the filing of a motion for reconsideration. Grego v. v. COMELEC. [Sheriff removed from office in 81] Section 40(d) does not apply retroactively: There is no provision in the statute which would clearly indicate that the same operates retroactively. It, therefore, follows that [Section] 40 (b) of the Local Government Code is not applicable to the present case. That the provision of the Code in question does not qualify the date of a candidates removal from office and that it is couc hed in the past tense should not deter us from the applying the law prospectively. The basic tenet in legal hermeneutics that laws operate only prospectively and not retroactively provides the qualification sought by petitioner. A statute, despite the generality in its language, must not be so construed as to overreach acts, events or matters which transpired before its passage. Lex prospicit, non respicit. The law looks forward, not backward. Moreno v. COMELEC. [arbitrary detention probation serving sentence] It appears then that during the period of probation, the probationer is not even disqualified from running for a public office because the accessory penalty of suspension from public office is put on hold for the duration of the probation. Clearly, the period within which a person is under probation cannot be equated with service of the sentence adjudged. Sec. 4 of the Probation Law specifically provides that the grant of probation suspends the execution of the sentence. During the period of probation, the probationer does not serve the penalty imposed upon him by the court but is merely required to comply with all the conditions prescribed in the probation order|| This is as good a time as any to clarify that those who have not served their sentence by reason of the grant of probation which, we reiterate, should not be equated with service of sentence, should not likewise be disqualified from running for a local elective office because the two (2)-year period of ineligibility under Sec. 40(a) of the Local Government Code does not even begin to run. Mercado v. Manzano. [not good law: effectively overturned by RA 9225] The filing of a CoC sufficed to renounce his American citizenship, effectively removing any disqualification he might have as a dual citizen. || To recapitulate, by declaring in his certificate of candidacy that he is a Filipino citizen; that he is not a permanent resident or immigrant of another country; that he will defend and support the Constitution of the Philippines and bear true faith and allegiance thereto and that he does so without mental reservation, private respondent has, as far as the laws of this country are concerned, effectively repudiated his American citizenship and anything which he may have said before as a dual citizen. Rodriguez v. COMELEC. To summarize, the term "fugitive from justice" as a ground for the disqualification or ineligibility of a person seeking to run for any elective local position under Section 40(e) of the Local Government Code, should be understood according to the definition given in the MARQUEZ Decision, to wit: "A 'fugitive from justice' includes not only those who flee after conviction to avoid punishment but likewise those who, after being charged, flee to avoid prosecution." Intent to evade on the part of a candidate must therefore be established by proof that there has already been a conviction or at least, a charge has already been filed, at the time of flight. Not being a "fugitive from justice" under this definition, Rodriguez cannot be denied the Quezon Province gubernatorial post. De Guzman v. COMELEC. Anent the second issue, we find that petitioner is disqualified from running for public office in view of his failure to renounce his American citizenship. R.A. No. 9225 was enacted to allow re-acquisition and retention of Philippine citizenship for: 1) natural-born citizens who have lost their Philippine citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country; and 2) natural-born citizens of thePhilippines who, after the effectivity of the law, become citizens of a foreign country. The law provides that they are deemed to have reacquired or retained their Philippine citizenship upon taking the oath of allegiance. Petitioner falls under the first category, being a natural-born citizen who lost his Philippine citizenship upon his naturalization as an American citizen. In the instant case, there is no question that petitioner re-acquired his
Philippine citizenship after taking the oath of allegiance on September 6, 2006. However, it must be emphasized that R.A. No. 9225 imposes an additional requirement on those who wish to seek elective public office, as follows: Section 5. Civil and Political Rights and Liabilities. Those who retain or re-acquire Philippine Citizenship under this Act shall enjoy full civil and political rights and be subject to all attendant liabilities and responsibilities under existing laws of the Philippines and the following conditions: x x x x (2) Those seeking elective public office in the Philippines shall meet the qualifications for holding such public office as required by the Constitution and existing laws and, at the time of the filing of the certificate of candidacy, make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath. Contrary to petitioners claims, the filing of a certificate of candidacy does not ipso facto amount to a renunciation of his foreign citizenship under R.A. No. 9225. Our rulings in the cases of Frivaldo and Mercado are not applicable to the instant case because R.A. No. 9225 provides for more requirements. Term of Office LGC, 43, supra. 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 8 . The term of office of elective local officials, except barangay officials, which shall be determined by law, shall be three years and no such official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected. RA 6679 (1988). An Act to Amend RA 6653 to Postpone the Barangay Elections to March 28, 1989, prescribing additional rules governing the conduct of barangay elections and for other purposes Sec. 1. The elections of barangay officials set on the second Monday of November 1988 by Republic Act No. 6653 are hereby postponed and reset to March 28, 1989. They shall serve a term which shall begin on the first day of May 1989 and ending on the thirty-first day of May 1994. There shall be held a regular election of barangay officials on the second Monday of May 1994 and on the same day every five (5) years thereafter. Their term shall be for five (5) years which shall begin on the first day of June following the election and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified: Provided, That no barangay official shall serve for more than three (3) successive terms. The barangay elections shall be nonpartisan and shall be conducted in an expeditious and inexpensive manner. Sec. 2. When for any serious cause such as rebellion, insurrection, violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia, and any analogous causes of such nature that the holding of a free, orderly and honest election should become impossible in any barangay, the Commission on Elections motu proprio or upon sworn petition of ten (10) registered voters of a barangay, after summary proceedings of the existence of such grounds, shall suspend or postpone the election therein to a date reasonably close to the date of the election that is not held or is suspended or postponed, or which resulted in a failure to elect, but not later than thirty (30) days after the cessation of the cause for such suspension or postponement of the election or failure to elect, and in all cases not later than ninety (90) days from the date of the original election. Sec. 3. The construction or maintenance of provincial, city, municipal and barangay-funded roads and bridges shall be prohibited for a period of ten (10) days immediately preceding the date of election, the provisions of Section 261, paragraphs (v) and (w), of the Omnibus Election Code to the contrary notwithstanding. Sec. 4. All incumbent barangay officials, whether elected, appointed or designated, shall remain in office unless sooner removed or suspended for cause and with due process by order of the city or municipal mayor concerned until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. Any barangay official who has been removed from office from January 1, 1988 to the date of the approval of this Act may, within fifteen (15) days after the effectivity of this Act, file a petition for review with the Office of the President which shall be decided within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof: Provided, That upon effectivity of this Act, the power of removal or suspension for cause of barangay officials and filling up of vacancies in the various elective offices of the barangay shall be exercised by the city or municipal mayor concerned, subject to appeal to the President: Provided, further, That pending appeal the order of removal or suspension shall not be executory. Sec. 5. There shall be a sangguniang barangay in every duly constituted barangay which shall be the legislative body and shall be composed of seven (7) kagawads to be elected by the registered voters of the barangay. The candidate who obtains the highest number of votes shall be the punong barangay and in the event of a tie, there shall be a drawing of lots under the supervision of the Commission on Elections. The chairman of the kabataang barangay who shall hereafter be elected in accordance with law shall be an ex officio member of the sangguniang barangay. In the event of any vacancy in the office of the punong barangay, whether temporary or permanent, or in case of disqualification or refusal to assume office, an order of succession among the six (6) members of the sangguniang barangay based upon the number of votes received from the highest to the lowest shall be followed to fill up the vacancy. In default of any duly elected member of the sangguniang barangay, the vacancy may be filled up by the city or municipal mayor concerned. Sec. 6. The official ballots for the barangay elections shall, before they are handed to the voters at the polling place, be authenticated by the chairman and the poll clerk who shall affix their signatures at the back thereof. Any ballot which is not authenticated shall be deemed spurious. Sec. 7. No person shall be eligible for any barangay position unless he files a sworn certificate of candidacy with the election registrar of the city or municipality concerned at least ten (10) days immediately before the day of the election. The form and content of the certificate of candidacy shall be prescribed by the Commission on Elections. The campaign period shall be ten (10) days immediately before the election: Provided, That no campaign shall be allowed on Holy Thursday and Good Friday for the barangay elections in 1989. Sec. 8. Incumbent elective officials running for the same office shall not be considered resigned upon the filing of their certificates of candidacy. They shall continue to hold office until successors shall have been elected and qualified. chan robles virtual law library Sec. 9. A sworn petition contesting the election of a barangay official may be filed with the proper municipal or metropolitan trial court by any candidate who has duly filed a certificate of candidacy and has been voted for a barangay office within ten (10) days after the proclamation of the results of the election. The trial court shall decide the election protest within thirty (30) days after the filing thereof. The decision of the municipal or metropolitan trial court may be appealed within ten (10) days from receipt of a copy thereof by the aggrieved party to the regional trial court which shall decide the issue within thirty (30) days from receipt of the appeal and whose decision on questions of fact shall be final and non- appealable. For purposes of the barangay elections, no pre-proclamation cases shall be allowed. Sec. 10. The Commission shall constitute, not later than ten (10) days immediately before the election, a board of election tellers in every barangay polling place, to be composed of three (3) public schoolteachers, one of whom shall be the chairman, provided they are not incumbent barangay officials or related within the fourth civil degree of affinity or consanguinity to any candidate for any position in that barangay. In case no public schoolteachers are available, the Commission shall designate any registered voter, preferably a regular government employee, in the polling place who is not an incumbent barangay official or related within the fourth civil degree of affinity or consanguinity to any candidate for any position in that barangay. Sec. 11. The Commission shall provide ballot boxes for each barangay polling place together with padlocks and other election paraphernalia. Sec. 12. Violations of the rules and regulations issued by the Commission are considered prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code and shall be prosecuted and penalized in accordance with the same Code. Sec. 13. All candidates for barangay kagawad shall be required to file sworn post-election statements of expenditures and contributions as provided in Section 107 of the same Code. Sec. 14. For purposes of the barangay elections, the election registrars of the Commission on Elections are authorized to administer oaths on all matters related to the conduct of said election. Sec. 15. The amount of One hundred and fifty million pesos (P150,000,000.00) to defray the share of local government units in the expenses in connection with the conduct of these elections, to be disbursed by the Commission on Elections, is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the general fund of the Government not otherwise appropriated or from any savings therein, to be included in the General Appropriations Act for the Calendar Year 1989. Sec. 16. The Omnibus Election Code shall as far as practicable be applicable to the barangay elections. Sec. 17. If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective. RA 8524 (1998). An Act Changing the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the SK from 3 Years to 5 years, amending for the purpose Sec. 43 of RA 7160, and for other purposes Sec. 1. Sec. 43 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: \ Sec. 43. Term of office. (a) The term of office of all elective officials elected after the effectivity of this Code shall be three (3) years, starting from noon of June 30, 1992 or such date as may be provided for by law, except that of elective barangay officials and members of the sangguniang kabataan:
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Provided, That all local officials first elected during the local elections immediately following the ratification of the 1987 Constitution shall serve until noon of June 30, 1992. (b) No local elective official shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same position. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official concerned was elected. (c) The term of barangay officials and members of the sangguniang kabataan shall be for five (5) years, which shall begin after the regular election of barangay officials on the second Monday of May 1997: Provided, That the sangguniang kabataan members who were elected in the May 1996 elections shall serve until the next regular election of barangay officials. RA 9006 (2001), Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. Section 67 and 85 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Bldg. 881) and Sections 10 and 11 of Republic Act No. 6646 are hereby repealed. As a consequence, the first proviso in the third paragraph of Section 11 of Republic Act No. 8436 is rendered ineffective. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified or amended accordingly. RA 9164 (2002), Sec. 2. Term of Office. The term of office of all barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials after the effectivity of this Act shall be three (3) years. No barangay elective official shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same position: Provided, however, That the term of office shall be reckoned from the 1994 barangay elections. Voluntary renunciation of office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official was elected. Borja v. COMELEC. There is a difference, however, between the case of a vice-mayor and that of a member of the House of Representatives who succeeds another who dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated, or is removed from office. The vice-mayor succeeds to the mayorship by operation of law.[14] On the other hand, the Representative is elected to fill the vacancy.[15] In a real sense, therefore, such Representative serves a term for which he was elected. As the purpose of the constitutional provision is to limit the right ot be elected and to serve in Congress, his service of the unexpired term is rightly counted as his first term. Rather than refute what we believe to be the intendment of Art. X, 8 with regard to elective local officials, the case of a Representative who succeeds another confirms the theory. || This is not so in the case of the vice-mayor. Under the local Government Code, he is the presiding officer of the sanggunian and he appoints all officials and employees of such local assembly. He has distinct powers and functions, succession to mayorship in the event of vacancy therein being only one of them. It cannot be said of him, as much as of the Vice-President in the event of a vacancy in the Presidency, that in running for vice-mayor, he also seeks the mayorship. His assumption of the mayorship in the event of vacancy is more a matter of chance than of design. Hence, his service in that office should not be counted in the application of any term limit. To recapitulate, the term limit for elective local officials must be taken to refer to the right to be elected as well as the right to serve in the same elective position. Consequently, it is not enough that an individual has served three consecutive terms in an elective local office, he must also have beenelected to the same position for the same number of times before the disqualification can apply. Lonzanida v. COMELEC. This Court held that the two conditions for the application of the disqualification must concur: 1) that the official concerned has been elected for three consecutive terms in the same local government post and 2) that he has fully served three consecutive terms. The two requisites for the application of the three term rule are absent. First, the petitioner cannot be considered as having been duly elected to the post in the May 1995 elections, and second, the petitioner did not fully serve the 1995-1998 mayoral term by reason of involuntary relinquishment of office. After a re-appreciation and revision of the contested ballots the COMELEC itself declared by final judgment that petitioner Lonzanida lost in the May 1995 mayoral elections and his previous proclamation as winner was declared null and void. His assumption of office as mayor cannot be deemed to have been by reason of a valid election but by reason of a void proclamation. It has been repeatedly held by this court that a proclamation subsequently declared void is no proclamation at all and while a proclaimed candidate may assume office on the strength of the proclamation of the Board of Canvassers he is only a presumptive winner who assumes office subject to the final outcome of the election protest. Petitioner Lonzanida did not serve a term as mayor of San Antonio, Zambales from May 1995 to March 1998 because he was not duly elected to the post; he merely assumed office as presumptive winner, which presumption was later overturned by the COMELEC when it decided with finality that Lonzanida lost in the May 1995 mayoral elections . Second, the petitioner cannot be deemed to have served the May 1995 to 1998 term because he was ordered to vacate his post before the expiration of the term. The respondents contention that the petitioner should be deemed to have served one full term from May 1995-1998 because he served the greater portion of that term has no legal basis to support it; it disregards the second requisite for the application of the disqualification, i.e., that he has fully served three consecutive terms. The second sentence of the constitutional provision under scrutiny states, Voluntary renunciation of office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which he was elected. The clear intent of the framers of the constitution to bar any attempt to circumvent the three-term limit by a voluntary renunciation of office and at the same time respect the peoples choice and grant their elected official full service of a term is evident in this provision. Voluntary renunciation of a term does not cancel the renounced term in the computation of the three term limit; conversely, involuntary severance from office for any length of time short of the full term porvided by law amounts to an interruption of continuity of service. The petitioner vacated his post a few months before the next mayoral elections, not by voluntary renunciation but in compliance with the legal process of writ of execution issued by the COMELEC to that effect. Such involuntary severance from office is an interruption of continuity of service and thus, the petitioner did not fully serve the 1995-1998 mayoral term. In sum, the petitioner was not the duly elected mayor and that he did not hold office for the full term; hence, his assumption of office from May 1995 to March 1998 cannot be counted as a term for purposes of comput ing the three term limit. The Resolution of the COMELEC finding him disqualified on this ground to run in the May 1998 mayoral elections should therefore be set aside. Adormeo v. COMELEC. Lost in 3rd term (98), but there was a recall election where he won (00 -01) Lanzonida doctrine applies Socrates v. COMELEC. Hagedorn case || These constitutional and statutory provisions have two parts. The first part provides that an elective local official cannot serve for more than three consecutive terms. The clear intent is that only consecutive terms count in determining the three-term limit rule. The second part states that voluntary renunciation of office for any length of time does not interrupt the continuity of service. The clear intent is that involuntary severance from office for any length of time interrupts continuity of service and prevents the service before and after the interruption from being joined together to form a continuous service or consecutive terms. After three consecutive terms, an elective local official cannot seek immediate reelection for a fourth term. The prohibited election refers to the next regular election for the same office following the end of the third consecutive term. Any subsequent election, like a recall election, is no longer covered by the prohibition for two reasons. First, a subsequent election like a recall election is no longer an immediate reelection after three consecutive terms. Second, the intervening period constitutes an involuntary interruption in the continuity of service. || Clearly, what the Constitution prohibits is an immediate reelection for a fourth term following three consecutive terms. The Constitution, however, does not prohibit a subsequent reelection for a fourth term as long as the reelection is not immediately after the end of the third consecutive term. A recall election mid-way in the term following the third consecutive term is a subsequent election but not an immediate reelection after the third term. Neither does the Constitution prohibit one barred from seeking immediate reelection to run in any other subsequent election involving the same term of office. What the Constitution prohibits is a consecutive fourth term. The debates in the Constitutional Commission evidently show that the prohibited election referred to by the framers of the Constitution is the immediate reelection after the third term, not any other subsequent election. Rivera v. COMELEC. It bears stressing that in Ong v. Alegre cited above, Francis Ong was elected and assumed the duties of the mayor of San Vicente, Camarines Norte for three consecutive terms. But his proclamation as mayor in the May 1998 election was declared void by the RTC of Daet, Camarines Norte in its Decision dated July 4, 2001. As ruled by this Court, his service for the term 1998 to 2001 is for the full term. Clearly, the three-term limit rule applies to him. Indeed, there is no reason why this ruling should not also apply to respondent Morales who is similarly situated. Here, respondent Morales was elected for the term July 1, 1998 to June 30, 2001. He assumed the position. He served as mayor until June 30, 2001 . He was mayor for the entire period notwithstanding the Decision of the RTC in the electoral protest case filed by petitioner Dee ousting him (respondent) as mayor. To reiterate, as held in Ong v. Alegre, such circumstance does not constitute an interruption in serving the full term. Dizon v. COMELEC. 5th term case || We concede that Morales occupied the position of mayor of Mabalacat for the following period s: 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1998, 1 July 1998 to 30 June 2001, 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2004, and 1 July 2004 to 16 May 2007. However, because of his disqualification, Morales was not the duly elected mayor for the 2004-2007 term. Neither did Morales hold the position of mayor of Mabalacat for the full term. Morales cannot be deemed to have served the full term of 2004-2007 because he was ordered to vacate his post before the expiration of the term. Morales occupancy of the position of mayor of Mabalacat from 1 July 2004 to 16 May 2007 cannot be counted as a term for purposes of computing the three-term limit. Indeed, the period from 17 May 2007
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to 30 June 2007 served as a gap for purposes of the three-term limit rule. Thus, the present 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2010 term is effectively Morales first term for purposes of the three-term limit rule. Montebon v. COMELEC. While it is undisputed that respondent was elected municipal councilor for three consecutive terms, the issue lies on whether he is deemed to have fully served his second term in view of his assumption of office as vice-mayor of Tuburan on January 12, 2004. Succession in local government offices is by operation of law. Section 44 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, provides that if a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the vice mayor, the highest ranking sanggunian member shall become vice mayor. In this case, a permanent vacancy occurred in the office of the vice mayor due to the retirement of Vice Mayor Mendoza. Respondent, being the highest ranking municipal councilor, succeeded him in accordance with law. It is clear therefore that his assumption of office as vice-mayor can in no way be considered a voluntary renunciation of his office as municipal councilor. Thus, respondents assumption of office as vice-mayor in January 2004 was an involuntary severance from his office as municipal councilor, resulting in an interruption in the service of his 2001-2004 term. It cannot be deemed to have been by reason of voluntary renunciation because it was by operation of law. Latasa v. COMELEC. 3-term mayor, then municipality turned into city; now he wants to run again An elective local official, therefore, is not barred from running again in for same local government post, unless two conditions concur: 1.) that the official concerned has been elected for three consecutive terms to the same local government post, and 2.) that he has fully served three consecutive terms. || True, the new city acquired a new corporate existence separate and distinct from that of the municipality. This does not mean, however, that for the purpose of applying the subject Constitutional provision, the office of the municipal mayor would now be construed as a different local government post as that of the office of the city mayor. As stated earlier, the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Digos is the same as that of the municipality. Consequently, the inhabitants of the municipality are the same as those in the city. These inhabitants are the same group of voters who elected petitioner Latasa to be their municipal mayor for three consecutive terms. These are also the same inhabitants over whom he held power and authority as their chief executive for nine years. Aldovino v. COMELEC. From all the above, we conclude that the "interruption" of a term exempting an elective official from the three-term limit rule is one that involves no less than the involuntary loss of title to office. The elective official must have involuntarily left his office for a length of time, however short, for an effective interruption to occur. This has to be the case if the thrust of Section 8, Article X and its strict intent are to be faithfully served, i.e., to limit an elective officials continuous stay in office to no more than three consecutive terms, using "voluntary renunciation" as an example and standard of what does not constitute an interruption. Thus, based on this standard, loss of office by operation of law, being involuntary, is an effective interruption of service within a term, as we held in Montebon. On the other hand, temporary inability or disqualification to exercise the functions of an elective post, even if involuntary, should not be considered an effective interruption of a term because it does not involve the loss of title to office or at least an effective break from holding office; the office holder, while retaining title, is simply barred from exercising the functions of his office for a reason provided by law. An interruption occurs when the term is broken because the office holder lost the right to hold on to his office, and cannot be equated with the failure to render service. The latter occurs during an office holders term when he retains title to the off ice but cannot exercise his functions for reasons established by law. Of course, the term "failure to serve" cannot be used once the right to office is lost; without the right to hold office or to serve, then no service can be rendered so that none is really lost. || Strict adherence to the intent of the three-term limit rule demands that preventive suspension should not be considered an interruption that allows an elective officials stay in office beyond three terms. A preventive s uspension cannot simply be a term interruption because the suspended official continues to stay in office although he is barred from exercising the functions and prerogatives of the office within the suspension period. The best indicator of the suspended officials continuity in office is the absence of a perm anent replacement and the lack of the authority to appoint one since no vacancy exists. || Preventive suspension, because it is imposed by operation of law, does not involve a voluntary act on the part of the suspended official, except in the indirect sense that he may have voluntarily committed the act that became the basis of the charge against him. From this perspective, preventive suspension does not have the element of voluntariness that voluntary renunciation embodies. Neither does it contain the element of renunciation or loss of title to office as it merely involves the temporary incapacity to perform the service that an elective office demands. Thus viewed, preventive suspension is by its very nature the exact opposite of voluntary renunciation; it is involuntary and temporary, and involves only the actual delivery of service, not the title to the office. The easy conclusion therefore is that they are, by nature, different and non-comparable. Laceda v. Limena. Latasa doctrine applies David v. COMELEC. In light of the foregoing brief historical background, the intent and design of the legislature to limit the term of barangay officials to only three (3) years as provided under the Local Government Code emerges as bright as the sunlight. The cardinal rule in the interpretation of all laws is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the law. And three years is the obvious intent. Monroy v. CA. Now the withdrawal of his certificate of candidacy did not restore petitioner to his former position. Sec. 27 of the Rev. Election Code providing that Any elective provincial, municipal or city official running for an office, other then the one which he is actually holding, shall be considered resigned from his office from the moment of the filing of his certificate of candidacy," makes the forfeiture automatic and permanently effective upon the filing of the certificate of for another office. Only the moment and act of filing are considered. Once the certificate is filed, the seat is forfeited forever and nothing save a new election or appointment can restore the ousted official. Aguinaldo v. COMELEC. ... rather than cut short the term of office of elective public officials, this statutory provision seeks to ensure that suc h officials serve out their entire term of office by discouraging them from running for another public office and thereby cutting short their tenure by making it clear that should they fail in their candidacy, they cannot go back to their former position. This is consonant with the constitutional edict that all public officials must serve the people with utmost loyalty and not trifle with the mandate which they have received from their constituents. || Se ction 67 was crafted with the intention of giving flesh to the constitutional pronouncement that public service is a public trust. || ...This only means that all elective public officials should honor the mandate they have gotten from the people... a Batasan Member who hold (sic) himself out with the people and seek (sic) their support and mandate should not be allowed to deviate or allow himself to run for any other position unless he relinquishes or abandons his office. Because his mandate to the people is to serve for 6 years. Now, if you allow a Batasan or a governor or a mayor who was mandated to serve for 6 years to file for an office other than the one he was elected to, then, that clearly shows that he has not (sic) intention to service the mandate of the people which was placed upon him and therefore he should be considered ipso facto resigned. || Section 67 is not violative of the Constitution as it does not unduly cut short the term of office of local officials. The situation that results with the application of Section 67 is covered by the term voluntary renunciation. COMELEC v. Co. First, reading Section 43(a) and (b) together to the exclusion of Section 43(c), is not justified by the plain texts of these provisions. Section 43(a) plainly refers to local elective officials, except elective barangay officials. In comparison, Section 43(b) refers to all local elective officials without exclusions or exceptions. Their respective coverages therefore vary so that one cannot be said to be of the same kind as the other. Their separate topics additionally strengthen their distinction; Section 43(a) refers to the term of office while Section 43(b) refers to the three-term limit. These differences alone indicate that Sections 43(a) and (b) cannot be read together as one organic whole in the way the RTC suggested. Significantly, these same distinctions apply between Sec. 43(b) and (c). || Second, the RTC interpretation is flawed because of its total disregard of the historical background of Section 43(c) a backdrop that we painstakingly outlined above. From a historical perspective of the law, the inclusion of Section 43(c) in the LGC is an absolute necessity to clarify the length of term of barangay officials. Recall that under RA No. 6679, the term of office of barangay officials was five (5) years. The real concern was how Section 43 would interface with RA No. 6679. Without a categorical statement on the length of the term of office of barangay officials, a general three-year term for all local elective officials under Section 43(a), standing alone, may not readily and completely erase doubts on the intended abrogation of the 5-year term for barangay officials under RA No. 6679. Thus, Congress added Section 43(c) which provided a categorical three-year term for these officials. History tells us, of course, that the unequivocal provision of Section 43(c) notwithstanding, an issue on what is the exact term of office of barangay officials was still brought to us via a petition filed by no less than the President of the Liga ng Mga Barangay in 1997. We fully resolved the issue in the cited David v. Comelec. Section 43(c) should therefore be understood in this context and not in the sense that it intended to provide the complete rule for the election of barangay officials, so that in the absence of any term limitation proviso under this subsection, no term limitation applies to barangay officials. That Congress had the LGCs three-term limit in mind when it enacted RA No. 9164 is clear from the deliberations Monreal v. COMELEC. Parenthetically, no less than this Court found occasion in the past to apply Section 2 to the case of a punong barangay who had served for three consecutive terms but who pleaded that he was exempt from it because the municipality where he served had been converted into a city during his last term. The issue of constitutionality of the second paragraph ha not been raised, but said this Court: Section 2 of Rep. Act No. 9164, like Section 43 of the Local Government Code from which it was taken, is primarily intended to broaden the choices of the candidates who will run for office, and to infuse new blood in the political arena by disqualifying officials from running for the same office after a term of nine years. Vacancies and Succession
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LGC, 44. Permanent Vacancies in the Offices of the Governor, Vice-Governor, Mayor, and Vice-Mayor. - If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the governor or mayor, the vice-governor or vice-mayor concerned shall become the governor or mayor. If a permanent vacancy occurs in the offices of the governor, vicegovernor, mayor, or vice-mayor, the highest ranking sanggunian member or, in case of his permanent inability, the second highest ranking sanggunian member, shall become the governor, vice-governor, mayor or vice-mayor, as the case may be. Subsequent vacancies in the said office shall be filled automatically by the other sanggunian members according to their ranking as defined herein. (a) If a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the punong barangay, the highest ranking sanggunian barangay member or, in case of his permanent inability, the second highest ranking sanggunian member, shall become the punong barangay. (b) A tie between or among the highest ranking sanggunian members shall be resolved by the drawing of lots. (c) The successors as defined herein shall serve only the unexpired terms of their predecessors. For purposes of this Chapter, 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 the Chapter, 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 each district in the immediately preceding local election. LGC, 45. Permanent Vacancies in the Sanggunian. (a) Permanent vacancies in the sanggunian where automatic succession provided above do not apply shall be filled by appointment in the following manner: (1) The President, through the Executive Secretary, in the case of the sangguniang panlalawigan and the sangguniang panlungsod of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities; (2) The governor, in the case of the sangguniang panlungsod of component cities and the sangguniang bayan; (3) The city or municipal mayor, in the case of sangguniang barangay, upon recommendation of the sangguniang barangay concerned. (b) Except for the sangguniang barangay, only the nominee of the political party under which the sanggunian member concerned had been elected and whose elevation to the position next higher in rank created the last vacancy in the sanggunian shall be appointed in the manner hereinabove provided. The appointee shall come from the same political party as that of the sanggunian member who caused the vacancy and shall serve the unexpired term of the vacant office. 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 therefore. (c) In case or permanent vacancy is caused by a sanggunian member who does not belong to any political party, the local chief executive shall, upon recommendation of the sanggunian concerned, appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy. (d) In case of vacancy in the representation of the youth and the barangay in the sanggunian, said vacancy shall be filled automatically by the official next in rank of the organization concerned. LGC, 46. Temporary Vacancy in the Office of the Local Chief Executive. (a) When the governor, city or municipal mayor, or punong barangay is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons such as, but not limited to, leave of absence, travel abroad, and suspension from office, the vice-governor, city or municipal vice-mayor, or the highest ranking sangguniang barangay member shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the local chief executive concerned, except the power to appoint, suspend, or dismiss employees which can only be exercised if the period of temporary incapacity exceeds thirty (30) working days. (b) Said temporary incapacity shall terminate upon submission to the appropriate sanggunian of a written declaration by the local chief executive concerned that he has reported back to office. In cases where the temporary incapacity is due to legal causes, the local chief executive concerned shall also submit necessary documents showing that said legal causes no longer exist. (c) When the incumbent local chief executive is traveling within the country but outside his territorial jurisdiction for a period not exceeding three (3) consecutive days, he may designate in writing the officer-in-charge of the said office. Such authorization shall specify the powers and functions that the local official concerned shall exercise in the absence of the local chief executive except the power to appoint, suspend, or dismiss employees. (d) In the event, however, that the local chief executive concerned fails or refuses to issue such authorization, the vice-governor, the city or municipal vice-mayor, or the highest ranking sangguniang barangay member, as the case may be, shall have the right to assume the powers, duties, and functions of the said office on the fourth (4th) day of absence of the said local chief executive, subject to the limitations provided in subsection (c) hereof. (e) Except as provided above, the local chief executive shall in no case authorize any local official to assume the powers, duties, and functions of the office, other than the vice-governor, the city or municipal vice-mayor, or the highest ranking sangguniang barangay member, as the case may be. LGC, 47. Approval of Leaves of Absence. (a) Leaves of absence of local elective officials shall be approved as follows: (1) Leaves of absence of the governor and the mayor of a highly urbanized city or an independent component city shall be approved by the President or his duly authorized representative; (2) Leaves of absence of vice-governor or a city or municipal vice-mayor shall be approved by the local chief executive concerned: Provided, That the leaves of absence of the members of the sanggunian and its employees shall be approved by the vice-governor or city or municipal vicemayor concerned; (3) Leaves of absence of the component city or municipal mayor shall be approved by the governor; and (4) Leaves of absence of a punong barangay shall be approved by the city or municipal mayor: Provided, That leaves of absence of sangguniang barangay members shall be approved by the punong barangay. (b) Whenever the application for leave of absence hereinabove specified is not acted upon within five (5) working days after receipt thereof, the application for leave of absence shall be deemed approved. Gamboa v. Aguirre. Being the Acting Governor, the Vice-Governor cannot continue to simultaneously exercise the duties of the latter office, since the nature of the duties of the provincial Governor call for a full-time occupant to discharge them. Such is not only consistent with but also appears to be the clear rationale of the new Code wherein the policy of performing dual functions in both offices has already been abandoned. To repeat, the creation of a temporary vacancy in the office of the Governor creates a corresponding temporary vacancy in the office of the Vice-Governor whenever the latter acts as Governor by virtue of such temporary vacancy. This event constitutes an inability on the part of the regular presiding officer (Vice Governor) to preside during the SP sessions, which thus calls for the operation of the remedy set in Article 49(b) of the Local Government Code concerning the election of a temporary presiding officer. The continuity of the Acting Governors (Vice -Governor) powers as presiding officer of the SP is suspended so long as he is in such capacity. Under Section 49(b), (i)n the event of the inability of the regular presiding officer to preside at the sanggunian session, the me mbers present and constituting a quorum shall elect from among themselves a temporary presiding officer. Docena v. SP of Eastern Samar. Docena's appointment having been issued and accepted earlier, and the petitioner having already assumed office, he could not thereafter be just recalled and replaced to accommodate Alar. The appointment was permanent in nature, and for the unexpired portion of the deceased predecessor's term. Docena had already acquired security of tenure in the position and could be removed therefrom only for any of the causes, and conformably to the procedure, prescribed by the Local Government Code. 12 These requirements could not be circumvented by the simple process of recalling his appointment. Whatever gave the SPES the impression that the questioned appointments were revocable at will can only be left to conjecture; what is certain is that it was not based on careful legal study. The Provincial Prosecutor's opinion that the office had "become vested" in Alar suffers from the same flaw and a lack of understanding of the nature of a public office. Political rather than legal considerations seem to have influenced the action of the provincial government in rejecting the petitioner's claim despite its obvious merit. Farinas v. Barba. 1. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW; LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE; APPOINTING AUTHORITY; VESTED IN THE GOVERNOR IN CASE OF PERMANENT VACANCY CAUSED BY A SANGGUNIANG BAYAN MEMBER WHO DOES NOT BELONG TO ANY POLITICAL PARTY, UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN CONCERNED. - Since the vacancy in this case was created by a Sanggunian member who did not belong to any political party, the specific provision involved is par. (c) of Sec. 45 of the Local Government Code. But who is the local chief executive referred? And which is the Sanggunian concerned? With respect to the first (local chief executive), petitioners look to Sec. 45(a) for the answer and say that it is the
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governor, with respect to vacancies in the Sangguniang Panlungsod of component cities and Sangguniang Bayan, or the mayor with respect to vacancies in the sangguniang Barangay. Reference to Secs. 50 and 63 provisions is appropriate not for the reason advanced by petitioners, i.e., that the power to appoint implies the power to remove, but because implicit in these provisions is a policy to vest in the President, the governor and the mayor in descending order the exercise of an executive power whether to appoint in order to fill vacancies in local councils or to suspend local officials. These provisions are inpari materia with Sec. 45. To be sure the President of the Philippines can not be referred to as local chief executive in Sec. 45(c) but it is apparent that the phrase is a misnomer and that the choice of this phrase was simply dictated by the need to avoid, for stylistic reasons, interminably repeating the officials on whom the power to appoint is conferred. Perhaps authorities concerned would have been a more accurate generic phrase to use. For that matter, to follow private respondents interpretation would be to run into a similar, if not greater, difficulty. For Sec. 45(a)(3) vests the power to fill vacancies in the Sangguniang Barangay in the mayor but the local chief executive of a barangay is not the mayor. It is the punong barangay. Yet local chief executive cannot be applied to the punong barangay without rendering Sec. 45(a)(3) meaningless. For then there would never be any occasion when the mayor, under this provision, can appoint a replacement for a member of the Sangguniang Bayan who for one reason or another ceases from office for reason other than the expiration of his term. And why should a vacancy in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan be filled by a different authority (the governor, according to this view) simply because the vacancy was created by a member who does not belong to a political party when, according to Sec. 45(a)( 1), a vacancy created by a member who belongs to a political party must be filled by appointment by the President of the Philippines? With reference to the phrase sanggunian concerned in Sec. 45(c), petitioners say it means, with respect to a v acancy in the Sangguniang Bayan, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Their reason is that under Sec. 61 of the Code, the power to investigate complaints against elective municipal officials is vested in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. This interpretation is inconsistent with the fact that in filling vacancies in the Sangguniang Barangay it is the Sangguniang Barangay which under Sec. 45(a)(3) recommends the appointee, not the Sangguniarang Panlungsod or the Sangguniang Bayan, which would be the case if petitioners view were to prevail. We think that the phrase sanggunian concerned in Sec. 45(c) should more properly be understood as referring to the Sanggunian in which the vacancy is created. This is in keeping with the policy implicit in Sec. 45(a)(3). In other words, with the exception of the Sangguniang Barangay pars. (a) and (b) must be read as providing for the filling of vacancies in the various Sanggunians when these vacancies are created as a result of the cessation from office (other than expiration of term) of members who belong to political parties. On the other hand, Sec. 45(c) must be understood as providing for the filling of vacancies created by members who do not belong to any political party. There is only one rule governing appointments to the Sangguniang Barangay. Any vacancy therein caused by the cessation from office of a member must be made by the mayor upon the recommendation of that Sanggunian. The reason is that members of the Sa ngguniang Barangay are not allowed to have party affiliations. 2. ID.; ID.; ID.; NOT BOUND TO APPOINT ANYONE RECOMMENDED TO HIM BY THE SANGGUNIAN CONCERNED. - Having determined that appointments in case of vacancies caused by Sanggunian members who do not belong to any political party must be made in accordance with the recommendation of the Sanggunians concerned where the vacancies occur, the next question is: Is the appointing authority limi ted to the appointment of those recommended to him? We think an affirmative answer must be given to the question. The appointing authority is not bound to appoint anyone recommended to him by the Sanggunian concerned. The power of appointment is a discretionary power. On the other hand, neither is the appointing power vested with so large a discretion that he can disregard the recommendation of the Sanggunian concerned. Since the recommendation takes the place of nomination by political party, the recommendation must likewise be considered a condition sine qua non for the validity of the appointment, by analogy to the provision of Sec. 45(b). Victoria v. COMELEC. The law is clear that the ranking in the Sanggunian shall be determined on the basis of the proportion of the votes obtained by each winning candidate of the total number of registered voters of each district. It does not mention anything about who actually voted. In such a case, the Court has no recourse but to merely apply the law. The courts may not speculate as to the probable intent of the legislature apart from the words Navarro v. CA. Under Section 44, a permanent vacancy arises when an elective 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. What is crucial is the interpretation of Section 45 (b) providing that "xxx only the nominee of the political party under which the Sanggunian member concerned has been elected and whose elevation to the position next higher in rank created the last vacancy in the Sanggunian shall be appointed in the manner hereinabove provided. The appointee shall come from the political party as that of the Sanggunian member who caused the vacancy xxx." The reason behind the right given to a political party to nominate a replacement where a permanent vacancy occurs in the Sanggunian is to maintain the party representation as willed by the people in the election. || The "last vacancy" in the Sanggunian refers to that created by the elevation of the member formerly occupying the next higher in rank which in turn also had become vacant by any of the causes already enumerated. The term "last vacancy" is thus used in Sec. 45 (b) to differentiate it from the other vacancy previously created. The term by no means refers to the vacancy in the No. 8 position which occurred with the election of Rolando Lalas to the seventh position in the Sanggunian. Such construction will result in absurdity. Miranda v. Carreon. Section 17, Rule 3 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended, provides: Sec. 17. Death or separation of a party who is a public officer. When a public officer is a party in an action in his official capacity and during its pendency dies, resigns or otherwise ceases to hold office, the action may be continued and maintained by or against his successor if, within thirty (30) days after the successor takes office or such time as may be granted by the Court, it is satisfactorily shown by any party that there is substantial need for continuing or maintaining it and the successor adopts or continues or threatens to adopt or continue the action of his predecessor. It is clear from the above Rule that when petitioner ceased to be mayor of Santiago City, the action may be continued and maintained by his successor, Mayor Amelita Navarro, if there is substantial need to do so. Mayor Navarro, however, found no substantial need to continue and maintain the action of her predecessor in light of the CSC Resolution declaring that respond ents services were illegally terminated by former Mayor Jose Miranda. In fact, she filed with the Court of Appeals aMotion to Withdraw the Motion for Reconsideration (lodged by petitioner). She likewise reinstated all the respondents to their respective positions and approved the payment of their salaries. Jainal v. COMELEC. There is no dispute that Talib had objected to the inclusion of the election returns in question before the MBC. Petitioner admitted this in his petition before this Court and in his Memorandum submitted to the COMELEC.19 Petitioner further admitted that the MBC had denied Talibs petition to exclude the election returns. But the MBC thereafter proceeded to canvass the election returns, including even the contested ones, contrary to Sec. 20 (b) of R.A. No. 7166, which requires it to automatically defer the canvass of the contested returns. And, as may be gathered from the results of such canvass, the MBC proceeded to proclaim petitioner as the winner of the elections. Clearly, Talib did what was required of him by Sec. 20 of R.A. No. 7166 as far as the circumstances would allow. He made oral objections to the inclusion of the election returns. It was then incumbent on the MBC to immediately make a categorical ruling on the said objections, even without the benefit of additional evidence considering that Talibs ba sic evidence consists of the questioned election returns themselves, as they clearly depict on their face the stark absence of the printed names and signatures of the members of the BEI in violation of Sec. 21221 of the Omnibus Election Code. Res ipsa loquitur. The thing speaks for itself. || On succession: Verily, the vacancy created by the nullification of petitioners proclamation is in the nature of a permanent vacancy and may be qualifie d as a "permanent incapacity to discharge the functions of his office." Ahajans assumption of the office of Mayor should be understood as subject to the result of the recount to be conducted in accordance with the issuances of the COMELEC. Thus, there is an immediate need for the COMELEC to speedily ascertain the true will of the electorate in the eight (8) precincts whose election returns were nullified. Damasen v. Tumamo. Since the permanent vacancy in the Sanggunian occurred because of the elevation of LDP member Alonzo to vice-mayor, it follows that the person to succeed her should also belong to the LDP so as to preserve party representation. Thus, this Court cannot countenance Damasens insistence in clinging to an appointment when he is in fact not a bona fide member of the LDP. While the revocation of the nomination given to Damasen came after the fact of his appointment, this Court cannot rule in his favor, because the very first requirement of Sec. 45 (b) is that the appointee must come from the political party as that of the Sanggunian member who caused the vacancy. To stress, Damasen is not a bona fide member of the LDP. In addition, appointing Damasen would not serve the will of the electorate. He himself admitts that he was previously a member of the Lakas-CMD, and that he ran for the position of Mayor under the said party on the May 2004 Elections. Likewise, he did not resign from the said party when he joined the LDP, and even admitted that his joining the LDP was not because of party ideals, but because he just wanted to.[46] How can the will of the electorate be best served, given the foregoing admissions of Damasen? If this Court were to grant herein petition, it would effectively diminish the party representation of the LDP in the Sanggunian, as Damasen would still be considered a member of the Lakas-CMD, not having resigned therefrom, a scenario that defeats the purpose of the law, and that ultimately runs contrary the ratio of Navarro. Local Legislation LGC, 48. Local Legislative Power. - Local legislative power shall be exercised by the sangguniang panlalawigan for the province; the sangguniang panlungsod for the city; the sangguniang bayan for the municipality; and the sangguniang barangay for the barangay.
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LGC, 49. Presiding Officer. (a) The vice-governor shall be the presiding officer of the sangguniang panlalawigan; the city vice-mayor, of the sangguniang panlungsod; the municipal vice-mayor, of the sangguniang bayan; and the punong barangay, of the sangguniang barangay. The presiding officer shall vote only to break a tie. (b) In the event of the inability of the regular presiding officer to preside at a sanggunian session, the members present and constituting a quorum shall elect from among themselves a temporary presiding officer. He shall certify within ten (10) days from the passage of ordinances enacted and resolutions adopted by the sanggunian in the session over which he temporarily presided. LGC, 50. Internal Rules of Procedure. (a) On the first regular session following the election of its members and within ninety (90) days thereafter, the sanggunian concerned shall adopt or update its existing rules of procedure. (b) The rules of procedure shall provided for the following: (1) The organization of the sanggunian and the election of its officers as well as the creation of standing committees which shall include, but shall not be limited to, the committees on appropriations, women and family, human rights, youth and sports development, environmental protection, and cooperatives; the general jurisdiction of each committee; and the election of the chairman and members of each committee; (2) The order and calendar of business for each session; (3) The legislative process; (4) The parliamentary procedures which include the conduct of members during sessions; (5) The discipline of members for disorderly behavior and absences without justifiable cause for four (4) consecutive sessions, for which they may be censured, reprimanded, or excluded from the session, suspended for not more than sixty (60) days, or expelled: Provided, That the penalty of suspension or expulsion shall require the concurrence of at least two-thirds (2/3) vote of all the sanggunian members: Provided, further, That 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. LGC, 51. Full Disclosure of Financial and Business Interests of Sanggunian Members. (a) Every sanggunian member shall, upon assumption to office, make a full disclosure of his business and financial interests, or 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 interest. Such relationship shall include: (1) Ownership of stock or capital, or investment, in the entity or firm to which the ordinance or resolution may apply; and (2) Contracts or agreements with any person or entity which the ordinance or resolution under consideration may affect. In the absence of a specific constitutional or statutory provision applicable to this situation, "conflict of interest" refers in general to one where it may be reasonably deduced that a member of a sanggunian may not act in the public interest due to some private, pecuniary, or other personal considerations that may tend to affect his judgment to the prejudice of the service or the public. (b) The disclosure required under this Act shall be made in writing and submitted to the secretary of the sanggunian or the secretary of the committee of which he is a member. The disclosure shall, in all cases, form part of the record of the proceedings and shall be made in the following manner: (1) Disclosure shall be made before the member participates in the deliberations on the ordinance or resolution under consideration: Provided, That, if the member did not participate during the deliberations, the disclosure shall be made before voting on the ordinance or resolution on second and third readings; and (2) Disclosure shall be made when a member takes a position or makes a privilege speech on a matter that may affect the business interest, financial connection, or professional relationship described herein. LGC, 52. Sessions. (a) On the first day of the session immediately following the election of its members, the sanggunian shall, by resolution, fix the day, time, and place of its regular sessions. The minimum numbers of regular sessions shall be once a week for the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan, and twice a month for the sangguniang barangay. (b) When public interest so demands, special sessions may be called by the local chief executive or by a majority of the members of the sanggunian. (c) All sanggunian sessions shall be open to the public unless a closed-door session is ordered by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present, there being a quorum, in the public interest or for reasons of security, decency, or morality. No two (2) sessions, regular or special, may be held in a single day. (d) In the case of special sessions of the sanggunian, a written notice to the members shall be served personally at the member's usual place of residence at least twenty-four (24) hours before the special session is held. Unless otherwise concurred in by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the sanggunian members present, there being a quorum, no other matters may be considered at a special session except those stated in the notice. (e) Each sanggunian shall keep a journal and record of its proceedings which may be published upon resolution of the sanggunian concerned. LGC, 53. Quorum. (a) A majority of all the members of the sanggunian who have been elected and qualified shall constitute a quorum to transact official business. 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 local government unit concerned, 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. LGC, 54. Approval of Ordinances. (a) Every ordinance enacted by the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang bayan shall be presented to the provincial governor or city or municipal mayor, as the case may be. If the local chief executive concerned 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 concerned may override the veto of the local chief executive 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 local chief executive concerned to the sanggunian within fifteen (15) days in the case of a province, and ten (10) days in the case of a city or a municipality; otherwise, the ordinance shall be deemed approved as if he had signed it. (c) Ordinances enacted by the sangguniang barangay shall, upon approval by the majority of all its members, be signed by the punong barangay. LGC, 55. Veto Power of the Local Chief Executive. (a) The local chief executive may veto any ordinance of the sanggunian panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sanggunian bayan on the ground that it is ultra vires or prejudicial to the public welfare, stating his reasons therefor in writing. (b) The local chief executive, except the punong barangay, shall have the power to veto any particular item or items of an appropriations ordinance, an ordinance or resolution adopting a local development plan and public investment program, or an ordinance directing the payment of money or creating liability. In such a case, the veto shall not affect the item or items which are not objected to. The vetoed item or items shall not take effect unless the sanggunian overrides the veto in the manner herein provided; otherwise, the item or items in the appropriations ordinance of the previous year corresponding to those vetoed, if any, shall be deemed reenacted. (c) The local chief executive may veto an ordinance or resolution only once. The sanggunian may override the veto of the local chief executive concerned by two-thirds (2/3) vote of all its members, thereby making the ordinance effective even without the approval of the local chief executive concerned. LGC, 56. Review of Component City and Municipal Ordinances or Resolutions by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
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(a) Within three (3) days after approval, the secretary to the sanggunian panlungsod or sangguniang bayan shall forward to the sangguniang panlalawigan for review, copies of approved ordinances and the resolutions approving the local development plans and public investment programs formulated by the local development councils. (b) Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of copies of such ordinances and resolutions, the sangguniang panlalawigan shall examine the documents or transmit them to the provincial attorney, or if there be none, to the provincial prosecutor for prompt examination. The provincial attorney or provincial prosecutor shall, within a period of ten (10) days from receipt of the documents, inform the sangguniang panlalawigan in writing of his comments or recommendations, which may be considered by the sangguniang panlalawigan in making its decision. (c) If the sangguniang panlalawigan finds that such an ordinance or resolution is beyond the power conferred upon the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned, it shall declare such ordinance or resolution invalid in whole or in part. The sangguniang panlalawigan shall enter its action in the minutes and shall advise the corresponding city or municipal authorities of the action it has taken. (d) If no action has been taken by the sangguniang panlalawigan within thirty (30) days after submission of such an ordinance or resolution, the same shall be presumed consistent with law and therefore valid. LGC, 57. Review of Barangay Ordinances by the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan. (a) Within ten (10) days after its enactment, the sangguniang barangay shall furnish copies of all barangay ordinances to the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned for review as to whether the ordinance is consistent with law and city or municipal ordinances. (b) If the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan, as the case may be, fails to take action on barangay ordinances within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof, the same shall be deemed approved. (c) If the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan, as the case may be, finds the barangay ordinances inconsistent with law or city or municipal ordinances, the sanggunian concerned shall, within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof, return the same with its comments and recommendations to the sangguniang barangay concerned for adjustment, amendment, or modification; in which case, the effectivity of the barangay ordinance is suspended until such time as the revision called for is effected. LGC, 58. 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. LGC, 59. Effectivity of Ordinances or Resolutions. (a) Unless otherwise stated in the ordinance or the resolution approving the local development plan and public investment program, the same shall take effect after ten (10) days from the date a copy thereof is posted in a bulletin board at the entrance of the provincial capitol or city, municipal, or barangay hall, as the case may be, and in at least two (2) other conspicuous places in the local government unit concerned. (b) The secretary to the sanggunian concerned shall cause the posting of an ordinance or resolution in the bulletin board at the entrance of the provincial capitol and the city, municipal, or barangay hall in at least two (2) conspicuous places in the local government unit concerned not later than five (5) days after approval thereof. The text of the ordinance or resolution shall be disseminated and posted in Filipino or English and in the language understood by the majority of the people in the local government unit concerned, and the secretary to the sanggunian shall record such fact in a book kept for the purpose, stating the dates of approval and posting. (c) The gist of all ordinances with penal sanctions shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the province where the local legislative body concerned belongs. In the absence of any newspaper of general circulation within the province, posting of such ordinances shall be made in all municipalities and cities of the province where the sanggunian of origin is situated. (d) In the case of highly urbanized and independent component cities, the main features of the ordinance or resolution duly enacted or adopted shall, in addition to being posted, be published once in a local newspaper of general circulation within the city: Provided, That in the absence thereof the ordinance or resolution shall be published in any newspaper of general circulation. LGC, 188. Publication of Tax Ordinances and Revenue Measures. - Within ten (10) days after their approval, certified true copies of all provincial, city, and municipal tax ordinances or revenue measures shall be published in full for three (3) consecutive days in a newspaper of local circulation: Provided, however, That in provinces, cities and municipalities where there are no newspapers of local circulation, the same may be posted in at least two (2) conspicuous and publicly accessible places. LGC, 511. Posting and Publication of Ordinances with Penal Sanctions. (a) Ordinances with penal sanctions shall be posted at prominent places in the provincial capitol, city, municipal or barangay hall, as the case may be, for a minimum period of three (3) consecutive weeks. Such ordinances shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation, where available, within the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit concerned, except in the case of barangay ordinances. Unless otherwise provided therein, said ordinances shall take effect on the day following its publication, or at the end of the period of posting, whichever occurs later. (b) Any public officer or employee who violates an ordinance may be meted administrative disciplinary action, without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate civil or criminal action. (c) The secretary to the sanggunian concerned shall transmit official copies of such ordinances to the chief executive officer of the Office Gazette within seven (7) days following the approval of the said ordinance for publication purposes. The Official Gazette may publish ordinances with penal sanctions for archival and reference purposes. Implementing Rules Casino v. CA. [good law? yes, but not good policy] Resolution No. 378 was declared invalid by the Court of Appeals for failure to comply with the required votes necessary for its validity. Although the charter of the City of Gingoog and the LGC require only a majority for the enactment of an ordinance, Resolution No. 49 cannot be validly amended by the resolution in question without complying with the categorical requirement of a three-fourths vote incorporated in the very same ordinance sought to be amended. The pertinent provisions in the aforesaid city charter and the LGC obviously are of general application and embrace a wider scope or subject matter. In the enactment of ordinances in general, the application of the aforementioned laws cannot be disputed. Undeniably, however, Section 6.44 of said ordinance regarding amendments thereto is a specific and particular provision for said ordinance and explicitly provides for a different number of votes. Where there is in the same statute a particular enactment and also a general one which in its most comprehensive sense would include what is embraced in the former, the particular enactment must be operative, and the general statement must be taken to affect only such cases within its language as are not within the provisions of the particular enactment. In the instant case, although the general law on the matter requires a mere majority, the higher requisite vote in Resolution No. 49 shall govern since municipal authorities are in a better position to determine the evils sought to be prevented by the inclusion or incorporation of particular provisions in enacting a particular statute and, therefore, to pass the appropriate ordinance to attain the main object of the law. This more stringent requirement on the necessary votes for amendments to Resolution No. 49 apparently forestalled the apprehended contingency for, to borrow the words of respondent court, "in an apparent attempt to get rid of this legal stumbling block (the prohibition against a cockpit in a residential zone under Proclamation 49), the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Gingo og City passed Resolution No. 378, Code Ordinance, series of 1985," . . . "thereby reclassifying Block 125 into a recreational zone." Withal, it is legally permissible, as exceptions to the general provisions on measures covered by city charters and the LGC, that the vote requirement in certain ordinances may be specially provided for, as in the case of Section 6.44 of Resolution No. 49, instead of the usual majority Vote. || PGC has the power not of control but only of review and supervision. This power was validly exercised by said commission over Coliseum when it sought to stop the former's operations through the local officials. It did not whimsically order the suspension and the consequent stoppage of Coliseum's operations. Rather, PGC only exercised its power of review over the acts performed by the local authorities in relation to or which affect the exercise of its functions. || The power of review is exercised to determine whether it is necessary to correct the acts of the subordinate and to see to it that he performs his duties in accordance with law. This the PGC did by bringing to the attention of the local authorities the non-compliance by petitioner with the rules involved in this case which we find reasonable and necessary in the discharge of the regulatory functions of PGC. PGC may, for that purpose and as it did here, indicate its disapproval of the acts of the local officials concerned to stress and perform its role with respect to the regulation of cockpits. Malonzo v. Zamora. As to the alleged violation of Sec. 50 & 52 of the Code requiring the adoption of house tules and the organization of the council, we believe that the same hardly merits even cursory consideration. We cannot infer the mandate of the Code that no other business may be transacted on the first regular session except to take up the matter of adopting or updating the rules. All that the law requires is t hat :on the first regular session the sanggunian
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concerned sgall adopt or update its existing rules or procedure. There is nothing in the language thereof that restricts the matters to be taken up during the first regular session merely to the adoption or updating of the house rules. If it were the intent of Congress to limit the business of the local council to such matters, then it would have done so in clear and unequivocal terms. But as it is, there is no such intent. Zamora v. Caballero. Quorum is defined as that number of members of a body which, when legally assembled in their proper places, will enable the body to transact its proper business or that number which makes a lawful body and gives it power to pass upon a law or ordinance or do any valid act.[44] Majority, when required to constitute a quorum, means the number greater than half or more than half of any total.[45] In fine, the entire membership must be taken into account in computing the quorum of the sangguniang panlalawigan, for while the constitution merely states that majority of each House shall constitute a quorum, Section 53 of the LGC is more exacting as it requires that the majority of all members of the sanggunian . . . elected and qualified shall constitute a quorum. The difference in the wordings of the Constitution and the LGC is not me rely a matter of style and writing as respondents would argue, but is actually a matter of meaning and intention. The qualification in the LGC that the majority be based on those elected and qualified was meant to allow sanggunians to function even when not all members thereof have been proclaimed. And, while the intent of the legislature in qualifying the quorum requirement was to allow sanggunians to function even when not all members thereof have been proclaimed and have assumed office, the provision necessarily applies when, after all the members of the sanggunian have assumed office, one or some of its members file for leave. What should be important then is the concurrence of election to and qualification for the office. And election to, and qualification as member of, a local legislative body are not altered by the simple expedient of filing a leave of absence. The trial court should thus have based its determination of the existence of a quorum on the total number of members of the Sanggunian without regard to the filing of a leave of absence by Board Member Sotto. The fear that a majority may, for reasons of political affiliation, file leaves of absence in order to cripple the functioning of the sanggunian is already addressed by the grant of coercive power to a mere majority of sanggunian members present when there is no quorum. De los Reyes v. Sandiganbayan. Contrary to petitioners belief, the grant of the veto power confers authority beyond the simple mechanical act of signing an ordinance or resolution, as a requisite to its enforceability. Such power accords the local chief executive the discretion to sustain a resolution or ordinance in the first instance or to veto it and return it with his objections to the Sanggunian, which may proceed to reconsider the same. The Sanggunian concerned, however, may override the veto by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all its members thereby making the ordinance or resolution effective for all legal intents and purposes. It is clear, therefore, that the concurrence of a local chief executive in the enactment of an ordinance or resolution requires, not only a flourish of the pen, but the application of judgment after meticulous analysis and intelligence as well Hagonoy Market Vendor Assoc v. Mun. of Hagonoy. [increased stall rentals] LGC 187 The aforecited law requires that an appeal of a tax ordinance or revenue measure should be made to the Secretary of Justice within thirty (30) days from effectivity of the ordinance and even during its pendency, the effectivity of the assailed ordinance shall not be suspended. In the case at bar, Municipal Ordinance No. 28 took effect in October 1996. Petitioner filed its appeal only in December 1997, more than a year after the effectivity of the ordinance in 1996. Clearly, the Secretary of Justice correctly dismissed it for being time-barred. At this point, it is apropos to state that the timeframe fixed by law for parties to avail of their legal remedies before competent courts is not a "mere technicality" that can be easily brushed aside. The periods stated in Section 187 of the Local Government Code are mandatory.[10] Ordinance No. 28 is a revenue measure adopted by the municipality of Hagonoy to fix and collect public market stall rentals. Being its lifeblood, collection of revenues by the government is of paramount importance. The funds for the operation of its agencies and provision of basic services to its inhabitants are largely derived from its revenues and collections. Thus, it is essential that the validity of revenue measures is not left uncertain for a considerable length of time.[11] Hence, the law provided a time limit for an aggrieved party to assail the legality of revenue measures and tax ordinances. City of Manila v. Laguio, Jr. The Ordinance infringes the due process clause since the requisites for a valid exercise of police power are not met. The prohibition of the enumerated establishments will not per se protect and promote the social and moral welfare of the community; it will not in itself eradicate the alluded social ills fo prostitution, adultery, fornication nor will it arrest the spread of sexual diseases in Manila. It is baseless and insupportable to bring within that classification sauna parlors, massage parlors, karaoke bars, night clubs, day clubs, super clubs, discotheques, cabarets, dance halls, motels and inns. These are lawful pursuits which are not per se offensive to the moral welfare of the community. || Sexual immorality, being a human frailty, may take place in the most innocent places.... Every house, building, park, curb, street, or even vehicles for that matter will not be exempt from the prohibition. Simply because there are no "pure" places where there are impure men. || The Ordinance seeks to legislate morality but fails to address the core issues of morality. Try as the Ordinance may to shape morality, it should not foster the illusion that it can make a moral man out of it because immorality is not a thing, a building or establishment; it is in the hearts of men. || The Ordinance violates equal protection clause and is repugnant to general laws; it is ultra vires. The Local Government Code merely empowers local government units to regulate, and not prohibit, the establishments enumerated in Section 1 thereof. || All considered, the Ordinance invades fundamental personal and property rights adn impairs personal privileges. It is constitutionally infirm. The Ordinance contravenes statutes; it is discriminatory and unreasonable in its operation; it is not sufficiently detailed and explicit that abuses may attend the enforcement of its sanctions. And not to be forgotten, the City Council unde the Code had no power to enact the Ordinance and is therefore ultra vires null and void. White Light Corp. v. City of Manila. [prohibition on short-time admissions/pro-rated rates] The SC ruled that the said ordinance is null and void as it indeed infringes upon individual liberty. It also violates the due process clause which serves as a guaranty for protection against arbitrary regulation or seizure. The said ordinance invades private rights. Note that not all who goes into motels and hotels for wash up rate are really there for obscene purposes only. Some are tourists who needed rest or to wash up or to freshen up. Hence, the infidelity sought to be avoided by the said ordinance is more or less subjected only to a limited group of people. The SC reiterates that individual rights may be adversely affected only to the extent that may fairly be required by the legitimate demands of public interest or public welfare. Moday v. CA . The Sangguniang Panlalawigan's disapproval of Municipal Resolution No. 43-89 is an infirm action which does not render said resolution null and void. The law, as expressed in Section 153 of B.P. Blg. 337, grants the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the power to declare a municipal resolution invalid on the sole ground that it is beyond the power of the Sangguniang Bayan or the Mayor to issue. Although pertaining to a similar provision of law but different factual milieu then obtaining, the Court's pronouncements in Velazco v. Blas, 19 where we cited significant early jurisprudence, are applicable to the case at bar. The only ground upon which a provincial board may declare any municipal resolution, ordinance, or order invalid is when such resolution, ordinance, or order is "beyond the powers conferred upon the council or president making the same." Absolutely no other ground is recognized by the law. A strictly legal question is before the provincial board in its consideration of a municipal resolution, ordinance, or order. The provincial (board's) disapproval of any resolution, ordinance, or order must be premised specifically upon the fact that such resolution, ordinance, or order is outside the scope of the legal powers conferred by law. If a provincial board passes these limits, it usurps the legislative function of the municipal council or president. Such has been the consistent course of executive authority. Thus, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan was without the authority to disapprove Municipal Resolution No. 43-89 for the Municipality of Bunawan clearly has the power to exercise the right of eminent domain and its Sangguniang Bayan the capacity to promulgate said resolution, pursuant to the earlier-quoted Section 9 of B.P. Blg. 337. Perforce, it follows that Resolution No. 43-89 is valid and binding and could be used as lawful authority to petition for the condemnation of petitioners' property. Disciplinary Actions RA 6770 (1989). Ombudsman Act of 1989 Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, efficiency, act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives. Sec. 3. Office of the Ombudsman. The Office of the Ombudsman shall include the Office of the Overall Deputy, the Office of the Deputy for Luzon, the Office of the Deputy for the Visayas, the Office of the Deputy for Mindanao, the Office of the Deputy for the Armed Forces, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor. The President may appoint other Deputies as the necessity for it may arise, as recommended by the Ombudsman. Sec. 4. Appointment. The Ombudsman and his Deputies, including the Special Prosecutor, shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least twenty-one (21) nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council, and from a list of three (3) nominees for each vacancy thereafter, which shall be filled within three (3) months after it occurs, each of which list shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation.\ In the organization of the Office of the Ombudsman for filling up of positions therein, regional, cultural or ethnic considerations shall be taken into account to the end that the Office shall be as much as possible representative of the regional, ethnic and cultural make-up of the Filipino nation. Sec. 5. Qualifications. The Ombudsman and his Deputies, including the Special Prosecutor, shall be natural-born citizens of the Philippines, at least forty (40) years old, of recognized probity and independence, members of the Philippine Bar, and must not have been candidates for any elective
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national or local office in the immediately preceding election whether regular or special. The Ombudsman must have, for ten (10) years or more, been a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines. Sec. 6. Rank and Salary. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall have the same ranks, salaries and privileges as the Chairman and members, respectively, of a Constitutional Commission. Their salaries shall not be decreased during their term of office. The members of the prosecution, investigation and legal staff of the Office of the Ombudsman shall receive salaries which shall not be less than those given to comparable positions in any office in the Government. Sec. 7. Term of Office. The Ombudsman and his Deputies, including the Special Prosecutor, shall serve for a term of seven (7) years without reappointment. Sec. 8. Removal; Filling of Vacancy. (1) In accordance with the provisions of Article XI of the Constitution, the Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. (2) A Deputy or the Special Prosecutor, may be removed from office by the President for any of the grounds provided for the removal of the Ombudsman, and after due process. (3) In case of vacancy in the Office of the Ombudsman due to death, resignation, removal or permanent disability of the incumbent Ombudsman, the Overall Deputy shall serve as Acting Ombudsman in a concurrent capacity until a new Ombudsman shall have been appointed for a full term.n case the Overall Deputy cannot assume the role of Acting Ombudsman, the President may designate any of the Deputies, or the Special Prosecutor, as Acting Ombudsman. (4) In case of temporary absence or disability of the Ombudsman, the Overall Deputy shall perform the duties of the Ombudsman until the Ombudsman returns or is able to perform his duties. Sec. 9. Prohibitions and Disqualifications . The Ombudsman, his Deputies and the Special Prosecutor shall not, during their tenure, hold any other office or employment. They shall not, during said tenure, directly or indirectly practice any other profession, participate in any business, or be financially interested in any contract with, or in any franchise, or special privilege granted by the Government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries. They shall strictly avoid conflict of interest in the conduct of their office. They shall not be qualified to run for any office in the election immediately following their cessation from office. They shall not be allowed to appear or practice before the Ombudsman for two (2) years following their cessation from office. No spouse or relative by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree and no law, business or professional partner or associate of the Ombudsman, his Deputies or Special Prosecutor within one (1) year preceding the appointment may appear as counsel or agent on any matter pending before the Office of the Ombudsman or transact business directly or indirectly therewith. This disqualification shall apply during the tenure of the official concerned. This disqualification likewise extends to the law, business or professional firm for the same period. Sec. 10. Disclosure of Relationship. It shall be the duty of the Ombudsman, his Deputies, including the Special Prosecutor to make under oath, to the best of their knowledge and/or information, a public disclosure of the identities of, and their relationship with the persons referred to in the preceding section. The disclosure shall be filed with the Office of the President and the Office of the Ombudsman before the appointee assumes office and every year thereafter. The disclosures made pursuant to this section shall form part of the public records and shall be available to any person or entity upon request. Sec. 11. Structural Organization. The authority and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman and for the discharge of its powers and functions shall be vested in the Ombudsman, who shall have supervision and control of the said office. (1) The Office of the Ombudsman may organize such directorates for administration and allied services as may be necessary for the effective discharge of its functions. Those appointed as directors or heads shall have the rank and salary of line bureau directors. (2) The Office of the Overall Deputy shall oversee and administer the operations of the different offices under the Office of Ombudsman.t shall likewise perform such other functions and duties assigned to it by the Ombudsman. (3) The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall be composed of the Special Prosecutor and his prosecution staff. The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall be an organic component of the Office of the Ombudsman and shall be under the supervision and control of the Ombudsman. (4) The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall, under the supervision and control and upon the authority of the Ombudsman, have the following powers: (a) To conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan; (b) To enter into plea bargaining agreements; and (c) To perform such other duties assigned to it by the Ombudsman. The Special Prosecutor shall have the rank and salary of a Deputy Ombudsman. (5) The position structure and staffing pattern of the Office of the Ombudsman, including the Office of the Special Prosecutor, shall be approved and prescribed by the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman shall appoint all officers and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman, including those of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, in accordance with the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations. Sec. 12. Official Stations. The Ombudsman, the Overall Deputy, the Deputy for Luzon, and the Deputy for the Armed Forces shall hold office in Metropolitan Manila; the Deputy for the Visayas, in Cebu City; and the Deputy for Mindanao, in Davao City. The Ombudsman may transfer their stations within their respective geographical regions, as public interest may require. Sec. 13. Mandate. The Ombudsman and his Deputies, as protectors of the people, shall act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against officers or employees of the Government, or of any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and enforce their administrative, civil and criminal liability in every case where the evidence warrants in order to promote efficient service by the Government to the people. Sec. 14. Restrictions. No writ of injunction shall be issued by any court to delay an investigation being conducted by the Ombudsman under this Act, unless there is a prima facie evidence that the subject matter of the investigation is outside the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman. No court shall hear any appeal or application for remedy against the decision or findings of the Ombudsman, except the Supreme Court, on pure question of law. Sec. 15. Powers, Functions and Duties. The Office of the Ombudsman shall have the following powers, functions and duties: (1) Investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient.t has primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and, in the exercise of this primary jurisdiction, it may take over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency of Government, the investigation of such cases; (2) Direct, upon complaint or at its own instance, any officer or employee of the Government, or of any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, as well as any government-owned or controlled corporations with original charter, to perform and expedite any act or duty required by law, or to stop, prevent, and correct any abuse or impropriety in the performance of duties; (3) Direct the officer concerned to take appropriate action against a public officer or employee at fault or who neglect to perform an act or discharge a duty required by law, and recommend his removal, suspension, demotion, fine, censure, or prosecution, and ensure compliance therewith; or enforce its disciplinary authority as provided in Section 21 of this Act: provided, that the refusal by any officer without just cause to comply with an order of the Ombudsman to remove, suspend, demote, fine, censure, or prosecute an officer or employee who is at fault or who neglects to perform an act or discharge a duty required by law shall be a ground for disciplinary action against said officer; (4) Direct the officer concerned, in any appropriate case, and subject to such limitations as it may provide in its rules of procedure, to furnish it with copies of documents relating to contracts or transactions entered into by his office involving the disbursement or use of public funds or properties, and report any irregularity to the Commission on Audit for appropriate action; (5) Request any government agency for assistance and information necessary in the discharge of its responsibilities, and to examine, if necessary, pertinent records and documents; (6) Publicize matters covered by its investigation of the matters mentioned in paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) hereof, when circumstances so warrant and with due prudence: provided, that the Ombudsman under its rules and regulations may determine what cases may not be made public: provided, further, that any publicity issued by the Ombudsman shall be balanced, fair and true;
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(7) Determine the causes of inefficiency, red tape, mismanagement, fraud, and corruption in the Government, and make recommendations for their elimination and the observance of high standards of ethics and efficiency; (8) Administer oaths, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, and take testimony in any investigation or inquiry, including the power to examine and have access to bank accounts and records; (9) Punish for contempt in accordance with the Rules of Court and under the same procedure and with the same penalties provided therein; (10) Delegate to the Deputies, or its investigators or representatives such authority or duty as shall ensure the effective exercise or performance of the powers, functions, and duties herein or hereinafter provided; (11) Investigate and initiate the proper action for the recovery of ill-gotten and/or unexplained wealth amassed after February 25, 1986 and the prosecution of the parties involved therein. The Ombudsman shall give priority to complaints filed against high ranking government officials and/or those occupying supervisory positions, complaints involving grave offenses as well as complaints involving large sums of money and/or properties. Sec. 16. Applicability. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all kinds of malfeasance, misfeasance, and non-feasance that have been committed by any officer or employee as mentioned in Section 13 hereof, during his tenure of office. Sec. 17. Immunities. In all hearings, inquiries, and proceedings of the Ombudsman, including preliminary investigations of offenses, nor person subpoenaed to testify as a witness shall be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, papers, correspondence, memoranda and/or other records on the ground that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of him, may tend to incriminate him or subject him to prosecution: provided, that no person shall be prosecuted criminally for or on account of any matter concerning which he is compelled, after having claimed the privilege against self-incrimination, to testify and produce evidence, documentary or otherwise. Under such terms and conditions as it may determine, taking into account the pertinent provisions of the Rules of Court, the Ombudsman may grant immunity from criminal prosecution to any person whose testimony or whose possession and production of documents or other evidence may be necessary to determine the truth in any hearing, inquiry or proceeding being conducted by the Ombudsman or under its authority, in the performance or in the furtherance of its constitutional functions and statutory objectives. The immunity granted under this and the immediately preceding paragraph shall not exempt the witness from criminal prosecution for perjury or false testimony nor shall he be exempt from demotion or removal from office. Any refusal to appear or testify pursuant to the foregoing provisions shall be subject to punishment for contempt and removal of the immunity from criminal prosecution. Sec. 18. Rules of Procedure. (1) The Office of the Ombudsman shall promulgate its rules of procedure for the effective exercise or performance of its powers, functions, and duties. (2) The rules of procedure shall include a provision whereby the Rules of Court are made suppletory. (3) The rules shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the completion of their publication in the Official Gazette or in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, one of which is printed in the national language. Sec. 19. Administrative Complaints. The Ombudsman shall act on all complaints relating, but not limited to acts or omissions which: (1) Are contrary to law or regulation; (2) Are unreasonable, unfair, oppressive or discriminatory; (3) Are inconsistent with the general course of an agency's functions, though in accordance with law; (4) Proceed from a mistake of law or an arbitrary ascertainment of facts; (5) Are in the exercise of discretionary powers but for an improper purpose; or (6) Are otherwise irregular, immoral or devoid of justification. Sec. 20. Exceptions. The Office of the Ombudsman may not conduct the necessary investigation of any administrative act or omission complained of if it believes that: (1) The complainant has an adequate remedy in another judicial or quasi-judicial body; (2) The complaint pertains to a matter outside the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman; (3) The complaint is trivial, frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith; (4) The complainant has no sufficient personal interest in the subject matter of the grievance; or (5) The complaint was filed after one (1) year from the occurrence of the act or omission complained of. Sec. 21. Official Subject to Disciplinary Authority; Exceptions . The Office of the Ombudsman shall have disciplinary authority over all elective and appointive officials of the Government and its subdivisions, instrumentalities and agencies, including Members of the Cabinet, local government, government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, except over officials who may be removed only by impeachment or over Members of Congress, and the Judiciary. Sec. 22. Investigatory Power. The Office of the Ombudsman shall have the power to investigate any serious misconduct in office allegedly committed by officials removable by impeachment, for the purpose of filing a verified complaint for impeachment, if warranted. In all cases of conspiracy between an officer or employee of the government and a private person, the Ombudsman and his Deputies shall have jurisdiction to include such private person in the investigation and proceed against such private person as the evidence may warrant. The officer or employee and the private person shall be tried jointly and shall be subject to the same penalties and liabilities. Sec. 23. Formal Investigation. (1) Administrative investigations conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman shall be in accordance with its rules of procedure and consistent with due process. (2) At its option, the Office of the Ombudsman may refer certain complaints to the proper disciplinary authority for the institution of appropriate administrative proceedings against erring public officers or employees, which shall be determined within the period prescribed in the civil service law. Any delay without just cause in acting on any referral made by the Office of the Ombudsman shall be a ground for administrative action against the officers or employees to whom such referrals are addressed and shall constitute a graft offense punishable by a fine of not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00). (3) In any investigation under this Act the Ombudsman may: (a) enter and inspect the premises of any office, agency, commission or tribunal; (b) examine and have access to any book, record, file, document or paper; and (c) hold private hearings with both the complaining individual and the official concerned. Sec. 24. Preventives Suspension. The Ombudsman or his Deputy may preventively suspend any officer or employee under his authority pending an investigation, if in his judgment the evidence of guilt is strong, and (a) the charge against such officer or employee involves dishonesty, oppression or grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty; (b) the charges would warrant removal from the service; or (c) the respondent's continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against him. The preventive suspension shall continue until the case is terminated by the Office of the Ombudsman but not more than six (6) months, without pay, except when the delay in the disposition of the case by the Office of the Ombudsman is due to the fault, negligence or petition of the respondent, in which case the period of such delay shall not be counted in computing the period of suspension herein provided. Sec. 25. Penalties. (1) In administrative proceedings under Presidential Decree No. 807, the penalties and rules provided therein shall be applied. (2) In other administrative proceedings, the penalty ranging from suspension without pay for one (1) year to dismissal with forfeiture of benefits or a fine ranging from Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to twice the amount malversed, illegally taken or lost, or both at the discretion of the Ombudsman, taking into consideration circumstances that mitigate or aggravate the liability of the officer or employee found guilty of the complaint or charges. Sec. 26. Inquiries. (1) The Office of the Ombudsman shall inquire into acts or omissions of a public officer, employee, office or agency which, from the reports or complaints it has received, the Ombudsman or his Deputies consider to be: (a) contrary to law or regulation; (b) unreasonable, unfair, oppressive, irregular or inconsistent with the general course of the operations and functions of a public officer, employee, office or agency; (c) an error in the application or interpretation of law, rules or regulations, or a gross or palpable error in the appreciation of facts;
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(d) based on improper motives or corrupt considerations; (e) unclear or inadequately explained when reasons should have been revealed; or (f) inefficient performed or otherwise objectionable. (2) The Officer of the Ombudsman shall receive complaints from any source in whatever form concerning an official act or omission.t shall act on the complaint immediately and if it finds the same entirely baseless, it shall dismiss the same and inform the complainant of such dismissal citing the reasons therefor.f it finds a reasonable ground to investigate further, it shall first furnish the respondent public officer or employee with a summary of the complaint and require him to submit a written answer within seventy-two (72) hours from receipt thereof.f the answer is found satisfactory, it shall dismiss the case. (3) When the complaint consists in delay or refusal to perform a duty required by law, or when urgent action is necessary to protect or preserve the rights of the complainant, the Office of the Ombudsman shall take steps or measures and issue such orders directing the officer, employee, office or agency concerned to: (a) expedite the performance of duty; (b) cease or desist from the performance of a prejudicial act; (c) correct the omission; (d) explain fully the administrative act in question; or (e) take any other steps as may be necessary under the circumstances to protect and preserve the rights of the complainant. (4) Any delay or refusal to comply with the referral or directive of the Ombudsman or any of his Deputies, shall constitute a ground for administrative disciplinary action against the officer or employee to whom it was addressed. Sec. 27. Effectivity and Finality of Decisions. (1) All provisionary orders of the Office of the Ombudsman are immediately effective and executory. A motion for reconsideration of any order, directive or decision of the Office of the Ombudsman must be filed within five (5) days after receipt of written notice and shall be entertained only on any of the following grounds: (1) New evidence has been discovered which materially affects the order, directive or decision; (2) Errors of law or irregularities have been committed prejudicial to the interest of the movant. The motion for reconsideration shall be resolved within three (3) days from filing: provided, that only one motion for reconsideration shall be entertained. Findings of fact by the Officer of the Ombudsman when supported by substantial evidence are conclusive. Any order, directive or decision imposing the penalty of public censure or reprimand, suspension of not more than one (1) month's salary shall be final and unappealable. In all administrative disciplinary cases, orders, directives, or decisions of the Office of the Ombudsman may be appealed to the Supreme Court by filing a petition for certiorari within ten (10) days from receipt of the written notice of the order, directive or decision or denial of the motion for reconsideration in accordance with Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. The above rules may be amended or modified by the Office of the Ombudsman as the interest of justice may require. Sec. 28. Investigation in Municipalities, Cities and Provinces . The Office of the Ombudsman may establish offices in municipalities, cities and provinces outside Metropolitan Manila, under the immediate supervision of the Deputies for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, where necessary as determined by the Ombudsman. The investigation of complaints may be assigned to the regional or sectoral deputy concerned or to a special investigator who shall proceed in accordance with the rules or special instructions or directives of the Office of the Ombudsman. Pending investigation the deputy or investigator may issue orders and provisional remedies which are immediately executory subject to review by the Ombudsman. Within three (3) days after concluding the investigation, the deputy or investigator shall transmit, together with the entire records of the case, his report and conclusions to the Office of the Ombudsman. Within five (5) days after receipt of said report, the Ombudsman shall render the appropriate order, directive or decision. Sec. 29. Change of Unjust Laws. If the Ombudsman believes that a law or regulation is unfair or unjust, he shall recommend to the President and to Congress the necessary changes therein or the repeal thereof. Sec. 30. Transmittal/Publication of Decision. In every case where the Ombudsman has reached a decision, conclusion or recommendation adverse to a public official or agency, he shall transmit his decision, conclusion, recommendation or suggestion to the head of the department, agency or instrumentality, or of the province, city or municipality concerned for such immediate action as may be necessary. When transmitting his adverse decision, conclusion or recommendation, he shall, unless excused by the agency or official affected, include the substance of any statement the public agency or official may have made to him by way of explaining past difficulties with or present rejection of the Ombudsman's proposals. Sec. 31. Designation of Investigators and Prosecutors . The Ombudsman may utilize the personnel of his office and/or designate or deputize any fiscal, state prosecutor or lawyer in the government service to act as special investigator or prosecutor to assist in the investigation and prosecution of certain cases. Those designated or deputized to assist him herein provided shall be under his supervision and control. The Ombudsman and his investigators and prosecutors, whether regular members of his staff or designated by him as herein provided, shall have authority to administer oaths, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, to summon and compel witnesses to appear and testify under oath before them and/or bring books, documents and other things under their control, and to secure the attendance or presence of any absent or recalcitrant witness through application before the Sandiganbayan or before any inferior or superior court having jurisdiction of the place where the witness or evidence is found. Section 32. Rights and Duties of Witness. (1) A person required by the Ombudsman to provide the information shall be paid the same fees and travel allowances as are extended to witnesses whose attendance has been required in the trial courts. Upon request of the witness, the Ombudsman shall also furnish him such security for his person and his family as may be warranted by the circumstances. For this purpose, the Ombudsman may, at its expense, call upon any police or constabulary unit to provide the said security. (2) A person who, with or without service or compulsory process, provides oral or documentary information requested by the Ombudsman shall be accorded the same privileges and immunities as are extended to witnesses in the courts, and shall likewise be entitled to the assistance of counsel while being questioned. (3) If a person refuses to respond to the Ombudsman's or his Deputy's subpoena, or refuses to be examined, or engages in obstructive conduct, the Ombudsman or his Deputy shall issue an order directing the person to appear before him to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt. The contempt proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Rules of Court. Sec. 33. Duty to Render Assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman. Any officer or employee of any department, bureau or office, subdivision, agency or instrumentality of the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations and local governments, when required by the Ombudsman, his Deputy or the Special Prosecutor shall render assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman. Sec. 34. Annual Report. The Office of the Ombudsman shall render an annual report of its activities and performance to the President and to Congress to be submitted within thirty (30) days from the start of the regular session of Congress. Sec. 35. Malicious Prosecution. Any person who, actuated by malice or gross bad faith, files a completely unwarranted or false complaint against any government official or employee shall be subject to a penalty of one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months imprisonment and a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00). Sec. 36. Penalties for Obstruction. Any person who willfully obstructs or hinders the proper exercise of the functions of the Office of the Ombudsman or who willfully misleads or attempts to mislead the Ombudsman, his Deputies and the Special Prosecutor in replying to their inquiries shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00). Sec. 37. Franking Privilege. All official mail matters and telegrams of the Ombudsman addressed for delivery within the Philippines shall be received, transmitted, and delivered free of charge: provided, that such mail matters when addressed to private persons or nongovernment offices shall not exceed one hundred and twenty (120) grams. All mail matters and telegrams sent through government telegraph facilities containing complaints to the Office of the Ombudsman shall be transmitted free of charge, provided that the telegram shall contain not more than one hundred fifty (150) words. Sec. 38. Fiscal Autonomy. The Office of the Ombudsman shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. Appropriations for the Office of the Ombudsman may not be reduced below the amount appropriated for the previous years and, after approval, shall be automatically and regularly released. Sec. 39. Appropriations. The appropriation for the Office of the Special Prosecutor in the current General Appropriations Act is hereby transferred to the Office of the Ombudsman. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. Sec. 40. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and binding.
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Sec. 41. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, letters of instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or amended as the case may be. Sec. 42. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. Ombudsman v. Rodriguez. The primary jurisdiction of the Ombudsman to investigate any act or omission of a public officer or employee applies only in cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan. In cases cognizable by regular courts, the Ombudsman has concurrent jurisdiction with other investigative agencies of government.27 Republic Act No. 8249, otherwise known as An Act Further Defining the Jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, limits the cases that are cognizable by the Sandiganbayan to public officials occupying positions corresponding to salary grade 27 and higher. The Sandiganbayan has no jurisdiction over private respondent who, as punong barangay, is occupying a position corresponding to salary grade 14 under Republic Act No. 6758, otherwise known as the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989. Under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, the s angguniang panlungsod orsangguniang bayan has disciplinary authority over any elective barangay official. Clearly, the Ombudsman has concurrent jurisdiction with the sangguniang bayan over administrative cases against elective barangay officials occupying positions below salary grade 27, such as private respondent in this case. || In administrative cases involving the concurrent jurisdiction of two or more disciplining authorities, the body in which the complaint is filed first, and which opts to take cognizance of the case, acquires jurisdiction to the exclusion of other tribunals exercising concurrent jurisdiction.31 In this case, since the complaint was filed first in the Ombudsman, and the Ombudsman opted to assume jurisdiction over the complaint, the Ombudsmans exercise of jurisdiction is to the exclusion of the sangguniang bayan exercising concurrent jurisdiction. LGC, 58. 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. LGC, 60. Grounds for Disciplinary Actions. - An elective local official may be disciplined, suspended, or removed from office on any of the following grounds: (a) Disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines; (b) Culpable violation of the Constitution; (c) Dishonesty, oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence, or dereliction of duty; (d) Commission of any offense involving moral turpitude or an offense punishable by at least prision mayor; (e) Abuse of authority; (f) Unauthorized absence for fifteen (15) consecutive working days, except in the case of members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, sangguniang bayan, and sangguniang barangay; (g) Application for, or acquisition of, foreign citizenship or residence or the status of an immigrant of another country; and (h) Such other grounds as may be provided in this Code and other laws. An elective local official may be removed from office on the grounds enumerated above by order of the proper court. LGC, 61. Form and Filing of Administrative Complaints. - A verified complaint against any erring local elective official shall be prepared as follows: (a) A complaint against any elective official of a province, a highly urbanized city, an independent component city or component city shall be filed before the Office of the President; (b) A complaint against any elective official of a municipality shall be filed before the sangguniang panlalawigan whose decision may be appealed to the Office of the President; and (c) A complaint against any elective barangay official shall be filed before the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned whose decision shall be final and executory. LGC, 62. Notice of hearing. (a) Within seven (7) days after the administrative complaint is filed, the Office of the President or the sanggunian concerned, as the case may be, shall require the respondent to submit his verified answer within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof, and commence the investigation of the case within ten (10) days after receipt of such answer of the respondent. (b) When the respondent is an elective official of a province or highly urbanized city, such hearing and investigation shall be conducted in the place where he renders or holds office. For all other local elective officials, the venue shall be the place where the sanggunian concerned is located. (c) However, no investigation shall be held within ninety (90) days immediately prior to any local election, and no preventive suspension shall be imposed within the said period. If preventive suspension has been imposed prior to the 90-day period immediately preceding local election, it shall be deemed automatically lifted upon the start of aforesaid period. \ LGC, 63. Preventive Suspension. (a) Preventive suspension may be imposed: (1) By the President, if the respondent is an elective official of a province, a highly urbanized or an independent component city; (2) By the governor, if the respondent is an elective official of a component city or municipality; or (3) By the mayor, if the respondent is an elective official of the barangay. (b) Preventive suspension may be imposed at any time after the issues are joined, when the evidence of guilt is strong, and given the gravity of the offense, there is great probability that the continuance in office of the respondent could influence the witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence: Provided, That, any single preventive suspension of local elective officials shall not extend beyond sixty (60) days: Provided, further, That in the event that several administrative cases are filed against an elective official, he cannot be preventively suspended for more than ninety (90) days within a single year on the same ground or grounds existing and known at the time of the first suspension. (c) Upon expiration of the preventive suspension, the suspended elective official shall be deemed reinstated in office without prejudice to the continuation of the proceedings against him, which shall be terminated within one hundred twenty (120) days from the time he was formally notified of the case against him. However, if the delay in the proceedings of the case is due to his fault, neglect, or request, other than the appeal duly filed, the duration of such delay shall not be counted in computing the time of termination of the case. (d) Any abuse of the exercise of the power of preventive suspension shall be penalized as abuse of authority. LGC, 64. Salary of Respondent Pending Suspension. - The respondent official preventively suspended from office shall receive no salary or compensation during such suspension; but upon subsequent exoneration and reinstatement, he shall be paid full salary or compensation including such emoluments accruing during such suspension. LGC, 65. Rights of Respondent. - The respondent shall be accorded full opportunity to appear and defend himself in person or by counsel, to confront and cross-examine the witnesses against him, and to require the attendance of witnesses and the production of documentary process of subpoena or subpoena duces tecum. LGC, 66. Form and Notice of Decision. (a) The investigation of the case shall be terminated within ninety (90) days from the start thereof. Within thirty (30) days after the end of the investigation, the Office of the President or the sanggunian concerned shall render a decision in writing stating clearly and distinctly the facts and the reasons for such decision. Copies of said decision shall immediately be furnished the respondent and all interested parties. (b) The penalty of suspension shall not exceed the unexpired term of the respondent or a period of six (6) months for every administrative offense, nor shall said penalty be a bar to the candidacy of the respondent so suspended as long as he meets the qualifications required for the office. (c) The penalty of removal from office as a result of an administrative investigation shall be considered a bar to the candidacy of the respondent for any elective position. LGC, 67. Administrative Appeals. - Decisions in administrative cases may, within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof, be appealed to the following: (a) The sangguniang panlalawigan, in the case of decisions of the sangguniang panlungsod of component cities and the sangguniang bayan; and (b) The Office of the President, in the case of decisions of the sangguniang panlalawigan and the sangguniang panlungsod of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities. Decisions of the Office of the President shall be final and executory.
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LGC, 68. Execution Pending Appeal. - An appeal shall not prevent a decision from becoming final or executory. The respondent shall be considered as having been placed under preventive suspension during the pendency of an appeal in the event he wins such appeal. In the event the appeal results in an exoneration, he shall be paid his salary and such other emoluments during the pendency of the appeal. A.O. 23 (1992), as amended by AO 159 (1994) and AO 66 (1999) . PRESCRIBING THE RULES AND PROCEDURES ON THE INVESTIGATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINARY CASES AGAINST ELECTIVE LOCAL OFFICIALS OF PROVINCES, HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES, INDEPENDENT COMPONENT CITIES, COMPONENT CITIES, AND CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN METROPOLITAN MANILA. Rule 1: PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS Sec. 1. Coverage. These rules and procedures shall apply to administrative disciplinary cases filed against: (a) the governors, and members of the sangguniang panlalawigan; (b) the mayors, vice-mayors, and members of the sangguniang panlungsod of highly urbanized cities, independent component cities, and component cities; and (c) the mayors, vice mayors, and members of the sangguniang panlungsod or bayan of cities or municipalities in Metropolitan Manila. Sec. 2. Disciplining Authority. The President, who may act through the Executive Secretary, shall be the Disciplining Authority for all administrative complaints against elective local officials covered therein. Sec. 3. Investigating Authority. The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government is hereby designated as the Investigating Authority. As such, he is authorized to investigate complaints filed against elective officials covered herein and act appropriately thereon as hereinafter provided. He may, thereafter, constitute an Investigating Committee in the Department of Interior and Local Government for the conduct of investigation. The preceding paragraph notwithstanding, the Disciplining Authority may, in the interest of the service, constitute a Special Investigating Committee in lieu of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. Nothing herein provided, however, shall prevent the President from assuming jurisdiction at any stage of the proceedings over cases to be preliminarily investigated by the Department of Interior and Local Government. In such event, the same shall immediately be forwarded to the Special Investigating Committee after it may have been constituted by the Disciplining Authority. Rule 2: GROUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION Sec. 1. Grounds. An elective local official may be disciplined, suspended, or removed from office on any of the following grounds: a) Disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines; b) Culpable violation of the Constitution; c) Dishonesty, oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence, or dereliction of duty; d) Commission of any offense involving moral turpitude or any offense punishable by at least prision mayor, which is from six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years imprisonment; e) Abuse of authority; f) Unauthorized absence for fifteen (15) consecutive working days in case of local chief executives and four (4) consecutive sessions in the case of members of the sangguniang; g) Application for, or acquisition of, foreign citizenship or residence of the status of an immigrant of another country; and h) Such other grounds as may be provided by the Local Government Code of 1991; Republic Act No. 6713; Republic Act No. 3019; Administrative Code of 1987; Revised Penal Code; and all other applicable general and special laws. Rule 3: COMPLAINT Sec. 1. How initiated. An administrative case may be initiated by any private individual or any government officer or employee by filing a sworn written complaint against any elective local official enumerated under Sec. 1, Rule I hereof. It may also be initiated motu proprio by the Office of the President or any government agency duly authorized by law to ensure that local government units (LGUs) act within their prescribed powers and functions. Sec. 2. Form of complaint. The complaint, accompanied by affidavits of witness or evidences in support of the charge, shall be addressed to the President. It shall be drawn in clear, simple, and concise language and in methodical manner as to apprise the respondent of the nature of the charge against him and to enable him to prepare his defense. The party filing the complaint shall be called the complainant, while the official against whom the complaint is filed shall be called the respondent. Sec. 3. Where filed. The complaint shall be filed with the Records Office, Office of the President, Malacaang, Manila. However, for cases against elective officials of LGUs concerned outside Metropolitan Manila, the complaint may be filed through the concerned Regional Director of the DILG, who shall transmit the same to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, within forty-eight (48) hours from receipt thereof. In this regard, the Regional Director concerned shall authenticate all the pertinent documents presented to him. Upon receipt of the said documents, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government shall transmit the same to the Office of the President, within forty-eight (48) hours from receipt of the same. A copy of the complaint shall be furnished to each of the following: a) the Office of the Governor in the case of component cities; b) the Metropolitan Manila Authority in the case of cities and municipalities in Metropolitan Manila; and c) the DILG in all cases. Rule 4: ANSWER Sec. 1. Notice. Within seven (7) days after the complaint is filed, the Investigating Authority or the Disciplining Authority as the case may be shall issue an order requiring the respondent to submit his verified answer within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof. Sec. 2. Form of answer. The answer, accompanied by affidavits of witnesses or evidences in support of the defense, shall be addressed to the President and shall be drawn in clear, simple, and concise language and in methodical manner as to traverse the charge. Sec. 3. Where filed. The answer shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government or the Office of the President as the case may be. However, for cases against elective officials of LGUs concerned outside Metropolitan Manila, the answer may be submitted through the concerned Regional Director of the DILG, who shall transmit the same to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, within forty-eight (48) hours from receipt thereof. In this regard, the Regional Director concerned shall authenticate all the pertinent documents presented to him. A copy of the answer shall be furnished to each of the following: a) The complainant; b) The Office of the Governor in the case of component cities; and c) The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in the case of cities and municipalities in Metro Manila. Sec. 4. Failure to answer. Unreasonable failure of respondent to file his verified answer within ifteen (15) days from receipt of the complaint against him shall be considered as waiver of his right to present evidence in his behalf. Rule 5: PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION Sec. 1. Commencement. Within twenty (20) days from receipt of the answer, the Investigating Authority shall commence the investigation of the case. Sec. 2. Failure to commence preliminary investigation. Unreasonable failure to commence the preliminary investigation within the prescribed period by the person or persons assigned to investigate shall be a ground for administrative disciplinary action. Sec. 3. Evaluation. After the filing of the answer, the Investigating Authority shall, within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof, determine the existence of a probable cause. Should probable cause exists, the Investigating Authority shall set the case for preliminary conference and formal administrative proceedings shall thereafter be conducted. If warranted, the investigating Authority may recommend to the Disciplining Authority the imposition of a preventive suspension on the respondent/s. Sec. 4. Dismissal motu propio. If the Investigating Authority determines that there is no prima facie case to warrant the institution of formal administrative proceedings, it shall, within the same period prescribed under the preceding Section, submit its recommendation to the Disciplining Authority for the motu propio dismissal of the case, together with the recommended decision, resolution, and order. Sec. 5. Preliminary conference. If the Investigating Authority determines that there is prima facie case to warrant the institution of formal administrative proceedings, it shall, within the same period prescribed under the preceding section, summon the parties to a preliminary conference to consider the following: a) Whether the parties desire a formal investigation or are willing to submit the case for resolution on the basis of the evidence on record; and
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b)
If the parties desire a formal investigation, to consider the simplification of issues, the possibility of obtaining stipulation or admission of facts and of documents, specifically affidavits and depositions, to avoid unnecessary proof, the limitation of number of witnesses, and such other matters as may aid the prompt disposition of the case. The Investigating Authority shall encourage the parties and their counsels to enter, at any stage of the proceedings, into amicable settlement, compromise and arbitration, the terms and conditions of which shall be subject to the approval of the Disciplining Authority. After the preliminary conference, the Investigating Authority shall issue and Order reciting the matters taken up thereon, including the facts stipulated and the evidences marked, if any. Such order shall limit the issues for hearing to those not disposed of by agreement or admission of the parties, and shall schedule the formal investigation within ten (10) days from its issuance, unless a later date is mutually agreed in writing by the parties concerned. Sec. 6. Venue of hearing. When the respondent is an elective official of a province or highly urbanized city, the preliminary investigation as contemplated in this Rule shall be conducted in the place where he renders or holds office. For all other local elective officials, the venue shall be the place where the sangguniang concerned is located. Sec. 7. 90-Day ban. No preliminary investigation shall be conducted within ninety (90) days immediately prior to any local election. Rule 6: PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION Sec. 1. Power to suspend. Preventive suspension may be imposed by the Disciplining Authority in cases where the respondent is an elective official of the following LGUs: a) provinces; b) highly urbanized cities; c) independent component cities; and d) cities and municipalities in Metropolitan Manila. The governor shall, upon the direct order of the Disciplining Authority, preventively suspend an elective official of a component city, who is under formal administrative investigation by the Office of the President. Sec. 2. 90-day ban. No preventive suspension shall be imposed within ninety (90) days immediately prior to any local election. If the preventive suspension has been imposed prior to the 90-day period immediately preceding a local election, it shall be deemed automatically lifted upon the start of aforesaid period. Sec. 3. Grounds. Preventive suspension may be imposed at any time after the issues are joined, that is, after respondent has answered the complaint, when the evidence of guilt is strong and, given the gravity of the offense, there is a great probability that the continuance in office of the respondent could influence the witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence. Sec. 4. Duration. Any single preventive suspension of local elective officials shall not extend beyond sixty (60) days; provided that, in the event that several administrative cases are filed against an elective official, he cannot be preventively suspended for more than ninety (90) days within a single year on the same ground or grounds existing and known at the time of the first suspension. Sec. 5. Automatic reinstatement. Upon expiration of the preventive suspension, the suspended elective official shall be deemed reinstated in office without prejudice to the continuation of the proceedings against him, which shall be terminated within one hundred twenty (120) days from the time he was formally notified of the case against him. However, if the delay in the proceeding of the case is due to his fault, or request, other than the appeal duly filed, the duration of such delay shall not be counted in computing the time of termination of the case. Sec. 6. Salary of respondent pending suspension. The respondent, who is preventively suspended from office, shall receive no salary or compensation during such suspension; but, upon subsequent exoneration and reinstatement, he shall be paid his full salary or compensation, including such emoluments accruing during such suspension. Rule 7: FORMAL INVESTIGATION Sec. 1. Procedural due process. The respondent shall be accorded full opportunity to appear and defend himself in person or by counsel, to confront and crossexamine the witnesses against him, and to require the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents through the compulsory process of subpoena or subpoena duces tecum. Sec. 2. Who conducts the hearing. The formal administrative investigation shall be conducted by the Investigating Authority. Sec. 3. Failure to commence formal investigation. Unreasonable failure to commence the formal investigation within the prescribed period in the preliminary conference order by the person or persons assigned to investigate shall be aground for administrative disciplinary action. Sec. 4. Power to take testimony or receive evidence. The Investigating Authority is hereby authorized to take testimony or receive evidence relevant to the administrative proceedings, which authority shall include the power to administer oaths, summon witnesses, and require the production of documents by subpoena duces tecum pursuant to Book 1, Chapter 9, Section 37 of the Administrative Code of 1987. Anyone who, without lawful excuse, fails to appear upon summons issued under authority of the preceding paragraph or who, appearing before the Investigating Authority exercising the power therein defined, refuses to make oath, give testimony or produce documents for inspection, when lawfully required, shall be subject to discipline as in case of contempt of court and, upon application by the Investigating Authority, shall be dealt with by the judge of the proper regional trial court in the manner provided for under Book VII, Chapter 3, Section 13, in relation to Chapter 1, Section 2 (1), of the Administrative Code of 1987. Sec. 5. Notice of hearing. The parties and their witnesses shall be notified by subpoena of the scheduled hearing at least five (5) days before the date thereof, stating the date, time and place of the hearing. Sec. 6. Venue of hearing. When the respondent is an elective official of a province or highly urbanized city, the formal investigation as contemplated in this Rule shall be conducted in the place where he renders or holds office. For all other local elective officials, the venue shall be the place where the sangguniang concerned is located. Sec. 7. Request for subpoena. If a party desires the attendance of a witness or the production of documents, he should make formally request for the issuance of the necessary subpoena or subpoena duces tecum at least three (3) days before the scheduled hearing. Sec. 8. Postponement. Postponement of investigation shall be discouraged and shall be allowed only in meritorious cases, like illness of the parties or counsels and other similar case. No postponement for a period longer than seven (7) days shall be allowed, and in no case shall the total number of postponements for one party be more than twenty (20) days. Sec. 9. Stenographic record of proceedings. The testimony of each witness and the manifestation of the parties and counsels during an investigation shall be taken in shorthand or stenotype. A transcript of the proceedings made by the official stenographer or stenotypist and duly certified by him shall be prima facie a correct statement of such proceedings. Sec. 10. Order of hearing. Unless otherwise directed by the Investigating Authority, the order of a hearing shall be as follows: a) The complaint shall produce the evidence on his part; b) The respondent shall then offer evidence in support of his defense; and cassia c) The parties may then respectively offer rebutting evidence, unless the Investigating Authority, for good reasons and in the furtherance of justice, permits them to offer evidence upon their original case. Sec. 11. Order of Examination. The order in which a witness may be examined shall be as follows: a) Direct examination by the proponent; b) Cross examination by the opponent; c) Re-direct examination by the proponent; and d) Re-cross examination by the opponent. Sec. 12. Termination of formal investigation. The formal investigation of the case shall be terminated by the Investigating Authority within ninety (90) days from the start thereof. Unreasonable failure to complete the formal investigation after the said period by the person or persons assigned to investigate shall be a ground for disciplinary action. Sec. 13. Memoranda. The Investigating Authority may allow the parties to submit their respective memoranda, together with their respective draft resolutions and orders for consideration of the Investigating Authority, within fifteen (15) days after the termination of the formal investigation. Sec. 14. 90-day ban. No formal investigation shall be conducted within ninety (90) days immediately prior to any local election. Rule 8: EVIDENCE Sec. 1. Rules of evidence. In administrative disciplinary proceedings
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a)
The Investigating Authority may admit and give probative value to evidence commonly accepted by reasonably prudent men in the conduct of their affairs; b) Documentary evidence may be received in the form of copies or excepts, if the original is not readily available. Upon request, the parties shall be given opportunity to compare the copy with the original. If the original is in the official custody of a public officer, a certified copy thereof may be accepted; and c) The Investigating Authority may take notice of judicially cognizable facts and of generally technical or scientific facts within it specialized knowledge. The parties shall be notified and afforded an opportunity to contest the facts so noticed. Sec. 2. Marking. All documentary evidence or exhibits shall be properly marked by letter (A, B, C, etc.), if presented by the complainants, and by numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.), if presented by the respondent. They shall be attached to the records or, if voluminous, kept in a separate folder marked "Folder of Exhibits", which shall also be attached to the records. Rule 9: REPORT OF INVESTIGATING AUTHORITY AND TRANSMISSION OF RECORDS Sec. 1. Transmission of Records to Disciplining Authority. The Investigating Authority shall forward to the Disciplining Authority its findings and recommendations, together with the following: a) the draft decision, resolution and order; b) the complete records with each page consecutively numbered and initialed by the custodian of the records; c) a summary of proceedings thereon from the filing of the complaint to the transmittal of the records in chronological order indicating the action taken on the incidents involved; and d) a list of all pleadings, motions, manifestations, annexes, exhibits, and other papers or documents filed by the contending parties, as well as the corresponding orders or resolutions. Such documents shall be forwarded to the Disciplining Authority within twenty (20) days a) from receipt of the last pleading and evidence, if any, in case the respondent does not elect a formal investigation; b) after the expiration of the period within which to submit the same; or after the termination of the formal investigation; or c) after the parties have submitted their respective Memoranda if so allowed. The transcript of the proceedings shall be paged consecutively and in chronological order, sewed on the left-hand side, and properly indexed, showing the page on which the testimony of each witness begins. Sec. 2. Records classification. Records in administrative disciplinary cases are classified as confidential in nature and any information as to the charges, accusation, or facts adduced may not be released, and such records may not be available, except to the proper authorities and, upon request, to the parties-ininterest or their authorized representatives on the "need-to-know" basis pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 78 dated August 14, 1964, as amended by Memorandum Circular No. 196 dated July 19, 1968, prescribing rules governing security of classified matter in government offices. Rule 10: DECISION Sec. 1. Rendition of decision. Within thirty (30) days after receipt of the report of the Investigating Authority and the transmittal of records, the Disciplining Authority shall render a decision in writing stating clearly and distinctly the facts and reasons for such decision. Copies of said decision shall immediately be furnished the respondent and all interested parties. Sec. 2. Finality of decision. The decision of the Disciplining Authority shall immediately be final and executory upon receipt of a copy thereof by the complainant or the respondent, as the case may be. Sec. 3. Motion for reconsideration. A motion for reconsideration shall not stay the execution of a decision. In the event that a decision is reconsidered as to result in an exoneration, the respondent shall be paid his salary and such other emoluments accruing during the period of his suspension of removal. Rule 11: PENALTIES Sec. 1. Suspension or removal. A respondent found guilty of any of the offenses enumerated in Rule 2 hereof may be meted the penalty of suspension or removal depending on the evidence presented and the aggravating or mitigating circumstances that may be considered by the Disciplining Authority. Sec. 2. Suspension. The penalty of suspension shall not exceed the unexpired term of the respondent, or a period of six (6) months for every administrative offense, nor shall said penalty be a bar to the candidacy of the respondent so suspended as long as he meets the qualifications required for the office. When the respondent has been meted two (2) or more penalties of suspension for two (2) or more administrative offenses, such penalties shall be served successively. Sec. 3. Removal. An elective local official may be removed from office on the grounds enumerated in Rule 2 hereof by order of the proper court or the Disciplining Authority whichever first acquires jurisdiction to the exclusion of the other. The penalty or removal from office as a result of an administrative investigation shall be considered a bar to the candidacy of the respondent for any elective position. Rule 12: EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY Sec. 1. Removal of administrative penalties or disabilities. In meritorious cases, the President may, after his decision has become final and executory, commute or remove administrative penalties and disabilities imposed upon elective local officials in administrative disciplinary cases, subject to such terms and conditions as he may imposed in the interest of the service. Rule 13: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Sec. 1. Effects and application of relevant laws. This Administrative Order implements the Local Government Code of 1991 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations approved and adopted under Administrative Order No. 270 dated February 21, 1992; Book VI, Chapter 3, Sections 10-16 of the Administrative Code of 1983; and Executive Order No. 26 dated October 7, 1992. In all matters not provided in this Administrative Order, the Rules of Court and the 1987 Administrative Code shall apply in a suppletory character. Sec. 2. Repeal. Administrative Order No. 195 dated September 10, 1990, as amended by Administrative Order No. 239 dated September 27, 1991, is hereby repealed. Sec. 3. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days from publication in the Official Gazette. Espiritu v. Melgar. Clearly, the provincial governor of Oriental Mindoro is authorized by law to preventively suspend the municipal mayor of Naujan at anytime after the issues had been joined and any of the following grounds were shown to exist: 1. When there is reasonable ground to believe that the respondent has committed the act or acts complained of; 2. When the evidence of culpability is strong; 3. When the gravity of the offense so warrants; or 4. When the continuance in office of the respondent could influence the witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence. There is nothing improper in suspending an officer before the charges against him are heard and before he is given an opportunity to prove his innocence (Nera vs. Garcia and Elicao, 106 Phil. 1031). Preventive suspension is allowed so that the respondent may not hamper the normal course of the investigation through the use of his influence and authority over possible witnesses (Lacson vs. Roque, 92 Phil. 456). Since respondent mayor believed that his preventive suspension was unjustified and politically motivated, he should have sought relief first from the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, not from the courts. Mayor Melgar's direct recourse to the courts without exhausting administrative remedies was premature. NB: If Ombudsman is the one issuing the Preventive Suspension: 6 months; if CSC = 90 days; if LGC = 60 days Joson v. Exec. Sec. : Administrative disciplinary proceedings against elective local officials are governed by the Local Government Code of 1991.In all matters not provided in A.O. No. 23, the Rules of Court and the Administrative Code of 1987 apply in a suppletory character. Section 60 of Chapter 4, Title II, Book I of the LGC enumerates the grounds for which an elective local official may be disciplined, suspended or removed from office. When an elective local official commits an act that falls under the grounds for disciplinary action, the administrative complaint against him must be verified and filed under Section 61. In the instant case, Joson is an elective official of the province of Nueva Ecija. The letter-complaint against him was therefore properly filed with the Office of the President. Berces v. Guingona. We find that the provisions of Section 68 of R.A. No. 7160 and Section 6 of Administrative Order No. 18 are not irreconcillably inconsistent and repugnant and the two laws must in fact be read together. The first sentence of Section 68 merely provides that an "appeal shall not prevent a
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decision from becoming final or executory." As worded, there is room to construe said provision as giving discretion to the reviewing officials to stay the execution of the appealed decision. There is nothing to infer therefrom that the reviewing officials are deprived of the authority to order a stay of the appealed order. If the intention of Congress was to repeal Section 6 of Administrative Order No. 18, it could have used more direct language expressive of such intention. Ganzon v. CA. consecutive preventive suspensions amounting to more than 3 years "Control" has been defined as "the power of an officer to alter or modify or nullify or set aside what a subordinate officer had done in the performance of his duties and to substitute the judgment of the former for test of the latter." "Supervision" on the other hand means "overseeing or the power or authority of an officer to see that subordinate officers perform their duties. As we held, however, "investigating" is not inconsistent with "overseeing", although it is a lesser power than "altering". The impression is apparently exacerbated by the Court's pronouncements in at least three cases, Lacson v. Roque, Hebron v. Reyes, and Mondano v. Silvosa, and possibly, a fourth one, Pelaez v. Auditor General. In Lacson, this Court said that the President enjoyed no control powers but only supervision "as may be provided by law," a rule we reiterated in Hebron, and Mondano. In Pelaez, we stated that the President "may not . . . suspend an elective official of a regular municipality or take any disciplinary action against him, except on appeal from a decision of the corresponding provincial board." However, neither Lacson nor Hebron nor Mondano categorically banned the Chief Executive from exercising acts of disciplinary authority because she did not exercise control powers, but because no law allowed her to exercise disciplinary authority. The Court is consequently reluctant to say that the new Constitution has repealed the Local Government Code, Batas Blg. 37. As we said, "supervision" and "removal" are not incompatible terms and one may stand with the other notwithstanding the stronger expression of local autonomy under the new Charter. We have indeed held that in spite of the approval of the Charter, Batas Blg. 337 is still in force and effect. || As the Constitution itself declares, local autonomy means "a more responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of decentralization." The Constitution as we observed, does nothing more than to break up the monopoly of the national government over the affairs of local governments and as put by political adherents, to "liberate the local governments from the imperialism of Manila." Autonomy, however, is not meant to end the relation of partnership and inter-dependence between the central administration and local government units, or otherwise, to user in a regime of federalism. The Charter has not taken such a radical step. Local governments, under the Constitution, are subject to regulation, however limited, and for no other purpose than precisely, albeit paradoxically, to enhance self- government. Flores v. SP of Pampanga. Overpriced equipment failure to exhaust admin remedies Don v. Lacsa. Obviously, the said Code does not preclude the taking of an appeal. On the contrary, it specifically allows a party to appeal to the Office of the President. The [phrase] final and executory x x x in Sections 67 and 68, respectively, of the Local Government Code, are not, as erroneously ruled by the trial court, indicative of the appropriate mode of relief from the decision of the Sanggunian concerned. These phrases simply mean that the administrative appeals will not prevent the enforcement of the decisions. The decision is immediately executory but the respondent may nevertheless appeal the adverse decision to the Office of the President or to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, as the case may be Aguinaldo v. Santos. [disloyalty to the republic, Coup detat] Clear then, the rule is that a public official can not be removed for administrative misconduct committed during a prior term, since his re-election to office operates as a condonation of the officer's previous misconduct to the extent of cutting off the right to remove him therefor. The foregoing rule, however, finds no application to criminalcases pending against petitioner for acts he may have committed during the failed coup. Garcia v. Mojica. The power to preventively suspend is available not only to the Ombudsman but also to the Deputy Ombudsman. This is the clear import of Sec. 24 of RA 6770. There can be no question in this case as to the power and authority of respondent Deputy Ombudsman to issue an order of preventive suspension against an official like the petitioner, to prevent that official from using his office to intimidate or influence witnesses[12] or to tamper with records that might be vital to the prosecution of the case against him. [13] In our view, the present controversy simply boils down to this pivotal question: Given the purpose of preventive suspension and the circumstances of this case, did respondent Deputy Ombudsman commit a grave abuse of discretion when he set the period of preventive suspension at six months? Preventive suspension under Sec. 24, R.A. 6770, to repeat, may be imposed when, among other factors, the evidence of guilt is strong. The period for which an official may be preventively suspended must not exceed six months. In this case, petitioner was preventively suspended and ordered to cease and desist from holding office for the entire period of six months, which is the maximum provided by law. Garcia v. Miro. In the case at bar, the criminal case filed against petitioner was in no way related to the performance of his duties as a judge. Thus, jurisdiction is with the regular courts and not with the ombudsman PP v. Toledano. "The law is clear and unequivocal. There is nothing in it which states that exoneration from an administrative charge extinguishes criminal liability." It is indeed a fundamental principle of administrative law that administrative cases are independent from criminal actions for the same act or omission. Besides, the reliance made by respondent judge on the re-election of private respondent as Kagawad in the May 1992 election so as to warrant the dismissal of the information filed against him, citing Aguinaldo vs. Santos is misplaced. The ruling in said case which forbids the removal from office of a public official for administrative misconduct committed during a prior term, finds no application to criminal cases, pending against said public officer. Calingin v. CA . LGC prevails over Admin Code (special v. general). Jurisdiction In sum, the decisions of the Office of the President are final and executor. No MR is allowed but the parties may appeal the decision to the CA. Valencia v. Sandiganbayan. Ombudsman has jurisdiction to review decisions of subordinates SB of Bgy. Don Mariano Marcos v. Martinez. The rule which confers to the proper courts the power to remove an elective local official from office is intended as a check against any capriciousness or partisan activity by the disciplining authority. Vesting the local legislative body with the power to decide whether or not a local chief executive may be removed from office, and only relegating to the courts a mandatory duty to implement the decision, would still not free the resolution of the case from the capriciousness or partisanship of the disciplining authority. Thus, the petition ers interpretation would defeat the clear intent of the law. Moreover, such an arrangement clearly demotes the courts to nothing more than an implementing arm of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, or Sangguniang Bayan. This would be an unmistakable breach of the doctrine on separation of powers, thus placing the courts under the orders of the legislative bodies of local governments. The courts would be stripped of their power of review, and their discretion in imposing the extreme penalty of removal from office is thus left to be exercised by political factions which stand to benefit from the removal from office of the local elective official concerned, the very evil which Congress sought to avoid when it enacted Section 60 of the Local Government Code. Congress clearly meant that the removal of an elective local official be done only after a trial before the appropriate court, where court rules of procedure and evidence can ensure impartiality and fairness and protect against political maneuverings. Elevating the removal of an elective local official from office from an administrative case to a court case may be justified by the fact that such removal not only punishes the official concerned but also, in effect, deprives the electorate of the services of the official for whom they voted . As the law stands, Section 61 of the Local Government Code provides for the procedure for the filing of an administrative case against an erring elective barangayofficial before the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan. However, the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan cannot order the removal of an erring elective barangay official from office, as the courts are exclusively vested with this power under Section 60 of the Local Government Code. Thus, if the acts allegedly committed by the barangay official are of a grave nature and, if found guilty, would merit the penalty of removal from office, the case should be filed with the regional trial court. Once the court assumes jurisdiction, it retains jurisdiction over the case even if it would be subsequently apparent during the trial that a penalty less than removal from office is appropriate. On the other hand, the most extreme penalty that the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan may impose on the erring elective barangay official is suspension; if it deems that the removal of the official from service is warranted, then it can resolve that the proper charges be filed in court. Petitioner alleged that an interpretation which gives the judiciary the power to remove local elective officials violates the doctrine of separation of powers. This allegation runs contrary to the 1987 Constitution itself, as well as jurisprudence. The Ombudsman Hagad v. Gozo-Dadole. LGC did not repeal the Ombudsman Act Indeed, there is nothing in the Local Government Code to indicate that it has repealed, whether expressly or impliedly, the pertinent provisions of the Ombudsman Act. The two statutes on the specific matter in question are not so inconsistent, let alone irreconcilable, as to compel us to only uphold one and strike down the other . Well settled is the rule that repeals of laws by implication are not favored, 16 and that courts must generally assume their congruent application. 17 The two laws must be absolutely incompatible, 18 and a clear finding thereof must surface, before the inference of implied repeal may be drawn. 19 The rule is expressed in the maxim, interpretare et concordare legibus est optimus interpretendi, i.e., every statute must be so interpreted and brought into accord with other laws as to form a uniform system of jurisprudence. 20 The fundament is that the legislature should be presumed to have known the existing laws on the subject and not to have enacted conflicting statutes. 21 Hence, all doubts must be resolved against any implied repeal, 22 and all efforts should be exerted in order to harmonize and give effect to all laws on the subject. Constantino v. Desierto. Deputy Ombudsman can order without need of review from Ombudsman
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Castillo-Co v. Barbers. Deputy can sign the petition. Lapid v. CA. [illegal quarry] Sec. 7. Finality of Decision where the respondent is absolved of the charge and in case of conviction where the penalty imposed is public censure or reprimand, suspension of not more than one month, or a fine not equivalent to one month salary, the decision shall be final and unappealable. In all other cases, the decision shall become final after the expiration of ten (10) days from receipt thereof by the respondent, unless a motion for reconsideration or petition for certiorari, shall have been filed by him as prescribed in Section 27 of R.A. 6770. It is clear from the above provisions that the punishment imposed upon petitioner, i.e. suspension without pay for one year, is not among those listed as final and unappealable, hence, immediately executory. Section 27 states that all provisionary orders of the Office of the Ombudsman are immediately effective and executory; and that any order, directive or decision of the said Office imposing the penalty of censure or reprimand or suspension of not more th an one months salary is final and unappealable. As such the legal maxim inclusion unius est exclusio alterus finds application. The express mention of the things included excludes those that are not included. The clear import of these statements taken together is that all other decisions of the Office of the Ombudsman which impose penalties that are not enumerated in the said section 27 are not final, unappealable and immediately executory. An appeal timely filed, such as the one filed in the instant case, will stay the immediate implementation of the decision. This finds support in the Rules of Procedure issued by the Ombudsman itself which states that (I)n all other cases, the decision shall become final after the expiration of ten (10) da ys from receipt thereof by the respondent, unless a motion for reconsideration or petition for certiorari (should now be petition for review under Rule 43) shall have been filed by him as prescribed in Section 27 of R.A. 6770. COA-Reg. Office XIII v. Hinampas and Cabanos. Is the Ombudsmans administrative disciplinary power merely recommendatory? No. The courts Bunye v. Escareal. There is no merit in the petitioners' argument that because they have repeatedly admitted that they had committed the acts constituting the offense charged against them, there is no cause for apprehension that they might tamper with the records in the offices under their control, or intimidate prospective witnesses against them. The Solicitor General correctly replied that it is not for the petitioners to say that their admissions are all the evidence that the prosecution will need to hold up its case against them. "The prosecution must be given the opportunity to gather and prepare the facts for trial under conditions which would ensure nonintervention and noninterference fo r ninety (90) straight days from petitioners' camp || The fear of the petitioners that the municipal government of Muntinlupa will be paralyzed for ninety (90) days when they (petitioners) are preventively suspended, is remote. There will still remain eight (8) councilors who can meet as the Sangguniang Bayan. The President or his alter ego, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, will surely know how to deal with the problem of filling up the temporarily vacant positions of mayor, vice-mayor and six councilors in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Code, R.A. No. 7160 Rios v. Sandiganbayan 2nd Div. The suspension pendente lite meted out by the Sandiganbayan is, without doubt, a proper and commensurate sanction against petitioner. Having ruled that the information filed against petitioner is valid, there can be no impediment to the application of Section 13 of R.A. No. 3019 which states, inter alia: Sec. 13. Suspension and loss of benefits. - Any incumbent public officer against whom any criminal prosecution under a valid information under this Act or under Title 7, Book II of the Revised Penal Code or for any offense involving fraud upon government or public funds or property, whether as a simple or as a complex offense and in w hatever stage of execution and mode of participation, is pending in court, shall be suspended from office. It is settled jurisprudence that the aforequoted provision makes it mandatory for the Sandiganbayan to suspend any public officer who has been validly charged with a violation of R.A. No. 3019, Book II, Title 7 of the Revised Penal Code, or any offense involving fraud upon government or public funds or property Segovia v. Sandiganbayan. [NPC officials] Suspension pendente lite is mandatory only precondition is there be a valid information and a pre-suspension hearing It is mandatory for the court to place under preventive suspension a public officer accused before it. Imposition of suspension, however, is not automatic or self-operative. A precondition therefor is the existence of a valid information, determined at a pre-suspension hearing. Such a hearing is in accord with the spirit of the law, considering the serious and far-reaching consequences of a suspension of a public official even before his conviction, and the demands of public interest for speedy determination of the issues involved in the case. The purpose of the pre-suspension hearing is basically to detrmine the validity of the information and thereby furnish the court with a basis to either suspend the accused and proceed with the trial on the merits of the case, or refuse suspension of the latter and dismiss the case, or correct any part of the proceeding which impairs its validity. The accused should be given adequate oppurtunity to challege the validity or regularity of the criminal proceedings against him; e.g. that he has not been afforded the right to due preliminary investigation; that he has not been afforded the right to due preliminary investigation; that the acts imputed to him do not constitute a specific crime (under R.A. 3019 or the Revised Penal Code) warranting his mandatory suspension from office under Section 13 of the Act; or that the information is subject to quashal on any of the grounds set out in Rule 117 of the Rules of Court. But once a proper determination of the validity of the Information has been made, it becomes the ministerial duty of the court to forthwith issue the order of preventive suspension of the accused official on the pretext that the order denying the latters motion to quash is pending review before the appellate courts. However, the preventive suspension may not be of inde finite duration or for an unreasonable length of time; it would be constitutionally proscribed otherwise as it raises, at the very least, questions of denial of due process and equal protection of the laws.30 The Court has thus laid down the rule that preventive suspension may not exceed the maximum period of ninety (90) days in consonance with Presidential Decree No. 807. Miranda v. Sandiganbayan. Nowhere in Garcia is it stated that the limits provided in the Local Government Code apply to the Ombudsman. In fact, the Court expressly stated that its decision was rendered without subscribing to the petitioners claim that the Local Government Code had been violated . In fine, the Court only ruled that the Ombudsman acted with grave abuse of discretion in imposing a 6-month preventive suspension since it was admitted that the documents required were already obtained by 19 July 1999 or 24 days after the imposition of the preventive suspension. Therefore, the purpose for which the suspension was imposed was already served. Juan v. PP. [radio transceiver + tricycle] True, the cases against petitioners involve violations of the Election Code; however, the charges are not unidimensional. Every law must be read together with the provisions of any other complementing law, unless both are otherwise irreconcilable. It must be emphasized that petitioners were incumbent public officers charged with the unauthorized and unlawful use of government property in their custody, in the pursuit of personal interests. The crime being imputed to them is akin to that committed by public officers as laid down in the Revised Penal Code. Certainly, petitioners acts constitute fraud against the government; thus, the present case is covered by Section 13 of RA 3019. Llorente, Jr. v. Sandiganbayan . We have resolved this issue in recent cases ruling that the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, against municipal mayors. There is no merit to petitioners averment that the salary received by a public official dictates his salary grade. "On the contrary, it is the officials grade that determines his or her salary, not the other way around."19 "To determine whether the official is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, therefore, reference should be made to Republic Act No. 6758 and the Index of Occupational Services, Position Titles and Salary Grades. An officials grade is not a matter of proof, but a matter of law which the court must take judicial notice." Section 444 (d) of the Local Government Code provides that "the municipal mayor shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty-seven (27) as prescribed under Republic Act No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto." Additionally, both the 1989 and 1997 versions of the Index of Occupational Services, Position Titles and Salary Grades list the municipal mayor under Salary Grade 27.21 Consequently, the cases against petitioner as municipal mayor for violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. Esquivel v. Ombudsman. we already held that municipal mayors fall under the original and exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. Nor can Barangay Captain Mark Anthony Esquivel claim that since he is not a municipal mayor, he is outside the Sandiganbayans jurisdiction. R.A. 7 975, as amended by R.A. No. 8249, provides that it is only in cases where none of the accused (underscoring supplied) are occupying positions corresponding to salary grade 27 or higher that exclusive original jurisdiction shall be vested in the proper regional trial court, metrop olitan trial court, municipal trial court, and municipal circuit court, as the case may be, pursuant t o their respective jurisdictions as provided in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended. Note that under the 1991 Local Government Code, Mayor Esquivel has a salary grade of 27. Since Barangay Captain Esquivel is the co-accused in Criminal Case No. 24777 of Mayor Esquivel, whose position falls under salary grade 27, the Sandiganbayan committed no grave abuse of discretion in assuming jurisdiction over said criminal case, as well as over Criminal Case No. 24778, involving both of them. Barriga v. Sandiganbayan. Mayor and Accountant, Esquivel doctrine applies Inding v. Sandiganbayan. [councilor faked a buy-bust operation to get money] It is very clear from the aforecited provisions of law that the members of the sangguniang panlungsod are specifically included as among those falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. A reading of the aforesaid provisions, likewise, show that the qualification as to Salary Grade 27 and higher applies only to such officials of the executive branch other than the regional director and higher and those specifically enumerated. To rule, otherwise, is to give a different interpretation to what the law clearly is. Moreover, had there been an intention to make Salary Grade 27 and higher as the sole factor to determine the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan then
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the lawmakers could have simply stated that the officials of the executive branch, to fall within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, should have been occupying the positions with a Salary Grade of 27 and higher. But the express wordings in both RA No. 7975 and RA No. 8249 specifically including the members of the sangguniang panlungsod, among others, as those within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan only means that the said sangguniang members shall be within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the said court regardless of their Salary Grade. Rodriguez v. Sandiganbayan. [illegal logging case] In Montilla v. Hilario, this Court laid down the principle that for an offense to be committed in relation to the office, the relation between the crime and the office must be direct and not accidental, in that in the legal sense, the offense can not exist without the office. As an exception to Montilla, this Court, in People v. Montejo, held that although public office is not an element of an offense charged, as long as the offense charged in the information is intimately connected with the office and is alleged to have been perpetrated while the accused was in the performance, though improper or irregular, of his official functions, there being no personal motive to commit the crime and had the accused would not have committed it had he not held the aforesaid office, the accused is held to have been indicted for an offense committed in relation to his office. Removal Aguinaldo v. Santos, supra. Pablico v. Villapando. Removal is only upon the courts power (LGC, 60) Recall LGC, 69. By Whom Exercised. - The power of recall for loss of confidence shall be exercised by the registered voters of a local government unit to which the local elective official subject to such recall belongs. LGC, 70. Initiation of the Recall Process. (a) Recall may be initiated by a preparatory recall assembly or by the registered voters of the local government unit to which the local elective official subject to such recall belongs. (b) There shall be a preparatory recall assembly in every province, city, district, and municipality which shall be composed of the following: (1) Provincial level. - All mayors, vice-mayors, and sanggunian members of the municipalities and component cities; (2) City level. - All punong barangay and sanggunian barangay members in the city; (3) Legislative District level. - In case where sangguniang panlalawigan members are elected by district, all elective municipal officials in the district; and in cases where sangguniang panlungsod members are elected by district, all elective barangay officials in the district; and (4) Municipal level. - All punong barangay and sangguniang barangay members in the municipality. (c) A majority of all the preparatory recall assembly members may convene in session in a public place and initiate a recall proceedings against any elective official in the local government unit concerned. Recall of provincial, city, or municipal officials shall be validly initiated through a resolution adopted by a majority of all the members of the preparatory recall assembly concerned during its session called for the purpose. (d) Recall of any elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official may also be validly initiated upon petition of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of registered voters in the local government unit concerned during the election in which the local official sought to be recalled was elected. (1) A written petition for recall duly signed before the election registrar or his representative, and in the presence of a representative of the petitioner and a representative of the official sought to be recalled and, and in a public place in the province, city, municipality, or barangay, as the case may be, shall be filed with the COMELEC through its office in the local government unit concerned. The COMELEC or it s duly authorized representative shall cause the publication of the petition in a public and conspicuous place for a period of not less than ten (10) days nor more than twenty (20) days, for the purpose of verifying the authenticity and genuineness of the petition and the required percentage of voters. (2) Upon the lapse of the aforesaid period, the COMELEC or its duly authorized representative shall announce the acceptance of candidates to the position and thereafter prepare the list of candidates which shall include the name of the official sought to be recalled. LGC, 71. Election on Recall. - Upon the filing of a valid resolution or petition for recall with the appropriate local office of the COMELEC, the Commission or its duly authorized representative shall set the date of the election on recall, which shall not be later than thirty (30) days after the filing of the resolution or petition for recall in the case of the barangay, city, or municipal officials. and forty-five (45) days in the case of provincial officials. The official or officials sought to be recalled shall automatically be considered as duly registered candidate or candidates to the pertinent positions and, like other candidates, shall be entitled to be voted upon. LGC, 72. Effectivity of Recall. - The recall of an elective local official shall be effective only upon the election and proclamation of a successor in the person of the candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast during the election on recall. Should the official sought to be recalled receive the highest number of votes, confidence in him is thereby affirmed, and he shall continue in office. LGC, 73. Prohibition from Resignation. - The elective local official sought to be recalled shall not be allowed to resign while the recall process is in progress. LGC, 74. Limitations on Recall. (a) Any elective local official may be the subject of a recall election only once during his term of office for loss of confidence. (b) No recall shall take place within one (1) year from the date of the official's assumption to office or one (1) year immediately preceding a regular local election. LGC, 75. Expenses Incident to Recall Elections. - All expenses incident to recall elections shall be borne by the COMELEC. For this purpose, there shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act a contingency fund at the disposal of the COMELEC for the conduct of recall elections. RA 9244 (2004). AN ACT ELIMINATING THE PREPARATORY RECALL ASSEMBLY AS A MODE OF INSTITUTING RECALL OF ELECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 70 AND 71, CHAPTER 5, TITLE ONE, BOOK I OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Sec. 1. Section 70, Chapter 5, Title One, Book I of Republic Acts No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: Section 70. Initiation of the Recall Process. b. The Recall of any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay official shall be commenced by a petition of a registered voter in the local government unit concerned and supported by the registered voters in the local government unit concerned during the election in which the local official sought to be recalled was elected subject to the following percentage requirements: 1. At least twenty-five percent (25%) in the case of local government units with a voting population of not more than twenty thousand (20,000); 2. At least twenty percent (20%) in the case of local government units with a voting population of at least twenty thousand (20,000) but not more than seventy-five thousand (75,000): Provided, That in no case shall the required petitioners be less than five thousand (5,000); 3. At least fifteen percent (15%) in the case of local government nits with a voting population of at least seventy-five thousand (75,000) but not more than three hundred thousand (300,000): Provided, however, That in no case shall the required number of petitioners be less than fifteen thousand (15,000); and 4. At least ten percent (10%) in the case of local government units with a voting population of over three hundred thousand (300,000): Provided, however, That in no case shall the required petitioners be less than forty-five thousand (45,000). c. The process of recall shall be effected in accordance with the following procedure: 1. A written petition for recall duly signed by the representatives of the petitioners before the election registrar or his representative, shall be filed with the Comelec through its office in the local government unit concerned. 2. The petition to recall shall contain the following: a. The names and addresses of the petitioners written in legible form and their signatures; b. The barangay, city or municipality, local legislative district and the province to which the petitioners belong; c. The name of the official sought to be recalled; and d. A brief narration of the reasons and justifications therefore.
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3.
The Comelec shall, within fifteen (15) days from the filing of the petition, certify to the sufficiency of the required number of signatures. Failure to obtain the required number of signatures automatically nullifies the petition; 4. If the petition is found to be sufficient in form, the Comelec or its duly authorized representative shall, within three (3) days form the issuance of the certification, provide the official sought to be recalled a copy of the petition, cause its publication a national newspaper of general circulation and a newspaper of general circulation in the locality, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners and at the same time post copies thereof in public and conspicuous places for a period of not less than ten (10) days nor more than twenty (20) days, for the purpose of allowing interested parties to examine and verify the validity of the petition and the authenticity of the signatures contained therein. 5. The Comelec or its duly authorized representatives shall, upon issuance of certification, proceed independently with the verification and authentication of the signatures of the petitioners and registered voters contained therein. Representatives of the petitioners and the official sought to be recalled shall be duly notified and shall have the right to participate therein as mere observers. The filing of any challenge or protest shall be allowed within the period provided in the immediately preceding paragraph and shall be ruled upon with finality within fifteen (15) days from the date of filing of such protest or challenge; 6. Upon the lapse of the aforesaid period, the Comelec or its duly authorized representative shall announce the acceptance of candidates to the positive and thereafter prepare the list of candidates which shall include the name of the official sought to be recalled." Sec. 2. Section 71. Chapter 5, Title One, Book I of the Republic Act No. 7160, "Local Government Code of 1991", is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 71. Election on Recall. - Upon the filing of a valid petition for recall with the appropriate local office of the Comelec, the Comelec or its duly authorized representative shall set the date of the election or recall, which shall not be later than thirty (30) days upon the completion of the procedure outlined in the preceding article, in the case of the barangay, city or municipal officials, and forty-five (45) days in the case of provincial officials. The officials sought to be recalled shall automatically be considered as duly registered candidate or candidates to the pertinent positions and, like other candidates, shall be entitled to be voted upon. Sec. 3. All pending petitions for recall initiated through the Preparatory Recall Assembly shall be considered dismissed upon the effectivity of this Act. Evardone v. COMELEC. Case regarding COMELECs approval of petition to recall of incumbent Mayor of Sulat, Eastern Samar Article XVIII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution express provides that all existing laws not inconsistent with the 1987 Constitution shall remain operative, until amended, repealed or revoked. Republic Act No. 7160 providing for the Local Government Code of 1991, approved by the President on 10 October 1991, specifically repeals B.P. Blg. 337 as provided in Sec. 534, Title Four of said Act. But the Local Government Code of 1991 will take effect only on 1 January 1992 and therefore the old Local Government Code (B.P. Blg. 337) is still the law applicable to the present case. Prior to the enactment of the new Local Government Code, the effectiveness of B.P. Blg. 337 was expressly recognized in the proceedings of the 1986 Constitutional Commission. Chapter 3 (Sections 54 to 59) of B.P. Blg. 337 provides for the mechanism for recall of local elective officials. Section 59 expressly authorizes the respondent COMELEC to conduct and supervise the process of and election on recall and in the exercise of such powers, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations. The Election Code contains no special provisions on the manner of conducting elections for the recall of a local official. Any such election shall be conducted in the manner and under the rules on special elections, unless otherwise provided by law or rule of the COMELEC. Thus, pursuant to the rule-making power vested in respondent COMELEC, it promulgated Resolution No. 2272 on 23 May 1990. We therefore rule that Resolution No. 2272 promulgated by respondent COMELEC is valid and constitutional. Consequently, the respondent COMELEC had the authority to approve the petition for recall and set the date for the signing of said petition. Garcia v. COMELEC. Recall is a mode of removal of a public officer by the people before the end of his term of office. The people's prerogative to remove a public officer is an incident of their sovereign power and in the absence of constitutional restraint, the power is implied in all governmental operations. Such power has been held to be indispensable for the proper administration of public affairs. 12 Not undeservedly, it is frequently described as a fundamental right of the people in a representative democracy. || Is the resolution the recall itself? NO. it merely starts the process; ne eds: validation from COMELEC + peoples approval (in the recall election) Paras v. COMELEC. It is a rule in statutory construction that every part of the statute must be interpreted with reference to the context, i.e., that every part of the statute must be considered together with the other parts, and kept subservient to the general intent of the whole enactment.[4] The evident intent of Section 74 is to subject an elective local official to recall election once during his term of office. Paragraph (b) construed together with paragraph (a) merely designates the period when such elective local official may be subject of a recall election, that is, during the second year of his term of office. Thus, subscribing to petitioners interpretation of the phrase regular local election to include the SK election will unduly circumscribe the novel provision of the Local Government Code on recall, a mode of removal of public officers by initiation of the people before the end of his term. And if the SK election which is set by R.A. No. 7808 to be held every three years from May 1996 were to be deemed within the purview of the phrase regular local election, as erroneously insisted by petitioner, then no recall election can be conducted rendering inutile the recall provision of the Local Government Code. Angobung v. COMELEC. The petition for recall was submitted to COMELEC with only 1 signature, then COMELEC approved its signing by others: INVALID. Section 69(d) of the Local Government Code of 1991 expressly provides that recall of any elective x x x municipal x x x offi cial may also be validly initiated upon petition of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of registered voters in the local government unit concerned during the election in which the local official sought to be recalled was elected. The law is plain and unequivocal as to what initiates recall proceedings: only a petition of at least 25% of the total number of registered voters, may validly initiate recall proceedings. We take careful note of the phrase, petition of at least twenty -five percent (25%) and point out that the law does not state that the petition must be signed by at least 25% of the registered voters; rather, the petition must be of or by, at least 25% of the registered voters, i.e., the petition must be filed, not by one person only, but by at least 25% of the total number of registered voters. This is understandable, since the signing of the petition is statutorily required to be undertaken before the election registrar or his representative, and in the presence of a represetantive of the official sought to be recalled, and in public place in the x x x municipality x x x.[17] Hence, while the initiatory recall petition may not yet contain the signatures of at least 25% of the total number of registered voters, the petition must contain the names of at least 25% of the total number of registered voters in whose behalf only one person may sign the petition in the meantime. We cannot sanction the procedure of the filing of the recall petition by a number of people less than the foregoing 25% statutory requirement, much less, the filing thereof by just one person, as in the instant case, since this is indubitably violative of clear and categorical provisions of subsisting law. Claudio v. COMELEC. We can agree that recall is a process which begins with the convening of the preparatory, recall assembly or the gathering of the signatures at least 25% of the registered voters of a local government unit, and then proceeds to the filing of a recall resolution or petition with the COMELEC, the verification of such resolution or petition, the fixing of the date of the recall election, and the holding of the election on the scheduled date.[5] However, as used in paragraph (b) of 74, "recall" refers to the election itself by means of which voters decide whether they should retain their local official or elect his replacement. Several reasons can be cited in support of this conclusion. First, 74 deals with restrictions on the power of recall. It is in fact entitled "Limitations on Recall." On the other hand, 69 provides that "the power of recall ...shall be exercised by the registered voters of a local government unit to which the local elective official belongs." Since the power vested on the electorate is not the power to initiate recall proceedings but the power to elect an official into office, the limitations in 74 cannot be deemed to apply to the entire recall proceedings. In other words, the term "recall" in paragraph (b) refers only to the recall election, excluding the convening of the PRA and the filing of a petition for recall with the COMELEC, or the gathering of the signatures of at least 25 % of the voters for a petition for recall. Afiado v. COMELEC. [recall of Vice-Mayor, but she succeeded as Mayor] The assumption by legal succession of the petitioner as the new Mayor of Santiago City is a supervening event which rendered the recall proceeding against her moot and academic. A perusal of the said Resolution reveals that the person subject of the recall process is a specific elective official in relation to her specific office. The said resolution is replete with statements, which leave no doubt that the purpose of the assembly was to recall petitioner as Vice Mayor for her official acts as Vice Mayor. The title itself suggests that the recall is intended for the incumbent Vice Mayor of Santiago City. Human Resources Development. LGC, 76. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. - Every local government unit shall design and implement its own organizational structure and staffing pattern taking into consideration its service requirements and financial capability, subject to the minimum standards and guidelines prescribed by the Civil Service Commission.
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LGC, 77. Responsibility for Human Resources and Development. - The chief executive of every local government unit shall be responsible for human resources and development in his unit and shall take all personnel actions in accordance with the Constitutional provisions on civil service, pertinent laws, and rules and regulations thereon, including such policies, guidelines and standards as the Civil Service Commission may establish: Provided, That the local chief executive may employ emergency or casual employees or laborers paid on a daily wage or piecework basis and hired through job orders for local projects authorized by the sanggunian concerned, without need of approval or attestation by the Civil Service Commission: Provided, further, That the period of employment of emergency or casual laborers as provided in this Section shall not exceed six (6) months. The Joint Commission on Local Government Personnel Administration organized pursuant to Presidential Decree Numbered Eleven Hundred thirty-six (P.D. No. 1136) is hereby abolished and its personnel, records, equipment and other assets transferred to the appropriate office in the Civil Service Commission. LGC, 78. Civil Service Law, Rules and Regulations, and Other Related Issuances. - All matters pertinent to human resources and development in local government units shall be governed by the civil service law and such rules and regulations and other issuances promulgated pursuant thereto, unless otherwise specified in this Code. LGC, 79. Limitation to Appointments. - No person shall be appointed in the career service of the local government if he is related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the appointing or recommending authority. LGC, 80. Public Notice of Vacancy; Personnel Selection Board. (a) Whenever a local executive decides to fill a vacant career position, there shall be posted notices of the vacancy in at least three (3) conspicuous public places in the local government unit concerned for a period of not less than fifteen (15) days. (b) There shall be established in every province, city or municipality a personnel selection board to assist the local chief executive in the judicious and objective selection or personnel for employment as well as for promotion, and in the formulation of such policies as would contribute to employee welfare. (c) The personnel selection board shall be headed by the local chief executive, and its members shall be determined by resolution of the sanggunian concerned. A representative of the Civil Service Commission, if any, and the personnel officer of the local government unit concerned shall be ex officio members of the board. LGC, 81. Compensation of Local Officials and Employees. - The compensation of local officials and personnel shall be determined by the sanggunian concerned: Provided, That the increase in compensation of elective local officials shall take effect only after the terms of office of t hose approving such increase shall have expired: Provided, further, That the increase in compensation of the appointive officials and employees shall take effect as provided in the ordinance authorizing such increase: Provided, however, That said increases shall not exceed the limitations on budgetary allocations for personal services provided under Title Five, Book II of this Code: Provided, finally, That such compensation may be based upon the pertinent provisions of Republic Act Numbered Sixtyseven fifty-eight (R.A. No 6758), otherwise known as the "Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989". The punong barangay, the sangguniang barangay member, the sangguniang kabataan chairman, the barangay treasurer, and the barangay secretary shall be entitled to such compensation, allowances, emoluments, and such other privileges as provided under Title One Book III of this Code. Elective local officials shall be entitled to the same leave privileges as those enjoyed by appointive local officials, including the cumulation and commutation thereof. LGC, 82. Resignation of Elective Local Officials. (a) Resignations by elective local officials shall be deemed effective only upon acceptance by the following authorities: (1) The President, in the case of governors, vice-governors, and mayors and vice-mayors of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities; (2) The governor, in the case of municipal mayors, municipal vice-mayors, city mayors and city vice-mayors of component cities; (3) The sanggunian concerned, in the case of sanggunian members; and (4) The city or municipal mayor, in the case of barangay officials. (b) Copies of the resignation letters of elective local officials, together with the action taken by the aforesaid authorities, shall be furnished the Department of the Interior and Local Government. (c) The resignation shall be deemed accepted if not acted upon by the authority concerned within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof. (d) Irrevocable resignations by sanggunian members shall be deemed accepted upon presentation before an open session of the sanggunian concerned and duly entered in its records: Provided, however, That this subsection does not apply to sanggunian members who are subject to recall elections or to cases where existing laws prescribed the manner of acting upon such resignations. LGC, 83. Grievance Procedure. - In every local government unit, the local chief executive shall establish a procedure to inquire into, act upon, resolve or settle complaints and grievances presented by local government employees. LGC, 84. Administrative Discipline. - Investigation and adjudication of administrative complaints against appointive local officials and employees as well as their suspension and removal shall be in accordance with the civil service law and rules and other pertinent laws. The results of such administrative investigations shall be reported to the Civil Service Commission. LGC, 85. Preventive Suspension of Appointive Local Officials and Employees. (a) The local chief executives may preventively suspend for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days and subordinate official or employee under his authority pending investigation if the charge against such official or employee involves dishonesty, oppression or grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty, or if there is reason to believe that the respondent is guilty of the charges which would warrant his removal from the service. (b) Upon expiration of the preventive suspension, the suspended official or employee shall be automatically reinstated in office without prejudice to the continuation of the administrative proceedings against him until its termination. If the delay in the proceedings of the case is due to the fault, neglect or request of the respondent, the time of the delay shall not be counted in computing the period of suspension herein provided. LGC, 86. Administrative Investigation. - In any local government unit, administrative investigation may be conducted by a person or a committee duly authorized by the local chief executive. Said person or committee shall conduct hearings on the cases brought against appointive local officials and employees and submit their findings and recommendations to the local chief executive concerned within fifteen (15) days from the conclusion of the hearings. The administrative cases herein mentioned shall be decided within ninety (90) days from the time the respondent is formally notified of the charges. LGC, 87. Disciplinary Jurisdiction. - Except as otherwise provided by law, the local chief executive may impose the penalty of removal from service, demotion in rank, suspension for not more than one (1) year without pay, fine in an amount not exceeding six (6) months salary, or reprimand and otherwise discipline subordinate officials and employees under his jurisdiction. If the penalty imposed is suspension without pay for not more than thirty (30) days, his decision shall be final. If the penalty imposed is heavier than suspension of thirty (30) days, the decision shall be appealable to the Civil Service Commission, which shall decide the appeal within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof. LGC, 88. Execution Pending Appeal. - An appeal shall not prevent the execution of a decision of removal or suspension of a respondent-appellant. In case the respondent-appellant is exonerated, he shall be reinstated to his position with all the rights and privileges appurtenant thereto from the time he had been deprived thereof. LGC, 89. Prohibited Business and Pecuniary Interest. (a) It shall be unlawful for any local government official or employee, directly or indirectly, to: (1) Engage in any business transaction with the local government unit in which he is an official or employee or over which he has the power of supervision, or with any of its authorized boards, officials, agents, or attorneys, whereby money is to be paid, or property or any other thing of value is to be transferred, directly or indirectly, out of the resources of the local government unit to such person or firm; (2) Hold such interests in any cockpit or other games licensed by a local government unit; (3) Purchase any real estate or other property forfeited in favor of such local government unit for unpaid taxes or assessment, or by virtue of a legal process at the instance of the said local government unit; (4) Be a surety for any person contracting or doing business with the local government unit for which a surety is required; and (5) Possess or use any public property of the local government unit for private purposes. (b) All other prohibitions governing the conduct of national public officers relating to prohibited business and pecuniary interest so provided for under Republic Act Numbered Sixty-seven thirteen (R.A. No. 6713) otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees" and other laws shall also be applicable to local government officials and employees.
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LGC, 90. Practice of Profession. (a) All governors, city and municipal mayors are prohibited from practicing their profession or engaging in any occupation other than the exercise of their functions as local chief executives. (b) Sanggunian members may practice their professions, engage in any occupation, or teach in schools except during session hours: Provided, That sanggunian members who are also members of the Bar shall not: (1) Appear as counsel before any court in any civil case wherein a local government unit or any office, agency, or instrumentality of the government is the adverse party; (2) Appear as counsel in any criminal case wherein an officer or employee of the national or local government is accused of an offense committed in relation to his office. (3) Collect any fee for their appearance in administrative proceedings involving the local government unit of which he is an official; and (4) Use property and personnel of the government except when the sanggunian member concerned is defending the interest of the government. (c) Doctors of medicine may practice their profession even during official hours of work only on occasions of emergency: Provided, That the officials concerned do not derive monetary compensation therefrom. LGC, 91. Statement of Assets and Liabilities. - (a) Officials and employees of local government units shall file sworn statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, lists of relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity in government service, financial and business interests, and personnel data sheets as required by law. LGC, 92. Oath of Office. - (a) All elective and appointive local officials and employees shall, upon assumption to office, subscribe to an oath or affirmation of office in the prescribed form. The oath or affirmation of office shall be filed with the office of the local chief executive concerned. A copy of the oath or affirmation of office of all elective and appointive local officials and employees shall be preserved in the individual personal records file under the custody of the personnel office, division, or section of the local government unit concerned. LGC, 93. Partisan Political Activity. - No local official or employee in the career civil service shall engage directly or indirectly in any partisan political activity or take part in any election, initiative, referendum, plebiscite, or recall, except to vote, nor shall he use his official authority or influence to cause the performance of any political activity by any person or body. He may, however, express his views on current issues, or mention the names of certain candidates for public office whom he supports. Elective local officials may take part in partisan political and electoral activities, but it shall be unlawful for them to solicit contributions from their subordinates or subject these subordinates to any of the prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code. LGC, 94. Appointment of Elective and Appointive Local Officials; Candidates Who Lost in an Election. - (a) No elective or appointive local official shall be eligible for appointment or designation in any capacity to any public office or position during his tenure. Unless otherwise allowed by law or by the primary functions of his position, no elective or appointive local official shall hold any other office or employment in the government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries. LGC, 95. Additional or Double Compensation. - No elective or appointive local official or employee shall receive additional, double, or indirect compensation, unless specifically authorized by law, nor accept without the consent of Congress, any present, emoluments, office, or title of any kind from any foreign government. Pensions or gratuities shall not be considered as additional, double, or indirect compensation. LGC, 96. Permission to Leave Station. (a) Provincial, city, municipal, and barangay appointive officials going on official travel shall apply and secure written permission from their respective local chief executives before departure. The application shall specify the reasons for such travel, and the permission shall be given or withheld based on considerations of public interest, financial capability of the local government unit concerned and urgency of the travel. Should the local chief executive concerned fall to act upon such application within four (4) working days from receipt thereof, it shall be deemed approved. (b) Mayors of component cities and municipalities shall secure the permission of the governor concerned for any travel outside the province. (c) Local government officials traveling abroad shall notify their respective sanggunian: Provided, That when the period of travel extends to more than three (3) months, during periods of emergency or crisis or when the travel involves the use of public funds, permission from the Office of the President shall be secured. (d) Field officers of national agencies or offices assigned in provinces, cities, and municipalities shall not leave their official stations without giving prior written notice to the local chief executive concerned. Such notice shall state the duration of travel and the name of the officer whom he shall designate to act for and in his behalf during his absence. LGC, 97. Annual Report. - On or before March 31 of each year, every local chief executive shall submit an annual report to the sanggunian concerned on the socio-economic, political and peace and order conditions, and other matters concerning the local government unit, which shall cover the immediately preceding calendar year. A copy of the report shall be forwarded to the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Component cities and municipalities shall likewise provide the sangguniang panlalawigan copies of their respective annual reports. RA 6713 (1989). AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, TO UPHOLD THE TIME-HONORED PRINCIPLE OF PUBLIC OFFICE BEING A PUBLIC TRUST, GRANTING INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE, ENUMERATING PROHIBITED ACTS AND TRANSACTIONS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES LGC, 469. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) There shall be a secretary to the sanggunian who shall be a career official with the rank and salary equal to a head of department or office. (b) No person shall be appointed secretary to the sanggunian unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in law, commerce or public administration from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. The appointment of a secretary to the sanggunian is mandatory for provincial, city and municipal governments. (c) The secretary to the sanggunian shall take charge of the office of the secretary to the sanggunian and shall: (1) Attend meetings of the sanggunian and keep a journal of its proceedings; (2) Keep the seal of the local government unit and affix the same with his signature to all ordinances, resolutions, and other official acts of the sanggunian and present the same to the presiding officer for his signature; (3) Forward to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, for approval, copies of ordinances enacted by the sanggunian and duly certified by the presiding officer, in the manner provided in Section 54 under Book I of this Code; (4) Forward to the sanggunian panlungsod or bayan concerned, in the case of the sangguniang barangay, and to the sangguniang panlalawigan concerned, in the case of the sangguniang panlungsod of component cities or sangguniang bayan, copies of duly approved ordinances, in the manner provided in Sections 56 and 57 under Book I of this Code; (5) Furnish, upon request of any interested party, certified copies of records of public character in his custody, upon payment to the treasurer of such fees as may be prescribed by ordinance; (6) Record in a book kept for the purpose, all ordinances and resolutions enacted or adopted by the sanggunian, with the dates of passage and publication thereof; (7) Keep his office and all non-confidential records therein open to the public during the usual business hours; (8) Translate into the dialect used by the majority of the inhabitants all ordinances and resolutions immediately after their approval, and cause the publication of the same together with the original version in the manner provided under this Code; and (9) Take custody of the local archives and, where applicable, the local library and annually account for the same; and (d) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance relative to his position. LGC, 470. Appointment, Qualifications, Powers, and Duties. (a) The treasurer shall be appointed by the Secretary of Finance from a list of at least three (3) ranking, eligible recommendees of the governor or mayor, as the case may be, subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. (b) The treasurer shall be under the administrative supervision of the governor or mayor, as the case may be, to whom he shall report regularly on the tax collection efforts in the local government unit;
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(c)
No person shall be appointed treasurer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in commerce, public administration or law from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in treasury or accounting service for at least five (5) years in the case of the city or provincial treasurer, and three (3) years in the case of municipal treasurer. The appointment of a treasurer shall be mandatory for provincial, city and municipal governments; (d) The treasurer shall take charge of the treasury office, perform the duties provided for under Book II of this Code, and shall: (1) Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, the sanggunian, and other local government and national officials concerned regarding disposition of local government funds, and on such other matters relative to public finance; (2) Take custody of and exercise proper management of the funds of the local government unit concerned; (3) Take charge of the disbursement of all local government funds and such other funds the custody of which may be entrusted to him by law or other competent authority; (4) Inspect private commercial and industrial establishments within the jurisdiction of the local government unit concerned in relation to the implementation of tax ordinances, pursuant to the provisions under Book II of this Code; (5) Maintain and update the tax information system of the local government unit; (6) In the case of the provincial treasurer, exercise technical supervision over all treasury offices of component cities and municipalities; and (e) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 471. Assistant Treasurer. (a) An assistant treasurer may be appointed by the Secretary of Finance from a list of at least three (3) ranking, eligible recommendees of the governor or mayor, subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. (b) No person shall be appointed assistant treasurer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in commerce, public administration, or law from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired at least five (5) years experience in the treasury or accounting service in the case of the city or provincial assistant treasurer and three (3) years in the case of municipal assistant treasurer. The appointment of an assistant treasurer shall be optional for provincial, city and municipal governments; (c) The assistant treasurer shall assist the treasurer and perform such duties as the latter may assign to him. He shall have authority to administer oaths concerning notices and notifications to those delinquent in the payment of real property tax and concerning official matters relating to the accounts of the treasurer or otherwise arising in the offices of the treasurer and the assessor. LGC, 472. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed assessor unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in civil or mechanical engineering, commerce, or any other related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in real property assessment work or in any related field for at least five (5) years in the case of the city or provincial assessor, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal assessor. The appointment of an assessor shall be mandatory for provincial, city and municipal governments. (b) The assessor shall take charge of the assessor's office, perform the duties provided under Book II of this Code, and shall: (1) Ensure that all laws and policies governing the appraisal and assessment of real properties for taxation purposes are properly executed; (2) Initiate, review, and recommend changes in policies and objectives, plans and programs, techniques, procedures and practices in the valuation and assessment of real properties for taxation purposes; (3) Establish a systematic method of real property assessment; (4) Install and maintain a real property identification and accounting system; (5) Prepare, install and maintain a system of tax mapping, showing graphically all property subject to assessment and gather all data concerning the same; (6) Conduct frequent physical surveys to verify and determine whether all real property within the province are properly listed in the assessment rolls; (7) Exercise the functions of appraisal and assessment primarily for taxation purposes of all real properties in the local government unit concerned; (8) Prepare a schedule of the fair market value for the different classes of real properties, in accordance with Title Two under Book II of this Code; (9) Issue, upon request of any interested party, certified copies of assessment records of real property and all other records relative to its assessment, upon payment of a service charge or fee to the treasurer; (10) Submit every semester a report of all assessments, as well as cancellations and modifications of assessments to the local chief executive and the sanggunian concerned; (11) In the case of the assessor of a component city or municipality attend, personally or through an authorized representative, all sessions of the local board of assessment appeals whenever his assessment is the subject of the appeal, and present or submit any information or record in his possession as may be required by the board; and (12) In the case of the provincial assessor, exercise technical supervision and visitorial functions over all component city and municipal assessor, coordinate with component city or municipal assessors in the conduct of tax mapping operations and all other assessment activities, and provide all forms of assistance therefor: Provided, however, That, upon full provision by the component city or municipality concerned to its assessor's office of the minimum personnel, equipment, and funding requirements as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, such functions shall be delegated to the said city or municipal assessor; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 473. Assistant Assessor. (a) No person shall be appointed assistant assessor unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in civil or mechanical engineering, commerce, or any related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in assessment or in any related field for at least three (3) years in the case of the city or provincial assistant assessor, and one (1) year in the case of the city or provincial assistant assessor. The appointment of an assistant assessor shall be optional for provincial, city and municipal governments. (b) The assistant assessor shall assist the assessor and perform such other duties as the latter may assign to him. He shall have the authority to administer oaths on all declarations of real property for purposes of assessments. LGC, 474. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed accountant unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, and a a certified public accountant. He must have acquired experience in the treasury or accounting service for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city accountant, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal accountant. The appointment of an accountant is mandatory for the provincial, city and municipal governments. (b) The accountant shall take charge of both the accounting and internal audit services of the local government unit concerned and shall: (1) Install and maintain an internal audit system in the local government unit concerned; (2) Prepare and submit financial statements to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, and to the sanggunian concerned; (3) Appraise the sanggunian and other local government officials on the financial condition and operations of the local government unit concerned; (4) Certify to the availability of budgetary allotment to which expenditures and obligations may be properly charged; (5) Review supporting documents before preparation of vouchers to determine completeness of requirements; (6) Prepare statements of cash advances, liquidation, salaries, allowances, reimbursements and remittances pertaining to the local government unit; (7) Prepare statements of journal vouchers and liquidation of the same and other adjustments related thereto; (8) Post individual disbursements to the subsidiary ledger and index cards;
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(9) Maintain individual ledgers for officials and employees of the local government unit pertaining to payrolls and deductions; (10) Record and post in index cards details of purchased furniture, fixtures, and equipment, including disposal thereof, if any; (11) Account for all issued requests for obligations and maintain and keep all records and reports related thereto; (12) Prepare journals and the analysis of obligations and maintain and keep all records and reports related thereto; and (13) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law or ordinance. (c) The incumbent chief accountant in the office of the treasurer shall be given preference in the appointment to the position of accountant. LGC, 475. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed budget officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in accounting, economics, public administration or any related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in government budgeting or in any related field for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city budget officer, and at least three (3) years in the case of the municipal budget officer. The appointment of a budget officer shall be mandatory for the provincial, city, and municipal governments. (b) The budget officer shall take charge of the budget office and shall: (1) Prepare forms, orders, and circulars embodying instructions on budgetary and appropriation matters for the signature of the governor or mayor, as the case may be; (2) Review and consolidate the budget proposals of different departments and offices of the local government unit; (3) Assist the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in the preparation of the budget and during budget hearings; (4) Study and evaluate budgetary implications of proposed legislation and submit comments and recommendations thereon; (5) Submit periodic budgetary reports to the Department of Budget and Management; (6) Coordinate with the treasurer, accountant, and the planning and development coordinator for the purpose of budgeting; (7) Assist the sanggunian concerned in reviewing the approved budgets of component local government units; (8) Coordinate with the planning and development coordinator in the formulation of the local government unit development plan; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (d) The appropriations for personal services of the budget officer provided under the Department of Budget and Management shall, upon effectivity of this Code, be transferred to the local government unit concerned. Thereafter, the appropriations for personal services of the budget officer shall be provided for in full in the budget of the local government unit. LGC, 476. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed planning and development coordinator unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in urban planning, development studies, economics, public administration, or any related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in development planning or in any related field for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city planning and development coordinator, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal planning and development coordinator. The appointment of a planning and development coordinator shall be mandatory for provincial, city and municipal governments. (b) The planning and development coordinator shall take charge of the planning and development office and shall: (1) Formulate integrated economic, social, physical, and other development plans and policies for consideration of the local government development council; (2) Conduct continuing studies, researches, and training programs necessary to evolve plans and programs for implementation; (3) Integrate and coordinate all sectoral plans and studies undertaken by the different functional groups or agencies; (4) Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the different development programs, projects, and activities in the local government unit concerned in accordance with the approved development plan; (5) Prepare comprehensive plans and other development planning documents for the consideration of the local development council; (6) Analyze the income and expenditure patterns, and formulate and recommend fiscal plans and policies for consideration of the finance committee of the local government unit concerned as provided under Title Five, Book II of this Code; (7) Promote people participation in development planning within the local government unit concerned; (8) Exercise supervision and control over the secretariat of the local development council; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other functions and duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 477. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed engineer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, and a licensed civil engineer. He must have acquired experience in the practice of his profession for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city engineer, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal engineer. The appointment of an engineer shall be mandatory for the provincial, city and municipal governments. The city and municipal engineer shall also act as the local building official. (b) The engineer shall take charge of the engineering office and shall: (1) Initiate, review and recommend changes in policies and objectives, plans and programs, techniques, procedures and practices in infrastructure development and public works in general of the local government unit concerned; (2) Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on infrastructure, public works, and other engineering matters; (3) Administer, coordinate, supervise, and control the construction, maintenance, improvement, and repair of roads, bridges, and other engineering and public works projects of the local government unit concerned; (4) Provide engineering services to the local government unit concerned, including investigation and survey, engineering designs, feasibility studies, and project management; (5) In the case of the provincial engineer, exercise technical supervision over all engineering offices of component cities and municipalities; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 478. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed health officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, and a licensed medical practitioner. He must have acquired experience in the practice of his profession for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city health officer, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal health officer. The appointment of a health officer shall be mandatory for provincial, city and municipal governments. (b) The health officer shall take charge of the office on health and shall: (1) Take charge of the office on health services, supervise the personnel and staff of said office, formulate program implementation guidelines and rules and regulations for the operation of the said office for the approval of the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in order to assist him in the efficient, effective and economical implementation of a health services program geared to implementation of health-related projects and activities; (2) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out activities to ensure the delivery of basic services and provisions of adequate facilities relative to health services provided under Section 17 of this Code; (3) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor as the case may be, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with health programs and projects which the governor or mayor, is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (4) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the health officer shall: i. Formulate and implement policies, plans, programs and projects to promote the health of the people in the local government unit concerned; ii. Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, and the sanggunian on matters pertaining to health; iii. Execute and enforce laws, ordinances and regulations relating to public health;
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iv.
Recommend to the sanggunian, through the local health board, the passage of such ordinances as he may deem necessary for the preservation of public health; v. Recommend the prosecution of any violation of sanitary laws, ordinances or regulations; vi. Direct the sanitary inspection of all business establishments selling food items or providing accommodations such as hotels, motels, lodging houses, pension houses, and the like, in accordance with the Sanitation Code; vii. Conduct health information campaigns and render health intelligence services; viii. Coordinate with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations involved in the promotion and delivery of health services; and ix. In the case of the provincial health officer, exercise general supervision over health officers of component cities and municipalities; and (5) Be in the frontline of health services, delivery, particularly during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 479. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed civil registrar unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in civil registry work for at least five (5) years in the case of the city civil registrar and three (3) years in the case of the municipal civil registrar. The appointment of a civil registrar shall be mandatory for city and municipal governments. (b) The civil registrar shall be responsible for the civil registration program in the local government unit concerned, pursuant to the Civil Registry Law, the Civil Code, and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations issued to implement them. (c) The Civil Registrar shall take charge of the office of the civil registry and shall: (1) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, part icularly those which have to do with civil registry programs and projects which the mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (2) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the civil registrar shall: i. Accept all registrable documents and judicial decrees affecting the civil status of persons; ii. File, keep and preserve in a secure place the books required by law; iii. Transcribe and enter immediately upon receipt all registrable documents and judicial decrees affecting the civil status of persons in the appropriate civil registry books; iv. Transmit to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General, within the prescribed period, duplicate copies of registered documents required by law; v. Issue certified transcripts or copies of any certificate or registered documents upon payment of the prescribed fees to the treasurer; vi. Receive applications for the issuance of a marriage license and, after determining that the requirement and supporting certificates and publication thereof for the prescribed period have been complied with, issue the license upon payment of the authorized fee to the treasurer; vii. Coordinate with the National Statistics Office in conducting educational campaigns for vital registration and assist in the preparation of demographic and other statistics for the local government unit concerned; and (3) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 480. Qualifications, Terms, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed administrator unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in public administration, law, or any other related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in management and administration work for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city administrator, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal administrator. The term of administrator is coterminous with that of his appointing authority. The appointment of an administrator shall be mandatory for the provincial and city governments, and optional for the municipal government. (b) The administrator shall take charge of the office of the administrator and shall: (1) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same particularly those which have to do with the management and administration-related programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (2) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the administrator shall: i. Assist in the coordination of the work of all the officials of the local government unit, under the supervision, direction, and control of the governor or mayor, and for this purpose, he may convene the chiefs of offices and other officials of the local government unit; ii. Establish and maintain a sound personnel program for the local government unit designed to promote career development and uphold the merit principle in the local government service; iii. Conduct a continuing organizational development of the local government unit with the end in view of the instituting effective administrative reforms; (3) Be in the frontline of the delivery of administrative support services, particularly those related to the situations during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities; (4) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor and mayor, as the case may be, on all other matters relative to the management and administration of the local government unit; and (5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or by ordinance. LGC, 481. Qualifications, Terms, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed legal officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government concerned, of good moral character, and a member of the Philippine Bar. He must have practiced his profession for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial and city legal officer, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal legal officer. The term of the legal officer shall be coterminous with that of his appointing authority. The appointment of legal officer shall be mandatory for the provincial and city governments and optional for the municipal government. (b) The legal officer, the chief legal counsel of the local government unit, shall take charge of the office of legal services and shall: (1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provide legal assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out the delivery of basic services and provisions of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17 of this Code; (2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, part icularly those which have to do with programs and projects related to legal services which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the legal officer shall: i. Represent the local government unit in all civil actions and special proceedings wherein the local government unit or any official thereof, in his official capacity, is a party: Provided, That, in actions or proceedings where a component city or municipality is a party adverse to the provincial government or to another component city or municipality, a special legal officer may be employed to represent the adverse party; ii. When required by the governor, mayor or sanggunian, draft ordinances, contracts, bonds, leases and other instruments, involving any interest of the local government unit and provide comments and recommendations on any instrument already drawn; iii. Render his opinion in writing on any question of law when requested to do so by the governor, mayor or sanggunian; iv. Investigate or cause to be investigated any local official or employee for administrative neglect or misconduct in office, and recommend appropriate action to the governor, mayor or sanggunian, as the case may be;
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v.
Investigate or cause to be investigated any person, firm or corporation holding any franchise or exercising any public privilege for failure to comply with any term or condition in the grant of such franchise or privilege, and recommending appropriate action to the governor, mayor or sanggunian, as the case may be; vi. When directed by the governor, mayor, or sanggunian, initiate and prosecute in the interest of the local government unit concerned any civil action on any bond, lease or other contract upon any breach or violation thereof; and vii. Review and submit recommendations on ordinances approved and execute orders issued by component units; (4) Recommend measures to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor as the case may be on all other matters related to upholding the rule of law; (5) Be in the frontline of protecting human rights and prosecuting any violations thereof, particularly those which occur during and in the aftermath of man-made or natural disasters or calamities; and (6) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 482. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed agriculturist unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree in agriculture or any related course from a recognized college or university and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have practiced his profession in agriculture or acquired experience in a related field for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial and city agriculturist, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal agriculturist. The position of the agriculturist shall be mandatory for the provincial government and optional for the city and municipal governments. (b) The agriculturist shall take charge of the office for agricultural services, and shall: (1) Formulate measures for the approval of the sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out said measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and provisions of adequate facilities relative to agricultural services as provided for under Section 17 of this Code; (2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with agricultural programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the agriculturist shall: i. Ensure that maximum assistance and access to resources in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural and aquacultural and marine products are extended to farmers, fishermen and local entrepreneurs; ii. Conduct or cause to be conducted location-specific agricultural researches and assist in making available the appropriate technology arising out of and disseminating information on basic research on crops, preventive and control of plant diseases and pests, and other agricultural matters which will maximize productivity; iii. Assist the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in the establishment and extension services of demonstration forms or aquaculture and marine products; iv. Enforce rules and regulations relating to agriculture and aqua-culture; v. Coordinate with government agencies and non-governmental organizations which promote agricultural productivity through appropriate technology compatible with environmental integrity; (4) Be in the frontline of delivery of basic agricultural services, particularly those needed for the survival of the inhabitants during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters; (5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all other matters related to agriculture and aquaculture which will improve the livelihood and living conditions of the inhabitants; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance; LGC, 483. Qualifications, Powers and Duties (a) No person shall be appointed social welfare and development officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government concerned, of good moral character, a duly licensed social worker or a holder of a college degree preferably in sociology or any other related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in the practice of social work for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city social welfare and development officer, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal social welfare and development officer. The appointment of a social welfare and development officer is mandatory for provincial and city governments, and optional for municipal government. (b) The social welfare and development officer shall take charge of the office on social welfare and development services and shall: (1) Formulate measures for the approval of the sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to endure the delivery of basic services and provisions of adequate facilities relative to social welfare and development services as provided for under Section 17 of this Code; (2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same particularly those which have to do with social welfare programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties, the social welfare and development officer shall: i. Identify the basic needs of the needy, the disadvantaged and the impoverished and develop and implement appropriate measures to alleviate their problems and improve their living conditions; ii. Provide relief and appropriate crisis intervention for victims of abuse and exploitation and recommend appropriate measures to deter further abuse and exploitation; iii. Assist the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in implementing the barangay level program for the total development and protection of children up to six (6) years of age; iv. Facilitate the implementation of welfare programs for the disabled, elderly, and victims of drug addiction, the rehabilitation of prisoners and parolees, the prevention of juvenile delinquency and such other activities which would eliminate or minimize the illeffects of poverty; v. Initiate and support youth welfare programs that will enhance the role of the youth in nation-building; vi. Coordinate with government agencies and non-governmental organizations which have for their purpose the promotion and the protection of all needy, disadvantaged, underprivileged or impoverished groups or individuals, particularly those identified to be vulnerable and high-risk to exploitation, abuse and neglect; (4) Be in the frontline or service delivery, particularly those which have to do with immediate relief during and assistance in the aftermath of man-made and natural disaster and natural calamities; (5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all other matters related to social welfare and development services which will improve the livelihood and living conditions of the inhabitants; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance; LGC, 484. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed environment and natural resources officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in environment, forestry, agriculture or any related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in environmental and natural resources management, conservation, and utilization, of at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city environment and natural resources officer, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal environment and natural resources officer. The appointment of the environment and natural resources officer is optional for provincial, city, and municipal governments. (b) The environment and natural resources management officer shall take charge of the office on environment and natural resources and shall:
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(1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities relative to environment and natural resources services as provided for under Section 17 of this Code; (2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof, by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with environment and natural resources programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the environment and natural resources officer shall: i. Establish, maintain, protect and preserve communal forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, greenbelts and similar forest projects and commercial forest, like industrial tree farms and agro-forestry projects; ii. Provide extension services to beneficiaries of forest development projects and technical, financial and infrastructure assistance; iii. Manage and maintain seed banks and produce seedlings for forest and tree parks; iv. Provide extension services to beneficiaries of forest development projects and render assistance for natural resources-related conservation and utilization activities consistent with ecological balance; v. Promote the small-scale mining and utilization of mineral resources, particularly mining of gold; vi. Coordinate with government agencies and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of measures to prevent and control land, air and water pollution with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; (4) Be in the frontline of the delivery of services concerning the environment and natural resources, particularly in the renewal and rehabilitation of the environment during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural calamities and disasters; (5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all matters relative to the protection, conservation maximum utilization, application of appropriate technology and other matters related to the environment and natural resources; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 485. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed architect unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a duly licensed architect. He must have practiced his profession for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city architect, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal architect. The appointment of the architect is optional for provincial, city and municipal governments. (b) The Architect shall take charge of the office on architectural planning and design and shall: (1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities relative to architectural planning and design as provided for under Section 17 of this Code; (2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with architectural planning and design programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to foregoing duties and functions, the architect shall: i. Prepare and recommend for consideration of the sanggunian the architectural plan and design for the local government unit or a part thereof, including the renewal of slums and blighted areas, land reclamation activities, the greening of land, and appropriate planning of marine and foreshore areas; ii. Review and recommend for appropriate action of the sanggunian, governor or mayor, as the case may be, the architectural plans and design submitted by governmental and non-governmental entities or individuals, particularly those for undeveloped, underdeveloped, and poorly-designed areas; and iii. Coordinate with government and non-government entities and individuals involved in the aesthetics and the maximum utilization of the land and water within the jurisdiction of the local government unit, compatible with environmental integrity and ecology balance; iv. Be in the frontline of the delivery of services involving architectural planning and design, particularly those related to the redesigning of spatial distribution of basic facilities and physical structures during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural calamities and disasters; v. Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all matters relative to the architectura l planning and design as it relates to the total socio-economic development of the local government units; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 486. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed information officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in journalism, mass communication or any related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have experience in writing articles and research papers, or in writing for print, television or broadcast media of at least three (3) years in the case of the provincial or city information officer, and at least one (1) year in the case of municipal information officer. The appointment of the information officer is optional for the provincial, city and municipal governments. The term of the information officer is coterminous with that of his appointing authority. (b) The information officer shall take charge of the office on public information and shall: (1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in providing the information and research data required for the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities so that the public becomes aware of said services and may fully avail of the same; (2) Develop plans and strategies and, upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with public information and research data to support programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the information officer shall: i. Provide relevant, adequate, and timely information to the local government unit and its residents; ii. Furnish information and data on local government units to government agencies or offices as may be required by law or ordinance; and non-governmental organizations to be furnished to said agencies and organizations; iii. Maintain effective liaison with the various sectors of the community on matters and issues that affect the livelihood and the quality of life of the inhabitants and encourage support for programs of the local and national government; (4) Be in the frontline in providing information during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural calamities and disasters, with special attention to the victims thereof, to help minimize injuries and casualties during and after the emergency, and to accelerate relief and rehabilitation; (5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all matters relative to public information and research data as it relates to the total socio-economic development of the local government unit; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 487. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed cooperative officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in business administration with special training in cooperatives or any related course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have experience in cooperatives organizations and management of at least five (5) years in the case of provincial or city cooperatives officer, and three (3) years in the case of municipal cooperatives officer. The appointment of the cooperatives officer is optional for the provincial and city governments. (b) The cooperatives officer shall take charge of the office for the development of cooperatives and shall:
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(1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian, and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of facilities through the development of cooperatives, and in providing access to such services and facilities; (2) Develop plans and strategies and, upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with the integration of cooperatives principles and methods in programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the cooperatives officer shall: i. Assist in the organization of cooperatives; ii. Provide technical and other forms of assistance to existing cooperatives to enhance their viability as an economic enterprise and social organization; iii. Assist cooperatives in establishing linkages with government agencies and non-government organizations involved in the promotion and integration of the concept of cooperatives in the livelihood of the people and other community activities; (4) Be in the frontline of cooperatives organization, rehabilitation or viability-enhancement, particularly during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural calamities and disasters, to aid in their survival and, if necessary subsequent rehabilitation; (5) Recommend to the sanggunian, and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all matters relative to cooperatives development and viability- enhancement which will improve the livelihood and quality of life of the inhabitants; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 488. Qualification, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed population officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree with specialized training in population development from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have experience in the implementation of programs on population development or responsible parenthood for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city population officer, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal population officer. The appointment of a population officer shall be optional in the local government unit: Provided, however, That provinces and cities which have existing population offices shall continue to maintain such offices for a period of five (5) years from the date of effectivity of this Code, after which said offices shall become optional. (b) The population officer shall take charge of the office on population development and shall: (1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities relative to the integration of the population development principles and in providing access to said services and facilities; (2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, part icularly those which have to do with the integration of population development principles and methods in programs and projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the population officer shall: i. Assist the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in the implementation of the Constitutional provisions relative to population development and the promotion of responsible parenthood; ii. Establish and maintain an updated data bank for program operations, development planning and an educational program to ensure the people's participation in and understanding of population development; iii. Implement appropriate training programs responsive to the cultural heritage of the inhabitants; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 489. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed veterinarian unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. He must have practiced his profession for at least three (3) years in the case of provincial or city veterinarian and at least one (1) year in the case of the municipal veterinarian. The appointment of a veterinarian officer is mandatory for the provincial and city governments. (b) The veterinarian shall take charge of the office for veterinary services and shall: (1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian, and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities pursuant to Section 17 of this Code; (2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with the veterinary-related activities which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the veterinarian shall: i. Advise the governor or the mayor, as the case may be, on all matters pertaining to the slaughter of animals for human consumption and the regulation of slaughterhouses; ii. Regulate the keeping of domestic animals; iii. Regulate and inspect poultry, milk and dairy products for public consumption; iv. Enforce all laws and regulations for the prevention of cruelty to animals; and v. Take the necessary measures to eradicate, prevent or cure all forms of animal diseases; (4) Be in the frontline of veterinary related activities, such as in the outbreak of highly-contagious and deadly diseases, and in situations resulting in the depletion of animals for work and human consumption, particularly those arising from and in the aftermath of man-made and natural calamities and disasters; (5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all other matters relative to veterinary services which will increase the number and improve the quality of livestock, poultry and other domestic animals used for work or human consumption; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 490. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) No person shall be appointed general services officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree on public administration, business administration and management from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in general services, including management of supply, property, solid waste disposal, and general sanitation, of at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city general services officer, and at least three (3) years in the case of the municipal general services officer. The appointment of a general services officer is mandatory for the provincial and city governments, (b) The general services officer shall take charge of the office on general services and shall: (1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities pursuant to Section 17 of this Code and which require general services expertise and technical support services; (2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, part icularly those which have to do with the general services supportive of the welfare of the inhabitants which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code; (3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the general services officer shall: i. Take custody of and be accountable for all properties, real or personal, owned by the local government unit and those granted to it in the form of donation, reparation, assistance and counterpart of joint projects;
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ii.
(c)
With the approval of the governor or mayor, as the case may be, assign building or land space to local officials or other public officials, who by law, are entitled to such space; iii. Recommend to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, the reasonable rental rates for local government properties, whether real or personal, which will be leased to public or private entities by the local government; iv. Recommend to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, reasonable rental rates of private properties which may be leased for the official use of the local government unit; v. Maintain and supervise janitorial, security, government public buildings and other real property, whether owned or leased by the local government unit; vi. Collate and disseminate information regarding prices, shipping and other costs of supplies and other items commonly used by the local government unit; vii. Perform archival and record management with respect to records of offices and departments of the local government unit; and viii. Perform all other functions pertaining to supply and property management heretofore performed by the local government treasurer; and enforce policies on records creation, maintenance, and disposal; (4) Be in the frontline of general services related activities, such as the possible or imminent destruction or damage to records, supplies, properties, and structures and the orderly and sanitary clearing up of waste materials or debris, particularly during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural calamities and disasters; (5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all matters relative to general services; and Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
Macalincag v. Chang. Accordingly, there appears to be no question that: the Order of Preventive Suspension of respondent Chang became effective upon his receipt thereof, which is presumed when he filed a complaint in the trial court preventing the implementation of such Order of Suspension. Otherwise stated, the designation of the OFFICER-IN-CHARGE to replace respondent Chang is immaterial to the effectivity of the latter's suspension. A contrary view would render nugatory the very purpose of preventive suspension. Debulgado v. CSC. The prohibitory norm against nepotism in the public service is set out in Section 59, Book V of the Revised Administrative Code of 1987. A textual examination of Section 59 at once reveals that the prohibition was cast in comprehensive and unqualified terms. Firstly, it explicitly covers "all appointments", without seeking to make any distinction between differing kinds or types of appointments. Secondly, Section 59 covers all appointments to the national, provincial, city and municipal government, as well as any branch or instrumentality thereof and all government owned or controlled corporations. Thirdly, there is a list of exceptions set out in Section 59 itself, but it is a short list which includes (a) persons employed in a confidential capacity; (b) teachers; (c) physicians; and (d) members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The list has not been added to or subtracted from for the past thirty (30) years. The list does not contain words like "and other similar positions." Thus, the list appears to us to be a closed one, at least closed until lengthened or shortened by Congress. Under Sec. 1, Rule VII of the Implementing Rules of the Admin Code, both an original appointment and a promotion are particular species of personnel action. The original appointment of a civil service employee and all subsequent personnel actions undertaken by or in respect of that employee such as promotion, transfer, reinstatement, reemployment, etc., must comply with the Implementing Rules including, of course, the prohibition against nepotism in Rule XVIII. To the extent that all personnel actions occurring after an original appointment, require the issuance of a new appointment to another position (or to the original position in case of reinstatement), we believe that such appointment must comply with all applicable rules and prohibitions, including the statutory and regulatory prohibition against nepotism. To limit the thrust of the prohibition against nepotism to the appointment issued at the time of initial entry into the government service, and to insulate from that prohibition appointments subsequently issued when personnel actions are thereafter taken in respect of the same employee, would be basically to render that prohibition meaningless and toothless. The purpose of the rule is to ensure that all appointments and other personnel actions in the civil service should be based on merit and fitness and should never depend on how close or intimate an appointee is to the appointing power. CSC v. Tinaya. Son-in-law of mayor mayor deemed to have recommended him. Dimaandal v. COA. There is a great difference between an appointment and designation. While an appointment is the selection by the proper authority of an individual who is to exercise the powers and functions of a given office, designation merely connotes an imposition of additional duties, usually by law, upon a person already in the public service by virtue of an earlier appointment. || Designation is simply the mere imposition of new or additional duties on the officer or employee to be performed by him in a special manner. It does not entail payment of additional benefits or grant upon the person so designated the right to claim the salary attached to the position As such, there being no appointment issued, designation does not entitle the officer designated to receive the salary of the position. For the legal basis of an employees right to claim the salary attached thereto is a duly issued and approved appointment to the position Flores v. Drilon. Constitutionality of proviso in Ra 7227 Sec. 13(d) As incumbent elective official, respondent Gordon is ineligible for appointment to the position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive of SBMA; hence, his appointment thereto pursuant to a legislative act that contravenes the Constitution cannot be sustained. He however remains Mayor of Olongapo City, and his acts as SBMA official are not necessarily null and void; he may be considered a de facto officer, "one whose acts, though not those of a lawful officer, the law, upon principles of policy and justice, will hold valid so far as they involve the interest of the public and third persons, where the duties of the office were exercised . . . . under color of a known election or appointment, void because the officer was not eligible, or because there was a want of power in the electing or appointing body, or by reason of some defect or irregularity in its exercise, such ineligibility, want of power or defect being unknown to the public . . . . [or] under color of an election, or appointment, by or pursuant to a public unconstitutional law, before the same is adjudged to be such SB of San Andres, Catanduanes v. CA. not validly resigned, but effectively abandoned Mathay v. CSC. QC Engineer case CSC has jurisdiction on contested appointments. Mathay v. CA. It is axiomatic that the right to hold public office is not a natural right. The right exists only by virtue of a law expressly or impliedly creating and conferring it. Since Presidential Decree 51 creating the CSU never became law, it could not be a source of rights. Neither could it impose duties. It could not afford any protection. It did not create an office. It is as inoperative as though it was never passed. In Debulgado vs. Civil Service Commission we held that a void appointment cannot give rise to security of tenure on the part of the holder of the appointment. De Rama v. CA. [midnight appointments of former mayor] It has been held that upon the issuance of an appointment and the appointees assumption of the position in the civil service, he acquires a legal r ight which cannot be taken away either by revocation of the appointment or by removal except for cause and with previous notice and hearing. Moreover, it is well -settled that the person assuming a position in the civil service under a completed appointment acquires a legal, not just an equitable, right to the position. This right is protected not only by statute, but by the Constitution as well, which right cannot be taken away by either revocation of the appointment, or by removal, unless there is valid cause to do so, provided that there is previous notice and hearing. Lameyra v. Pangilinan. [janitor AWOL] Civil Service Memorandum Circular No. 12 Series of 1994 provides as follows: "2.1 Absence without approved leave -a. An officer or employee who is continuously absent without approved leave (AWOL) for at least thirty (30) calendar days shall be separated from the service or dropped from the rolls without prior notice. He shall, however, be informed of his separation from the service not later than five (5) days from its effectivity which shall be sent to the address appearing in his 201 files. It is clear from a reading of the above provision that the no prior notice is required to drop from the rolls an employee who has been continuously absent without approved leave (AWOL) for at least thirty (30) calendar days. Makati City v. CSC. The Court believes that private respondent cannot be faulted for failing to file prior to her detention an application for leave and obtain approval thereof. The records clearly show that she had been advised three (3) days after her arrest, or on 9 September 1991, that petitioner City Government of Makati City had placed her under suspension until the final disposition of her criminal case. This act of petitioner indubitably recognized private respondent's predicament and thus allowed her to forego reporting for work during the pendency of her criminal case without the needless exercise of strict formalities. At the very least, this official communication should be taken as an equivalent of a prior approved leave of absence since it was her employer itself which placed her under suspension and thus excused her from further formalities in applying for such leave. Moreover, the arrangement bound the City Government to allow private respondent to return to her work after the termination of her case, i.e., if acquitted of the criminal charge. This pledge sufficiently served as legitimate reason for her to altogether dispense with the formal application for leave; there was no reason to, as in fact it was not required, since she was for all practical purposes incapacitated or disabled to do so. Pastor v. Pasig. It has been held that a reassignment that is indefinite and results in a reduction in rank, status, and salary is in effect a constructive removal from the service. In this case, contrary to the ruling of the Court of Appeals, petitioners reassignment to different office s in the local government of Pasig City is indefinite. Petitioner has been on virtual floating assignments which cannot but amount to a diminution of her rank, hence impermissible under the law. As
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already noted, her reassignment began in 1992 with her detail to the Office of the (now) City Administrator pending investigation of reports that she had issued Advice of Allotments without sufficient cash collections. However, no investigation appears to have ever been conducted on the said charge. To justify her continuing reassignment, respondent City Mayor claimed that the same was due to petitioners long years of experience in finance which especially fitted her for studies regarding the citys revenues. Garcia v. Pajaro. Disciplinary action of treasurer The power to discipline is specifically granted by Section 47 of the Administrative Code of 1987 to heads of departments, agencies and instrumentalities, provinces and cities. On the other hand, the power to commence administrative proceedings against a subordinate officer or employee is granted by Section 34 of the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of the said Administrative Code to the secretary of a department, the head of office of equivalent rank, the head of a local government unit, the chief of an agency, the regional director or a person with a sworn written complaint. || Further, the city treasurer may institute, motu propio, disciplinary proceedings against a subordinate officer or employee. Prohibited Interests LGC, 89. Prohibited Business and Pecuniary Interest. (a) It shall be unlawful for any local government official or employee, directly or indirectly, to: (1) Engage in any business transaction with the local government unit in which he is an official or employee or over which he has the power of supervision, or with any of its authorized boards, officials, agents, or attorneys, whereby money is to be paid, or property or any other thing of value is to be transferred, directly or indirectly, out of the resources of the local government unit to such person or firm; (2) Hold such interests in any cockpit or other games licensed by a local government unit; (3) Purchase any real estate or other property forfeited in favor of such local government unit for unpaid taxes or assessment, or by virtue of a legal process at the instance of the said local government unit; (4) Be a surety for any person contracting or doing business with the local government unit for which a surety is required; and (5) Possess or use any public property of the local government unit for private purposes. (b) All other prohibitions governing the conduct of national public officers relating to prohibited business and pecuniary interest so provided for under Republic Act Numbered Sixty-seven thirteen (R.A. No. 6713) otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees" and other laws shall also be applicable to local government officials and employees. Teves v. Sandiganbayan. As early as 1983, Edgar Teves was already the owner of the Valencia Cockpit. Since then until 31 December 1991, possession by a local official of pecuniary interest in a cockpit was not yet prohibited. It was before the effectivity of the LGC of 1991, or on January 1990, that he transferred the management of the cockpit to his wife Teresita. In accordance therewith it was Teresita who thereafter applied for the renewal of the cockpit registration. Thus, in her sworn applications for renewal of the registration of the cockpit in question dated 28 January 1990 and 18 February 1991, she stated that she is the Owner/Licensee and Operator/Manager of the said cockpit. In her renewal application dated 6 January 1992, she referred to herself as the Owner/Licensee of the cockpit. Likewise in the separate Lists of Duly Licensed Personnel for Calendar Years 1991and 1992, which she submitted on 22 February 1991 and 17 February 1992, respectively, in compliance with the requirement of the Philippine Gamefowl Commission for the renewal of the cockpit registration, she signed her name as Operator/Licensee. The acts of petitioner Teresita Teves can hardly pass as acts in furtherance of a conspiracy to commit the violation of the Anti-Graft Law that would render her equally liable as her husband. If ever she did those acts, it was because she herself was an owner of the cockpit. Not being a public official, she was not prohibited from holding an interest in cockpit. Prudence, however, dictates that she too should have divested herself of her ownership over the cockpit upon the effectivity of the LGC of 1991; otherwise, as stated earlier, considering her property relation with her husband, her ownership would result in vesting direct prohibited interest upon her husband. Practice of Profession LGC, 31. Submission of Municipal Questions to the Provincial Legal Officer or Prosecutor. - In the absence of a municipal legal officer, the municipal government may secure the opinion of the provincial legal officer, and in the absence of the latter, that of the provincial prosecutor on any legal question affecting the municipality LGC, 90. Practice of Profession. (a) All governors, city and municipal mayors are prohibited from practicing their profession or engaging in any occupation other than the exercise of their functions as local chief executives. (b) Sanggunian members may practice their professions, engage in any occupation, or teach in schools except during session hours: Provided, That sanggunian members who are also members of the Bar shall not: (1) Appear as counsel before any court in any civil case wherein a local government unit or any office, agency, or instrumentality of the government is the adverse party; (2) Appear as counsel in any criminal case wherein an officer or employee of the national or local government is accused of an offense committed in relation to his office. (3) Collect any fee for their appearance in administrative proceedings involving the local government unit of which he is an official; and (4) Use property and personnel of the government except when the sanggunian member concerned is defending the interest of the government. (c) Doctors of medicine may practice their profession even during official hours of work only on occasions of emergency: Provided, That the officials concerned do not derive monetary compensation therefrom. Javellana v. DILG . Complaints against public officers and employees relating or incidental to the performance of their duties are necessarily impressed with public interest for by express constitutional mandate, a public office is a public trust. The complaint for illegal dismissal filed by Javiero and Catapang against City Engineer Divinagracia is in effect a complaint against the City Government of Bago City, their real employer, of which petitioner Javellana is a councilman. Hence, judgment against City Engineer Divinagracia would actually be a judgment against the City Government. By serving as counsel for the complaining employees and assisting them to prosecute their claims against City Engineer Divinagracia, the petitioner violated Memorandum Circular No. 74-58 (in relation to Section 7[b-2] of RA 6713) prohibiting a government official from engaging in the private practice of his profession, if such practice would represent interests adverse to the government. || Petitioner's contention that Section 90 of the LGC of 1991 and DLG Memorandum Circular No. 90-81 violate Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution is completely off tangent. Neither the statute nor the circular trenches upon the Supreme Court's power and authority to prescribe rules on the practice of law. The LGC and DLG Memorandum Circular No. 90-81 simply prescribe rules of conduct for public officials to avoid conflicts of interest between the discharge of their public duties and the private practice of their profession, in those instances where the law allows it . || Section 90 of the LGC does not discriminate against lawyers and doctors. It applies to all provincial and municipal officials in the professions or engaged in any occupation. Section 90 explicitly provides that sanggunian members "may practice their professions, engage in any occupation, or teach in schools expect during session hours." If there are some prohibitions that apply particularly to lawyers, it is because of all the professions, the practice of law is more likely than others to relate to, or affect, the area of public service. SJS v. Lina. Should actor-politicians be banned to practice their profession while in service? Catu v. Rellosa. A lawyer in Government Service who is not prohibited to practice law must secure prior authority from the head of his department The Local Boards Local School Boards LGC, 98. Creation, Composition, and Compensation. (a) There shall be established in every province, city, or municipality a provincial, city, or municipal school board, respectively. (b) The composition of local school boards shall be as follows: (1) The provincial school board shall be composed of the governor and the division superintendent of schools as co-chairman; the chairman of the education committee of the sangguniang panlalawigan, the provincial treasurer, the representative of the "pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan" in the sangguniang panlalawigan, the duly elected president of the provincial federation of parents-teachers associations, the duly elected representative of the teachers' organizations in the province, and the duly elected representative of the non-academic personnel of public schools in the province, as members;
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(2) The city school board shall be composed of the city mayor and the city superintendent of schools as co-chairmen; the chairman of the education committee of the sangguniang panlungsod, the city treasurer, the representative of the "pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan" in the sangguniang panlungsod, the duly elected president of the city federation of parents- teachers associations, the duly elected representative of the teachers' organizations in the city, and the duly elected representative of the non-academic personnel of public schools in the city, as members; and (3) The municipal school board shall be composed of the municipal mayor and the district supervisor of schools as co-chairmen; the chairman of the education committee of the sangguniang bayan, the municipal treasurer, the representative of the "pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan" in the sangguniang bayan, the duly elected president of the municipal federation of parent-teacher associations, the duly elected representative of the teachers' organizations in the municipality, and the duly elected representative of the non-academic personnel of public schools in the municipality, as members. (c) In the event that a province or city has two (2) or more school superintendents, and in the event that a municipality has two (2) or more district supervisors, the co-chairman of the local school board shall be determined as follows: (1) The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall designate the co-chairman for the provincial and city school boards; and (2) The division superintendent of schools shall designate the district supervisor who shall serve as co-chairman of the municipal school board. (d) The performance of the duties and responsibilities of the abovementioned officials in their respective local school boards shall not be delegated. LGC, 99. Functions of Local School Boards. - The provincial, city or municipal school board shall: (a) Determine, in accordance with the criteria set by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the annual supplementary budgetary needs for the operation and maintenance of public schools within the province, city, or municipality, as the case may be, and the supplementary local cost of meeting such as needs, which shall be reflected in the form of an annual school board budget corresponding to its share of the proceeds of the special levy on real property constituting the Special Education Fund and such other sources of revenue as this Code and other laws or ordinances may provide; (b) Authorize the provincial, city or municipal treasurer, as the case may be, to disburse funds from the Special Education Fund pursuant to the budget prepared and in accordance with existing rules and regulations; (c) Serve as an advisory committee to the sanggunian concerned on educational matters such as, but not limited to, the necessity for and the uses of local appropriations for educational purposes; and (d) Recommend changes in the names of public schools within the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit for enactment by the sanggunian concerned. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall consult the local school board on the appointment of division superintendents, district supervisors, school principals, and other school officials. LGC, 100. Meetings and Quorum; Budget. (a) The local school board shall meet at least once a month or as often as may be necessary. (b) Any of the co-chairmen may call a meeting. A majority of all its members shall constitute a quorum. However, when both co-chairmen are present in a meeting, the local chief executive concerned, as a matter of protocol, shall be given preference to preside over the meeting. The division superintendent, city superintendent or district supervisor, as the case may be, shall prepare the budget of the school board concerned. Such budget shall be supported by programs, projects, and activities of the school board for the ensuing fiscal year. The affirmative vote of the majority of all the members shall be necessary to approve the budget. (c) The annual school board budget shall give priority to the following: (1) Construction, repair, and maintenance of school buildings and other facilities of public elementary and secondary schools; (2) Establishment and maintenance of extension classes where necessary; and (3) Sports activities at the division, district, municipal, and barangay levels. LGC, 101. Compensation and Remuneration. - The co-chairmen and members of the provincial, city or municipal school board shall perform their duties as such without compensation or remuneration. Members thereof who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled to necessary traveling expenses and allowances chargeable against the funds of the local school board concerned, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations. COA-Cebu v. Cebu. Indeed, the operation and maintenance of public schools is lodged principally with the DECS. This is the reason why only salaries of public school teachers appointed in connection with the establishment and maintenance of extension classes, inter alia, pertain to the supplementary budget of the local school boards. Thus, it should be made clear that not every kind of personnel-related benefits of public school teachers may be charged to the SEF. The SEF may be expended only for the salaries and personnel-related benefits of teachers appointed by the local school boards in connection with the establishment and maintenance of extension classes. Extension classes as referred to mean additional classes needed to accommodate all children of school age desiring to enter in public schools to acquire basic education. || With respect, however, to college scholarship grants, a reading of the pertinent laws of the Local Government Code reveals that said grants are not among the projects for which the proceeds of the SEF may be appropriated. It should be noted that Sections 100 (c) and 272 of the Local Government Code substantially reproduced Section 1, of R.A. No. 5447. But, unlike payment of salaries of teachers which falls within the ambit of establishment and maintenance of extension classes and operation and maintenance of public schools, the granting of government scholarship to poor but deserving students was omitted in Sections 100 ( c) and 272 of the Local Government Code. Osea v. Malaya. Appointment should be distinguished from reassignment. An appointment may be defined as the selection, by the authority vested with the power, of an individual who is to exercise the functions of a given office. When completed, usually with its confirmation, the appointment results in security of tenure for the person chosen unless he is replaceable at pleasure because of the nature of his office. On the other hand, a reassignment is merely a movement of an employee from one organizational unit to another in the same department or agency which does not involve a reduction in rank, status or salary and does not require the issuance of an appointment. In the same vein, a designation connotes merely the imposition of additional duties on an incumbent official. Local Health Boards LGC, 102. Creation and Composition. (a) There shall be established a local health board in every province, city, or municipality. The composition of the local health boards shall be as follows: (1) The provincial health board shall be headed by the governor as chairman, the provincial health officer as vice-chairman, and the chairman of the committee on health of the sangguniang panlalawigan, a representative from the private sector or non-governmental organizations involved in health services, and a representative of the Department of Health in the province, as members; (2) The city health board shall be headed by the city mayor as chairman, the city health officer as vice-chairman, and the chairman of the committee on health of the sangguniang panlungsod, a representative from the private sector or non-governmental organizations involved in health services, and a representative of the Department of Health in the city, as members; and (3) The municipal health board shall be headed by the municipal mayor as chairman, the municipal health officer as vice-chairman, and the chairman of the committee on health of the sangguniang bayan, a representative from the private sector or non-governmental organizations involved in health services, and a representative of the Department of Health in the municipality, as members. (b) The functions of the local health board shall be: (1) To propose to the sanggunian concerned, in accordance with standards and criteria set by the Department of Health, annual budgetary allocations for the operation and maintenance of health facilities and services within the municipality, city or province, as the case may be; (2) To serve as an advisory committee to the sanggunian concerned on health matters such as, but not limited to, the necessity for, and application of local appropriations for public health purposes; and (3) Consistent with the technical and administrative standards of the Department of Health, create committees which shall advise local health agencies on matters such as, but not limited to, personnel selection and promotion, bids and awards, grievance and complaints, personnel discipline, budget review, operations review and similar functions. LGC, 103. Meetings and Quorum. (a) The board shall meet at least once a month or as may be necessary.
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(b) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum, but the chairman or the vice- chairman must be present during meetings where budgetary proposals are being prepared or considered. The affirmative vote of all the majority of the members shall be necessary to approve such proposals. LGC, 104. Compensation and Remuneration. - The chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the provincial, city or municipal health board shall perform their duties as such without compensation or remuneration. Members thereof who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled to necessary traveling expenses and allowances chargeable against the funds of the local health board concerned, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations. LGC, 105. Direct National Supervision and Control by the Secretary of Health. - In cases of epidemics, pestilence, and other widespread public health dangers, the Secretary of Health may, upon the direction of the President and in consultation with the local government unit concerned, temporarily assume direct supervision and control over health operations in any local government unit for the duration of the emergency, but in no case exceeding a cumulative period of six (6) months. With the concurrence of the government unit concerned, the period for such direct national control and supervision may be further extended. Local Development Councils LGC, 106. Local Development Councils. - (a) Each local government unit shall have a comprehensive multi-sectoral development plan to be initiated by its development council and approved by its sanggunian. For this purpose, the development council at the provincial, city, municipal, or barangay level, shall assist the corresponding sanggunian in setting the direction of economic and social development, and coordinating development efforts within its territorial jurisdiction. LGC, 107. Composition of Local Development Councils. (a) The composition of the local development council shall be as follows: (1) Members of the sangguniang barangay; (2) Representatives of non-governmental organizations operating in the barangay who shall constitute not less than one fourth () of the members of the fully organized council; (3) A representative of the congressman. (b) The city or municipal development council shall be headed by the mayor and shall be composed of the following members: (1) All punong barangays in the city or municipality; (2) The chairman of the committee on appropriations of the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned; (3) The congressman or his representative; and (4) Representatives of non-governmental organizations operating in the city or municipality, as the case may be, who shall constitute not less than one-fourth () of the members of the fully organized council. (c) The provincial development council shall be headed by the governor and shall be composed of the following members: (1) All mayors of component cities and municipalities; (2) The chairman of the committee on appropriations of the sangguniang panlalawigan; (3) The congressman or his representative; and (4) Representatives of non-governmental organizations operating in the province, who shall constitute not less than one-fourth () of the members of the fully organized council. (d) The local development councils may call upon any local official concerned or any official of national agencies or offices in the local government unit to assist in the formulation of their respective development plans and public investment programs. LGC, 108. Representation of Non-governmental Organizations. - Within a period of sixty (60) days from the start of organization of local development councils, the non-governmental organizations shall choose from among themselves their representatives to said councils. The local sanggunian concerned shall accredit non-governmental organizations subject to such criteria as may be provided by law. LGC, 109. Functions of Local Development Councils. (a) The provincial, city, and municipal development councils shall exercise the following functions: (1) Formulate long-term, medium-term, and annual socio-economic development plans and policies; (2) Formulate the medium-term and annual public investment programs; (3) Appraise and prioritize socio-economic development programs and projects; (4) Formulate local investment incentives to promote the inflow and direction of private investment capital; (5) Coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of development programs and projects; and (6) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or component authority. (b) The barangay development council shall exercise the following functions: (1) Mobilize people's participation in local development efforts; (2) Prepare barangay development plans based on local requirements; (3) Monitor and evaluate the implementation of national or local programs and projects; and (4) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or competent authority. LGC, 110. Meetings and Quorum. - The local development council shall meet at least once every six (6) months or as often as may be necessary. LGC, 111. Executive Committee. - The local development council shall create an executive committee to represent it and act in its behalf when it is not in session. (a) The composition of the executive committee shall be as follows: (1) The executive committee of the provincial development council shall be composed of the governor as chairman, the representative of component city and municipal mayors to be chosen from among themselves, the chairman of the committee on appropriations of the sangguniang panlalawigan, the president of the provincial league of barangays, and a representative of non-governmental organizations that are represented in the council, as members; (2) The executive committee of the city or municipal development council shall be composed of the mayor as chairman, the chairman of the committee on appropriations of the sangguniang panlalawigan, the president of the city or municipal league of barangays, and a representative of non-governmental organizations that are represented in the council, as members; and (3) The executive committee of the barangay development council shall be composed of the punong barangay as chairman, a representative of the sangguniang barangay to be chosen from among its members, and a representative of non-governmental organizations that are represented in the council, as members. (b) The executive committee shall exercise the following powers and functions: (1) Ensure that the decision of the council are faithfully carried out and implemented; (2) Act on matters requiring immediate attention or action by the council; (3) Formulate policies, plans, and programs based on the general principles laid down by the council; and (4) Act on other matters that may be authorized by the council. LGC, 112. Sectoral or Functional Committees. - The local development councils may form sectoral or functional committees to assist them in the performance of their functions. LGC, 113. Secretariat. - There is hereby constituted for each local development council a secretariat which shall be responsible for providing technical support, documentation of proceedings, preparation of reports and such other assistance as may be required in the discharge of its functions. The local development council may avail of the services of any non-governmental organization or educational or research institution for this purpose. The secretariats of the provincial, city, and municipal development councils shall be headed by their respective planning and development coordinators. The secretariat of the barangay development council shall be headed by the barangay secretary who shall be assisted by the city or municipal planning and development coordinator concerned. LGC, 114. Relation of Local Development Councils to the Sanggunian and the Regional Development Council. (a) The policies, programs, and projects proposed by local development councils shall be submitted to the sanggunian concerned for appropriate action.
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(b) The approved development plans of provinces, highly-urbanized cities, and independent component cities shall be submitted to the regional development council, which shall be integrated into the regional development plan for submission to the National Economic and Development Authority, in accordance with existing laws. LGC, 115. Budget Information. - The Department of Budget and Management shall furnish the various local development councils information on financial resources and budgetary allocations applicable to their respective jurisdictions to guide them in their planning functions. RA 7368 (1992), Sec. 6. Executive Committee of Local Development Council as the Local Countrywide Industrialization Board . - The Executive Committee of the municipal, city and provincial development councils shall serve as the Local Countrywide Industrialization Board (LCIB) which shall be directed towards the development of technology and skills, assist all enterprises in the utilization of indigenous raw materials for livelihood programs and in the delivery of credit organizations and marketing services. In addition to the functions of the local development councils as mandated in the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160), they shall perform the following functions: a) receive all applications for countrywide industrialization projects within its area of jurisdiction; evaluate and approve or disapprove all project applications within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof; and endorse projects to the Countrywide Industrialization Office (CIO) for funding; b) in coordination with the conduit banks, monitor the status of approved projects, help enterprises obtain marketing, technical training and other forms of non-financial assistance as they may require from agencies of the National and Local Governments; c) review the industrialization plan for the province, city or municipality as prepared by the municipal, city or provincial development officer if the funding required for the proposed project is to be sourced from CIF; d) disseminate pertinent information; and e) submit quarterly reports to the CIO on the amounts of financial assistance received by the countrywide industrialization projects within its jurisdiction, and a status report on each countrywide industrialization project. Copy of the report shall be furnished the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod concerned. Local Peace and Order Council LGC, 116. Organization. - There is hereby established in every province, city and municipality a local peace and order council, pursuant to Executive Order Numbered Three hundred nine (E.O. No. 309), as amended, Series of 1988. The local peace and order councils shall have the same composition and functions as those prescribed by said executive order. Autonomous Special Economic Zones LGC, 117. Establishment of Autonomous Special Economic Zones. - The establishment by law of autonomous special economic zones in selected areas of the country shall be subject to concurrence by the local government units included therein. RA 7916 (1995), Sec. 44. Relationship with Local Government Units. - Except as herein provided, the local government units comprising the ECOZONE shall retain their basic autonomy and identity. The cities shall be governed by their respective charters and the municipalities shall operate and function in accordance with Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. RA 7903 (1995). AN ACT CREATING A SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AND FREE PORT IN THE CITY OF ZAMBOANGA CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE ZAMBOANGA CITY SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AUTHORITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Other Provisions Applicable to LGUs Settlement of Boundary Disputes LGC, 118. Jurisdictional Responsibility for Settlement of Boundary Dispute. - Boundary disputes between and among local government units shall, as much as possible, be settled amicably. To this end: (a) Boundary disputes involving two (2) or more barangays in the same city or municipality shall be referred for settlement to the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned. (b) Boundary disputes involving two (2) or more municipalities within the same province shall be referred for settlement to the sangguniang panlalawigan concerned. (c) Boundary disputes involving municipalities or component cities of different provinces shall be jointly referred for settlement to the sanggunians of the province concerned. (d) Boundary disputes involving a component city or municipality on the one hand and a highly urbanized city on the other, or two (2) or more highly urbanized cities, shall be jointly referred for settlement to the respective sanggunians of the parties. (e) In the event the sanggunian fails to effect an amicable settlement within sixty (60) days from the date the dispute was referred thereto, it shall issue a certification to that effect. Thereafter, the dispute shall be formally tried by the sanggunian concerned which shall decide the issue within sixty (60) days from the date of the certification referred to above. LGC, 119. Appeal. - Within the time and manner prescribed by the Rules of Court, any party may elevate the decision of the sanggunian concerned to the proper Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction over the area in dispute. The Regional Trial Court shall decide the appeal within one (1) year from the filing thereof. Pending final resolution of the disputed area prior to the dispute shall be maintained and continued for all legal purposes. IRR, 15. Definition and Policy. There is a boundary dispute when a portion or the whole of the territorial area of an LGU is claimed by two or more LGUs. Boundary disputes between or among LGUs shall, as much as possible, be settled amicably. IRR, 16. Jurisdictional Responsibility. Boundary disputes shall be referred for settlement to the following: (a) Sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan for disputes involving two (2) or more barangays in the same city or municipality, as the case may be; (b) Sangguniang panlalawigan, for those involving two (2) or more municipalities within the same province; (c) Jointly, to the sanggunians of provinces concerned, for those involving component cities or municipalities of different provinces; or (d) Jointly, to the respective sanggunians, for those involving a component city or municipality and a highly-urbanized city; or two (2) or more highly-urbanized cities. IRR, 17. Procedures for Settling Boundary Disputes. The following procedures shall govern the settlement of boundary disputes: (a) Filing of petition The sanggunian concerned may initiate action by filing a petition, in the form of a resolution, with the sanggunian having jurisdiction over the dispute. (b) Contents of petition The petition shall state the grounds, reasons or justifications therefor. (c) Documents attached to petition The petition shall be accompanied by: (1) Duly authenticated copy of the law or statute creating the LGU or any other document showing proof of creation of the LGU; (2) Provincial, city, municipal, or barangay map, as the case may be, duly certified by the LMB; (3) Technical description of the boundaries of the LGUs concerned; (4) Written certification of the provincial, city, or municipal assessor, as the case may be, as to territorial jurisdiction over the disputed area according to records in custody; (5) Written declarations or sworn statements of the people residing in the disputed area; and (6) Such other documents or information as may be required by the sanggunian hearing the dispute. (d) Answer of adverse party Upon receipt by the sanggunian concerned of the petition together with the required documents, the LGU or LGUs complained against shall be furnished copies thereof and shall be given fifteen (15) working days within which to file their answers. (e) Hearing Within five (5) working days after receipt of the answer of the adverse party, the sanggunian shall hear the case and allow the parties concerned to present their respective evidences. (f) Joint hearing When two or more sanggunians jointly hear a case, they may sit en banc or designate their respective representatives. Where representatives are designated, there shall be an equal number of representatives from each sanggunian. They shall elect from among themselves a presiding officer and a secretary. In case of disagreement, selection shall be by drawing lot.
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(g)
Failure to settle In the event the sanggunian fails to amicably settle the dispute within sixty (60) days from the date such dispute was referred thereto, it shall issue a certification to that effect and copies thereof shall be furnished the parties concerned. (h) Decision Within sixty (60) days from the date the certification was issued, the dispute shall be formally tried and decided by the sanggunian concerned. Copies of the decision shall, within fifteen (15) days from the promulgation thereof, be furnished the parties concerned, DILG, local assessor, COMELEC, NSO, and other NGAs concerned. (i) Appeal Within the time and manner prescribed by the Rules of Court, any party may elevate the decision of the sanggunian concerned to the proper Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction over the dispute by filing therewith the appropriate pleading, stating among others, the nature of the dispute, the decision of the sanggunian concerned and the reasons for appealing therefrom. The Regional Trial Court shall decide the case within one (1) year from the filing thereof. Decisions on boundary disputes promulgated jointly by two (2) or more sangguniang panlalawigans shall be heard by the Regional Trial Court of the province which first took cognizance of the dispute. IRR, 18. Maintenance of Status Quo. Pending final resolution of the dispute, the status of the affected area prior to the dispute shall be maintained and continued for all purposes. IRR, 19. Official Custodian. The DILG shall be the official custodian of copies of all documents on boundary disputes of LGUs. Pasig v. COMELEC. In the case at bar, while the City of Pasig vigorously claims that the areas covered by the proposed Barangays Karangalan and Napico are within its territory, it can not deny that portions of the same area are included in the boundary dispute case pending before the Regional Trial Court of Antipolo. Surely, whether the areas in controversy shall be decided as within the territorial jurisdiction of the Municipality of Cainta or the City of Pasig has material bearing to the creation of the proposed Barangays Karangalan and Napico. Indeed, a requisite for the creation of a barangay is for its territorial jurisdiction to be properly identified by metes and bounds or by more or less permanent natural boundaries. Precisely because territorial jurisdiction is an issue raised in the pending civil case, until and unless such issue is resolved with finality, to define the territorial jurisdiction of the proposed barangays would only be an exercise in futility. Camarines Norte v. Quezon Province. Removal of monument marker Quezon Team at fault for bulldozing the marker and not complying with court decision Mun. of Kanaga v. Madrona . Boundary dispute bet. Municipality and independent component city Since there is no law providing for the exclusive jurisdiction of any court or agency over the settlement of boundary disputes between a municipality and an independent component city of the same province, respondent court committed no grave abuse of discretion in denying the Motion to Dismiss. RTCs have general jurisdiction to adjudicate all controversies except those expressly withheld from their plenary powers. 21 They have the power not only to take judicial cognizance of a case instituted for judicial action for the first time, but also to do so to the exclusion of all other courts at that stage. Indeed, the power is not only original, but also exclusive. Mun. of Pateros v. CA. Makati v. Taguig, intervenor Pateros However, now that Makati is already a highly urbanized city, the parties should follow Section 118(d) of the LGC and should opt to amicably settle this dispute by joint referral to the respective sanggunians of the parties. This has become imperative because, after all, no attempt had been made earlier to settle the dispute amicably under the aegis of the LGC. The specific provision of the LGC, now made applicable because of the altered status of Makati, must be complied with. In the event that no amicable settlement is reached, as envisioned under Section 118(e) of the LGC, a certification shall be issued to that effect, and the dispute shall be formally tried by the Sanggunian concerned within sixty (60) days from the date of the aforementioned certification. In this regard, Rule III of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the LGC shall govern. Local Initiative and Referendum LGC, 120. Local Initiative Defined. - Local initiative is the legal process whereby the registered voters of a local government unit may directly propose, enact, or amend any ordinance. LGC, 121. Who May Exercise. - The power of local initiative and referendum may be exercised by all registered voters of the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. LGC, 122. Procedure in Local Initiative. (a) Not less than one thousand (1,000) registered voters in case of provinces and cities, one hundred (100) in case of municipalities, and fifty (50) in case of barangays, may file a petition with the sanggunian concerned proposing the adoption, enactment, repeal, or amendment of an ordinance. (b) If no favorable action thereon is taken by the sanggunian concerned within thirty (30) days from its presentation, the proponents, through their duly authorized and registered representatives, may invoke their power of initiative, giving notice thereof to the sanggunian concerned. (c) The proposition shall be numbered serially starting from Roman numeral I. The COMELEC or its designated representative shall extend assistance in the formulation of the proposition. (d) Two (2) or more propositions may be submitted in an initiative. (e) Proponents shall have ninety (90) days in case of provinces and cities, sixty (60) days in case of municipalities, and thirty (30) days in case of barangays, from notice mentioned in subsection (b) hereof to collect the required number of signatures. (f) The petition shall be signed before the election registrar. or his designated representatives, in the presence of a representative of the proponent, and a representative of the sanggunian concerned in a public place in the local government unit, as the case may be. Stations for collect ing signatures may be established in as many places as may be warranted. (g) Upon the lapse of the period herein provided, the COMELEC, through its office in the local government unit concerned, shall certify as to whether or not the required number of signatures has been obtained. Failure to obtain the required number defeats the proposition. (h) If the required number of signatures is obtained, the COMELEC shall then set a date for the initiative during which the proposition shall be submitted to the registered voters in the local government unit concerned for their approval within sixty (60) days from the date of certification by the COMELEC, as provided in subsection (g) hereof, in case of provinces and cities, forty-five (45) days in case of municipalities, and thirty (30) days in case of barangays. The initiative shall then be held on the date set, after which the results thereof shall be certified and proclaimed by the COMELEC. LGC, 123. Effectivity of Local Propositions. - If the proposition is approved by a majority of the votes cast, it shall take effect fifteen (15) days after certification by the COMELEC as if affirmative action thereon had been made by the sanggunian and local chief executive concerned. If it fails to obtain said number of votes, the proposition is considered defeated. LGC, 124. Limitations on Local Initiative. (a) The power of local initiative shall not be exercised more than once a year. (b) Initiative shall extend only to subjects or matters which are within the legal powers of the sanggunian to enact. (c) If at any time before the initiative is held, the sanggunian concerned adopts in toto the proposition presented and the local chief executive approves the same, the initiative shall be cancelled. However, those against such action may, if they so desire, apply for initiative in the manner herein provided. LGC, 125. Limitations upon Sanggunians. - Any proposition or ordinance approved through the system of initiative and referendum as herein provided shall not be repealed, modified or amended by the sanggunian concerned within six (6) months from the date of the approval thereof, and may be amended, modified or repealed by the sanggunian within three (3) years thereafter by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all its members: Provided, That in case of barangays, the period shall be eighteen (18) months after the approval thereof. LGC, 126. Local Referendum Defined. - Local referendum is the legal process whereby the registered voters of the local government units may approve, amend or reject any ordinance enacted by the sanggunian. The local referendum shall be held under the control and direction of the COMELEC within sixty (60) days in case of provinces and cities, forty-five (45) days in case of municipalities and thirty (30) days in case of barangays. The COMELEC shall certify and proclaim the results of the said referendum. LGC, 127. Authority of Courts. - Nothing in this Chapter shall prevent or preclude the proper courts from declaring null and void any proposition approved pursuant to this Chapter for violation of the Constitution or want of capacity of the sanggunian concerned to enact the said measure. LGC,398. Powers of the Barangay Assembly. - The barangay assembly shall: (a) Initiate legislative processes by recommending to the sangguniang barangay the adoption of measures for the welfare of the barangay and the city or municipality concerned;
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(b) Decide on the adoption of initiative as a legal process whereby the registered voters of the barangay may directly propose, enact, or amend any ordinance; and (c) Hear and pass upon the semestral report of the sangguniang barangay concerning its activities and finances. See RA 6735 (1989). AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR. I. General Provisions Sec. 1. Title. This Act shall be known as "The Initiative and Referendum Act." Sec. 2. Statement of Policy. The power of the people under a system of initiative and referendum to directly propose, enact, approve or reject, in whole or in part, the Constitution, laws, ordinances, or resolutions passed by any legislative body upon compliance with the requirements of this Act is hereby affirmed, recognized and guaranteed. Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: (a) "Initiative" is the power of the people to propose amendments to the Constitution or to propose and enact legislations through an election called for the purpose. There are three (3) systems of initiative, namely: a.1. Initiative on the Constitution which refers to a petition proposing amendments to the Constitution; a.2. Initiative on statutes which refers to a petition proposing to enact a national legislation; and a.3. Initiative on local legislation which refers to a petition proposing to enact a regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay law, resolution or ordinance. (b) "Indirect initiative" is exercise of initiative by the people through a proposition sent to Congress or the local legislative body for action. (c) "Referendum" is the power of the electorate to approve or reject a legislation through an election called for the purpose. It may be of two classes, namely: c.1. Referendum on statutes which refers to a petition to approve or reject an act or law, or part thereof, passed by Congress; and c.2. Referendum on local law which refers to a petition to approve or reject a law, resolution or ordinance enacted by regional assemblies and local legislative bodies. (d) "Proposition" is the measure proposed by the voters. (e) "Plebiscite" is the electoral process by which an initiative on the Constitution is approved or rejected by the people. (f) "Petition" is the written instrument containing the proposition and the required number of signatories. It shall be in a form to be determined by and submitted to the Commission on Elections, hereinafter referred to as the Commission. (g) "Local government units" refers to provinces , cities, municipalities and barangays. (h) "Local legislative bodies" refers to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, Sangguniang Bayan, and Sangguniang Nayon. (i) "Local executives" refers to the Provincial Governors, City or Municipal Mayors and Punong Barangay, as the case may be. Sec. 4. Who may exercise. The power of initiative and referendum may be exercised by all registered voters of the country, autonomous regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. Sec. 5. Requirements. (a) To exercise the power of initiative or referendum, at least ten per centum (10%) of the total number of the registered voters, of which every legislative district is represented by at least three per centum (3%) of the registered voters thereof, shall sign a petition for the purpose and register the same with the Commission. (b) A petition for an initiative on the 1987 Constitution must have at least twelve per centum (12%) of the total number of registered voters as signatories, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum (3%) of the registered voters therein. Initiative on the Constitution may be exercised only after five (5) years from the ratification of the 1987 Constitution and only once every five (5) years thereafter. (c) The petition shall state the following: c.1. contents or text of the proposed law sought to be enacted, approved or rejected, amended or repealed, as the case may be; c.2. the proposition; c.3. the reason or reasons therefor; c.4. that it is not one of the exceptions provided herein; c.5. signatures of the petitioners or registered voters; and c.6. an abstract or summary in not more than one hundred (100) words which shall be legibly written or printed at the top of every page of the petition. (d) A referendum or initiative affecting a law, resolution or ordinance passed by the legislative assembly of an autonomous region, province or city is deemed validly initiated if the petition thereof is signed by at least ten per centum (10%) of the registered voters in the province or city, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum (3%) of the registered voters therein; Provided, however, That if the province or city is composed only of one (1) legislative district, then at least each municipality in a province or each barangay in a city should be represented by at least three per centum (3%) of the registered voters therein. (e) A referendum of initiative on an ordinance passed in a municipality shall be deemed validly initiated if the petition therefor is signed by at least tenper centum (10%) of the registered voters in the municipality, of which every barangay is represented by at least three per centum (3%) of the registered voters therein. (f) A referendum or initiative on a barangay resolution or ordinance is deemed validly initiated if signed by at least ten per centum (10%) of the registered voters in said barangay. Sec. 6. Special Registration. The Commission on Election shall set a special registration day at least three (3) weeks before a scheduled initiative or referendum. Sec. 7. Verification of Signatures. The Election Registrar shall verify the signatures on the basis of the registry list of voters, voters' affidavits and voters identification cards used in the immediately preceding election. II. National Initiative and Referendum Sec. 8. Conduct and Date of Initiative or Referendum. The Commission shall call and supervise the conduct of initiative or referendum. Within a period of thirty (30) days from receipt of the petition, the Commission shall, upon determining the sufficiency of the petition, publish the same in Filipino and English at least twice in newspapers of general and local circulation and set the date of the initiative or referendum which shall not be earlier than forty-five (45) days but not later than ninety (90) days from the determination by the Commission of the sufficiency of the petition. Sec. 9. Effectivity of Initiative or Referendum Proposition. (a) The Proposition of the enactment, approval, amendment or rejection of a national law shall be submitted to and approved by a majority of the votes cast by all the registered voters of the Philippines. If, as certified to by the Commission, the proposition is approved by a majority of the votes cast, the national law proposed for enactment, approval, or amendment shall become effective fifteen (15) days following completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. If, as certified by the Commission, the proposition to reject a national law is approved by a majority of the votes cast, the said national law shall be deemed repealed and the repeal shall become effective fifteen (15) days following the completion of publication of the proposition and the certification by the Commission in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. chan robles virtual law library However, if the majority vote is not obtained, the national law sought to be rejected or amended shall remain in full force and effect. (b) The proposition in an initiative on the Constitution approved by a majority of the votes cast in the plebiscite shall become effective as to the day of the plebiscite. (c) A national or local initiative proposition approved by majority of the votes cast in an election called for the purpose shall become effective fifteen (15) days after certification and proclamation by the Commission. Sec. 10. Prohibited Measures. The following cannot be the subject of an initiative or referendum petition: (a) No petition embracing more than one (1) subject shall be submitted to the electorate; and (b) Statutes involving emergency measures, the enactment of which are specifically vested in Congress by the Constitution, cannot be subject to referendum until ninety (90) days after its effectivity.
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III.
IV.
Sec. 11. Indirect Initiative. Any duly accredited people's organization, as defined by law, may file a petition for indirect initiative with the House of Representatives, and other legislative bodies. The petition shall contain a summary of the chief purposes and contents of the bill that the organization proposes to be enacted into law by the legislature. The procedure to be followed on the initiative bill shall be the same as the enactment of any legislative measure before the House of Representatives except that the said initiative bill shall have precedence over the pending legislative measures on the committee. Sec. 12. Appeal. The decision of the Commission on the findings of the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition for initiative or referendum may be appealed to the Supreme Court within thirty (30) days from notice thereof. Local Initiative and Referendum Sec. 13. Procedure in Local Initiative. (a) Not less than two thousand (2,000) registered voters in case of autonomous regions, one thousand (1,000) in case of provinces and cities, one hundred (100) in case of municipalities, and fifty (50) in case of barangays, may file a petition with the Regional Assembly or local legislative body, respectively, proposing the adoption, enactment, repeal, or amendment, of any law, ordinance or resolution. (b) If no favorable action thereon is made by local legislative body within (30) days from its presentation, the proponents through their duly authorized and registered representative may invoke their power of initiative, giving notice thereof to the local legislative body concerned. (c) The proposition shall be numbered serially starting from one (1). The Secretary of Local Government or his designated representative shall extend assistance in the formulation of the proposition. (d) Two or more propositions may be submitted in an initiative. (e) Proponents shall have one hundred twenty (120) days in case of autonomous regions, ninety (90) days in case of provinces and cities, sixty (60) days in case of municipalities, and thirty (30) days in case of barangays, from notice mentioned in subsection (b) hereof to collect the required number of signatures. (f) The petition shall be signed before the Election Registrar, or his designated representative, in the presence of a representative of the proponent, and a representative of the regional assemblies and local legislative bodies concerned in a public place in the autonomous region or local government unit, as the case may be. Signature stations may be established in as many places as may be warranted. (g) Upon the lapse of the period herein provided, the Commission on Elections, through its office in the local government unit concerned shall certify as to whether or not the required number of signatures has been obtained. Failure to obtain the required number is a defeat of the proposition. (h) If the required number of the signatures is obtained, the Commission shall then set a date for the initiative at which the proposition shall be submitted to the registered voters in the local government unit concerned for their approval within ninety (90) days from the date of certification by the Commission, as provided in subsection (g) hereof, in case of autonomous regions, sixty (60) days in case of the provinces and cities, forty-five (45) days in case of municipalities, and thirty (30) days in case of barangays. The initiative shall then be held on the date set, after which the results thereof shall be certified and proclaimed by the Commission on Elections. chan robles virtual law library Sec. 14. Effectivity of Local Propositions. If the proposition is approved by a majority of the votes cast, it shall take effect fifteen (15) days after certification by the Commission as if affirmative action thereon had been made by the local legislative body and local executive concerned. If it fails to obtain said number of votes, the proposition is considered defeated.chan robles virtual law library Sec. 15. Limitations on Local Initiatives. (a) The power of local initiative shall not be exercised more than once a year. (b) Initiative shall extend only to subjects or matters which are within the legal powers of the local legislative bodies to enact. (c) If at any time before the initiative is held, the local legislative body shall adopt in toto the proposition presented, the initiative shall be cancelled. However, those against such action may, if they so desire, apply for initiative in the manner herein provided. Sec. 16. Limitations Upon Local Legislative Bodies. Any proposition or ordinance or resolution approved through the system of initiative and referendum as herein provided shall not be repealed, modified or amended, by the local legislative body concerned within six (6) months from the date therefrom, and may be amended, modified or repealed by the local legislative body within three (3) years thereafter by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all its members: Provided, however, that in case of barangays, the period shall be one (1) year after the expiration of the first six (6) months. Sec. 17. Local Referendum. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 hereof, any local legislative body may submit to the registered voters of autonomous region, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays for the approval or rejection, any ordinance or resolution duly enacted or approved. Said referendum shall be held under the control and direction of the Commission within sixty (60) days in case of provinces and cities, forty-five (45) days in case of municipalities and thirty (30) days in case of barangays.chan robles virtual law library The Commission shall certify and proclaim the results of the said referendum. Sec. 18. Authority of Courts. Nothing in this Act shall prevent or preclude the proper courts from declaring null and void any proposition approved pursuant to this Act for violation of the Constitution or want of capacity of the local legislative body to enact the said measure. Final Provisions Sec. 19. Applicability of the Omnibus Election Code. The Omnibus Election Code and other election laws, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall apply to all initiatives and referenda. Sec. 20. Rules and Regulations. The Commission is hereby empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Sec. 21. Appropriations. The amount necessary to defray the cost of the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the Contingent Fund in the General Appropriations Act of the current year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the full implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. Sec. 22. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective. Sec. 23. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Garcia v. COMELEC. Resolution to include municipality as part of SSEZ Reso10 is the proper subject of an initiative. The Consti clearly includes not only ordinances but resolutions as appropriate subjectsw of local initiative. An act includes a resolution. LGC dud not change the scope of local initiative as limiting the coverages to ordinances alone. Sec. 120 merely defines the concept of local intiative as the legal process whereby registered voters of an LGU may directly prpose/enact/amend any ordinance. It does not deal with matters than can be taken up in a local initiative. Sec. 124 clearly does not limit its application to ordiances but to all subjects or matters which are within the legal powers of the Sanggunian to enact, which undoubtedly includes a resolution SBMA v. COMELEC. Initiative v. referendum Initiative Referendum Entirely work of electorate Begun and consented to be law-making body Process of law-making by people themselves without participation and against elected reps Process and voting more complex Merely answers yes or no Hence there is a need for COMELEC to supervise initiatives more closely, its authority extending not only to counting and canvassing but also ensuring that the matter is in proper form and language so it may be easily understood and voted Book II: Local Taxation and Fiscal Matters Local Government Taxation 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 3(d). 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 5 . Each local government unit shall have the power to create its own sources of revenues and to levy taxes, fees and charges subject to such guidelines and limitations as the Congress may provide, consistent with the basic policy of local autonomy. Such taxes, fees, and charges shall accrue exclusively to the local governments. 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 6. Local government units shall have a just share, as determined by law, in the national taxes which shall be automatically released to them.
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1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 7. Local governments shall be entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within their respective areas, in the manner provided by law, including sharing the same with the inhabitants by way of direct benefits. RA 7643 (1992), Sec. 2. Sec. 282 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: Sec. 282. Disposition of national internal revenue. - National internal revenue collected and not applied as hereinabove provided or otherwise specially disposed of by law shall accrue to the National Treasury and shall be available for the general purposes of the Government, with the exception of the amounts set apart by way of allotment as provided for under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. In addition to the internal revenue allotment as provided for in the preceding paragraph, fifty percent (50%) of the national taxes collected under Sections 100, 102, 112, 113, and 114 of this Code in excess of the increase in collections for the immediately preceding year shall be distributed as follows: (a) Twenty percent (20%) shall accrue to the city or municipality where such taxes are collected and shall be allocated in accordance with Section 150 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991; and (b) Eighty percent (80%) shall accrue to the National Government. RA 7716 (1994), Sec. 11. Section 115 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: Sec. 115. Percentage tax on carriers and keepers of garages. Keepers of garages, and common carriers by land, air or water for the transport of passengers, except owners of bancas, and owners of animal-drawn two-wheeled vehicles, shall pay a tax equivalent to three per centum (3%) of their quarterly gross receipts. The gross receipts of common carriers derived from their incoming and outgoing freight shall not be subjected to the local taxes imposed under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. In computing the percentage tax provided in this Section, the following shall be considered the minimum quarterly gross receipts in each particular case: "Jeepney for hire 1. Manila and other cities P2,400.00 2. Provincial 1,200.00 "Public utility bus Not exceeding 30 passengers P3,600.00 Exceeding 30 but not exceeding 50 passengers 6,000.00 Exceeding 50 passengers 7,200.00 "Taxis 1. Manila and other cities P3,600.00 2. Provincial 2,400.00 Car for hire (w/ chauffeur) 3,000.00 Car for hire (w/one chauffeur) 1,800.00" RA 7716 (1994), Sec. 17. Effectivity of the Imposition of VAT on Certain Goods, Properties and Services. The value-added tax shall be levied assessed and collected on the following, two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act: (a) Services performed in the exercise of profession or calling subject to the professional tax under the Local Government Code or Republic Act No. 7160, and professional services performed by registered general professional partnerships; actors, actresses, talents, singers and emcees; radio and television broadcasters, choreographers; musical, radio, movie, television and stage directors; and professional athletes; (b) Services rendered by banks, non-bank financial intermediaries, finance companies and other financial intermediaries not performing quasi-banking functions; (c) Freight services rendered by international cargo vessels; and (d) The lease or use of sports facilities and equipment by amateur players, as provided under Republic Act No. 6847, except sports facilities and equipment which are exclusively or mainly for the private use of shareholders or members of the club or organization which owns or operates such sports facilities and equipment. Prior to their inclusion in the coverage of the value-added tax, the above services shall continue to pay the applicable tax prescribed under the present provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended. However, when public interest so requires, the President, taking into account the impact on the prices of goods and services, may, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Finance, exclude any of the above services from the coverage of the value-added tax: Provided, however, That in the event of the exclusion of any of the above services the existing applicable tax under the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, shall continue to be paid on the services so excluded. RA 8241 (1996). AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO, 7716, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED VALUE-ADDED TAX LAW AND OTHER PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AS AMENDED NIRC, 117. Percentage Tax on Domestic Carriers and Keepers of Garages . - Cars for rent or hire driven by the lessee, transportation contractors, including persons who transport passengers for hire, and other domestic carriers by land, air or water, for the transport of passengers, except owners of bancas and owner of animal-drawn two wheeled vehicle, and keepers of garages shall pay a tax equivalent to three percent (3%) of their quarterly gross receipts. The gross receipts of common carriers derived from their incoming and outgoing freight shall not be subjected to the local taxes imposed under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. NIRC, 283. Disposition of National Internal Revenue. - National Internal revenue collected and not applied as herein above provided or otherwise specially disposed of by law shall accrue to the National Treasury and shall be available for the general purposes of the Government, with the exception of the amounts set apart by way of allotment as provided for under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. In addition to the internal revenue allotment as provided for in the preceding paragraph, fifty percent (50%) of the national taxes collected under Sections 106, 108 and 116 of this Code in excess of the increase in collections for the immediately preceding year shall be distributed as follows: (a) Twenty percent (20%) shall accrue to the city or municipality where such taxes are collected and shall be allocated in accordance with Section 150 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991; and (b) Eighty percent (80%) shall accrue to the National Government. NIRC, 287. Shares of Local Government Units in the Proceeds from the Development and Utilization of the National Wealth. - Local Government units shall have an equitable share in the proceeds derived from the utilization and development of the national wealth, within their respective areas, including sharing the same with the inhabitants by way of direct benefits. (A) Amount of Share of Local Government Units. - Local government units shall, in addition to the internal revenue allotment, have a share of forty percent (40%) of the gross collection derived by the national government from the preceding fiscal year from excise taxes on mineral products, royalties, and such other taxes, fees or charges, including related surcharges, interests or fines, and from its share in any co-production, joint venture or production sharing agreement in the utilization and development of the national wealth within their territorial jurisdiction. (B) Share of the Local Governments from Any Government Agency or Government-owned or - Controlled Corporation. - Local Government Units shall have a share, based on the preceding fiscal year, from the proceeds derived by any government agency or government-owned or controlled corporation engaged in the utilization and development of the national wealth based on the following formula, whichever will produce a higher share for the local government unit: (1) One percent (1%) of the gross sales or receipts of the preceding calendar year, or (2) Forty percent (40%) of the excise taxes on mineral products, royalties, and such other taxes, fees or charges, including related surcharges, interests or fines the government agency or government-owned or -controlled corporations would have paid if it were not otherwise exempt. (C) Allocation of Shares. - The share in the preceding Section shall be distributed in the following manner: (1) Where the natural resources are located in the province: (a) Province - twenty percent (20%) (b) Component city/municipality - forty-five percent (45%); and (c) Barangay - thirty-five percent (35%) Provided, however, That where the natural resources are located in two (2) or more cities, the allocation of shares shall be based on the formula on population and land area as specified in subsection (C)(1) hereof. (2) Where the natural resources are located in a highly urbanized or independent component city:
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(a) City - sixty - five percent (65%); and (b) Barangay - thirty - five percent (35%) Provided, however, That where the natural resources are located in two (2) or more cities, the allocation of shares shall be based on the formula on population and land area as specified in subsection (c)(1) hereof. RA 8245 (1996). AN ACT APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF FOURTEEN BILLION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE MILLION PESOS (P14,455,000,000) FOR THE INCREASED SHARE IN 1997 OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS IN THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES RA 7942 (1995), Sec. 82. Allocation of Government Share. The Government share as referred to in the preceding sections shall be shared and allocated in accordance with Sections 290 and 292 of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. In case the development and utilization of mineral resources is undertaken by a government-owned or -controlled corporation, the sharing and allocation shall be in accordance with Sections 291 and 292 of the said Code. RA 7916, as amended by RA 9424 (1999), Sec. 24 . Exemption from Taxes Under the National Internal Revenue Code. - Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, no taxes, local and national, shall be imposed on business establishments operating within the ECOZONE. In lieu of paying taxes, five percent (5%) of the gross income earned by all businesses and enterprises within the ECOZONE shall be remitted to the national government. This five percent (5%) shall be shared and distributed as follows: a) Three percent (3%) to the national government; b) One percent (1%) to the local government units affected by the declaration of the ECOZONE in proportion to their population, land area, and equal sharing factors; and c) One percent (1%) for the establishment of a development fund to be utilized for the development of municipalities outside and contiguous to each ECOZONE: Provided, however, That the respective share of the affected local government units shall be determined on the basis of the following formula: 1) Population - fifty percent (50%) 2) Land area - twenty-five percent (25%); and 3) Equal sharing - twenty-five percent (25%). RA 8975 (2000), Sec. 7. Issuance of Permits. Upon payment in cash of the necessary fees levied under Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the governor of the province or mayor of a highly-urbanized city shall immediately issue the necessary permit to extract sand, gravel and other quarry resources needed in government projects. The issuance of said permit shall consider environmental laws, land use ordinances and the pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code relating to environment. RA 9165 (2002), Sec. 51. Local Government Units' Assistance. Local government units shall appropriate a substantial portion of their respective annual budgets to assist in or enhance the enforcement of this Act giving priority to preventive or educational programs and the rehabilitation or treatment of drug dependents. Basco v. PAGCOR, skipped. Estanislao v. Costales, skipped. Floro Cement v. Gorospe, skipped. Figuerres v. CA, skipped. Olongapo v. Stallholders of the East Bajac-Bajac Public Market, skipped. Berdin v. Mascarinas, skipped. Olivares v. Marquez, skipped. Common Limitations on the Taxing Powers of Local Government Units Bulacan v. CA. The province had no authority to impose taxes on materials extracted from private lands. LGC, 138 expressly prohibits the same. || NIRC levies a tax on all quarry resources, regardless of origin. LGC only allows levy of tax on public land. FPIC v. CA. FPIC is a common carrier, hence exempt under 133(j) FPIC falss under the definition of a common carrier under CC. || FPIC already paying 3% common carrier tax under NIRC; to be taxed by the LGU would amount to double taxation || Also, petroleum act pipeline concessioner = common carrier = public utility Palma Devt Corp. v. Mun. of Malangas. A service fee imposed on vehivcles using municipal roads leading to the wharf is valid, by express language of 153&155. LGUs may prescribe terms and conditions for imposition of toll fees/charges for use of any public land. BUT wharfage labeled as sevice fee for police surveillance on all goods is not valid. Sec. 133(e) prohibits the imposition in the guise of wharfage of fess on good s/merchandise. Batangas Power Corp. v. Batangas City and NPC . The tax holiday commence on the date of registration, not on the date of commencement of business (LGC, 133(g). Date of commencement of business applies to national government under EO226, not on LGU Lepanto Consolidated Mining v. Ambanloc . CTA: Sand and gravel tax can ve imposed on non-commercial extractions. Sec. 138 authorized the LGC to impose tax on extraction of sand and gravel on public lands without distinction as to use; SC: The CTA erred in applying the provision of the Local Government Code (Section 138) since the basis of Benguet province emanates from the Revised Benguet Revenue Code itself. This notwithstanding, the provincial revenue measure still did not distinguish between commercial and non-commercial extractions. In addition, the Petitioners argument that when a company is taxed on its main business it can no longer be taxable for engaging in an activity that is but part of, incidental to, and necessary to such main business, was held to be inapplicable. The Court said that the cases where the above principle has been applied involved business taxes and thus the incidental activities could not be treated as separate and distinct from the main business. Here the tax being imposed was an excise tax levied on the privilege of extracting gravel and sand. Franchise Taxes LGC, 137. Franchise Tax. - Notwithstanding any exemption granted by any law or other special law, the province may impose a tax on businesses enjoying a franchise, at the rate not exceeding fifty percent (50%) of one percent (1%) of the gross annual receipts for the preceding calendar year based on the incoming receipt, or realized, within its territorial jurisdiction. In the case of a newly started business, the tax shall not exceed one-twentieth (1/20) of one percent (1%) of the capital investment. In the succeeding calendar year, regardless of when the business started to operate, the tax shall be based on the gross receipts for the preceding calendar year, or any fraction thereon, as provided herein. LGC, 193. Withdrawal of Tax Exemption Privileges. - Unless otherwise provided in this Code, tax exemptions or incentives granted to, or presently enjoyed by all persons, whether natural or juridical, including government-owned or controlled corporations, except local water districts, cooperatives duly registered under R.A. No. 6938, non-stock and non-profit hospitals and educational institutions, are hereby withdrawn upon the effectivity of this Code. LGC, 534. Repealing Clause. (a) Batas Pambansa Blg. 337, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, Executive Order No. 112 (1987), and Executive Order No. 319 (1988) are hereby repealed. (b) Presidential Decree Nos. 684, 1191, 1508 and such other decrees, orders, instructions, memoranda and issuances related to or concerning the barangay are hereby repealed. (c) The provisions of Sections 2, 3, and 4 of Republic Act No. 1939 regarding hospital fund; Section 3, a (3) and b (2) of Republic Act No. 5447 regarding the Special Education Fund; Presidential Decree No. 144 as amended by Presidential Decree Nos. 559 and 1741; Presidential Decree No. 231 as amended; Presidential Decree No. 436 as amended by Presidential Decree No. 558; and Presidential Decree Nos. 381, 436, 464, 477, 526, 632, 752, and 1136 are hereby repealed and rendered of no force and effect. (d) Presidential Decree No. 1594 is hereby repealed insofar as it governs locally-funded projects. (e) The following provisions are hereby repealed or amended insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Code: Sections 2, 16 and 29 of Presidential Decree No. 704; Section 12 of Presidential Decree No. 87, as amended; Section 52, 53, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 of Presidential Decree No. 463, as amended; and Section 16 of Presidential Decree No. 972, as amended, and (f) All general and special laws, acts, city charters, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and administrative regulations, or part or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Code are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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MERALCO v. Laguna. MERALCO can be taxed. LGC explicitly authorizes provincial governments, notwithstanding any exemptions granted by any law or other special law, to impose tax on businesses enjoying a franchise || The phrase in lieu of all taxes in a franchis HAS to give way to the peremptory language of the LGCspecifically withdrawing exemptions (Sec. 193) || While the SC has frequently referred to tax exemptions contained in special franchises as contracts, these exemptions are far from being strictly contractual. A franchise is in the nature of a grant, thus beyond the purview of the non-impairment clause PLDT v. City of Davao. Petitioner contends that because their existing franchises contain in lieu of all taxes clauses, the same grant of tax exem ption must be deemed to have become ipso facto part of its previously granted telecommunications franchise. But the rule is that tax exemptions should be granted only by a clear and unequivocal provision of law expressed in a language too plain to be mistaken and assuming for the nonce that the charters of Globe and of Smart grant tax exemptions, then this runabout way of granting tax exemption to PLDT is not a direct, clear and unequivocal way o f communicating the legislative intent. || Nor does the term exemption in Sec. 23 of RA 7925 mean tax exe mption. The term refers to exemption from regulations and requirements imposed by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). For instance, RA 7925, Sec. 17 provides: The Commission shall exempt any specific telecommunications service from its rate or tariff regulations if the service has sufficient competition to ensure fair and reasonable rates of tariffs. Another exemption granted by the law in line with its policy of deregulation is the exemption from the requirement of securing permits from the NTC every time a telecommunications company imports equipment. NPC v. City of Cabanatuan. NPC liable || GR: LGUs cannot impose taxes/fees/charges on NG/agencies/intsrumentalities; Exc: when specific provisions of the LGC authorize LGUs to impose taxes || Under present LGC, Basco doctrine no longer applies. In enacting LGC, Congress exercised its prerogative to tax government insti and agencies || NPC fulfills requisites: (1) its a secondary franchise [primary franchise = rt. to exist as a corporation via AOI/charter; secondary franchise: right and privilege conferred upon]; (2) it exercises rights and privileges under this franchise within city government territory NPC v. Province of Isabela. Same as Cabanatuan ruling Fels Energy v. Batangas. The barges are subject to RPT [NCC, 415(9)]. Exempt under 234(c)? NO. As per agreement, ownership belongs to Polar and not NPC. Digitel v. Pangasinan . Prior to the enactment and effectivity of its legislative franchise, with only a provincial franchise to speak of, Digitel did not enjoy any exemption from payment of franchise and real property taxes. The word exemption as used in RA 7925 pertains to an exemption from regulatory or reporting requirements of the DOTC or the NTC and not to the grantees tax liability. In many resolved cases, the Court ruled that when exemption is claimed, it must be shown indubitably to exist a well-founded doubt is fatal to the claim. It is only when the terms of the concession are too explicit to admit fairly of any other, construction that the preposition can be supported. || On whether Congerss may lift the taxing power of LGU, Court said: the grant of taxing powers to LGUs under LGC does not affect the power of Congress to grant exemptions to certain persons, pursuant to a declared national policy. The legal effect of that in interpreting statutory provisions on municipal corporations. Congress exempted real property tax on those properties actually, exclusively and direcdtly used by DIGITEL in the pursuit of its franchise. Smart v. City of Davao. Jurisprudence suggests that aside from National Franchise Tax, franchisee is still liable to pay local FT, iunless it is expressly and unequiviocally exempted from payment thereof || in lieu of all taxes should categoricall state that the exemption applies to both local and national FT || Ra 7716, in this case, died not remove/abolish the local franchise tax. Amusement Taxes LGC, 140. Amusement Tax. (a) The province may levy an amusement tax to be collected from the proprietors, lessees, or operators of theaters, cinemas, concert halls, circuses, boxing stadia, and other places of amusement at a rate of not more than thirty percent (30%) of the gross receipts from admission fees. (b) In the case of theaters or cinemas, the tax shall first be deducted and withheld by their proprietors, lessees, or operators and paid to the provincial treasurer before the gross receipts are divided between said proprietors, lessees, or operators and the distributors of the cinematographic films. (c) The holding of operas, concerts, dramas, recitals, painting and art exhibitions, flower shows, musical programs, literary and oratorical presentations, except pop, rock, or similar concerts shall be exempt from the payment of the tax hereon imposed. (d) The sangguniang panlalawigan may prescribe the time, manner, terms and conditions for the payment of tax. In case of fraud or failure to pay the tax, the sangguniang panlalawigan may impose such surcharges, interest and penalties as it may deem appropriate. (e) The proceeds from the amusement tax shall be shared equally by the province and the municipality where such amusement places are located. LGC, 141. Annual Fixed Tax For Every Delivery Truck or Van of Manufacturers or Producers, Wholesalers of, Dealers, or Retailers in, Certain Products. (a) The province may levy an annual fixed tax for every truck, van or any vehicle used by manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, dealers or retailers in the delivery or distribution of distilled spirits, fermented liquors, soft drinks, cigars and cigarettes, and other products as may be determined by the sangguniang panlalawigan, to sales outlets, or consumers, whether directly or indirectly, within the province in an amount not exceeding Five hundred pesos (P500.00). (b) The manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, dealers and retailers referred to in the immediately foregoing paragraph shall be exempt from the tax on peddlers prescribed elsewhere in this Code. LGC, 150. Situs of the Tax. (a) For purposes of collection of the taxes under Section 143 of this Code, manufacturers, assemblers, repackers, brewers, distillers, rectifiers and compounders of liquor, distilled spirits and wines, millers, producers, exporters, wholesalers, distributors, dealers, contractors, banks and other financial institutions, and other businesses, maintaining or operating branch or sales outlet elsewhere shall record the sale in the branch or sales outlet making the sale or transaction, and the tax thereon shall accrue and shall be paid to the municipality where such branch or sales outlet is located. In cases where there is no such branch or sales outlet in the city or municipality where the sale or transaction is made, the sale shall be duly recorded in the principal office and the taxes due shall accrue and shall be paid to such city or municipality. (b) The following sales allocation shall apply to manufacturers, assemblers, contractors, producers, and exporters with factories, project offices, plants, and plantations in the pursuit of their business: (1) Thirty percent (30%) of all sales recorded in the principal office shall be taxable by the city or municipality where the principal office is located; and (2) Seventy percent (70%) of all sales recorded in the principal office shall be taxable by the city or municipality where the factory, project office, plant, or plantation is located. (c) In case of a plantation located at a place other than the place where the factory is located, said seventy percent (70%) mentioned in subparagraph (b) of subsection (2) above shall be divided as follows: (1) Sixty percent (60%) to the city or municipality where the factory is located; and (2) Forty percent (40%) to the city or municipality where the plantation is located. (d) In cases where a manufacturer, assembler, producer, exporter or contractor has two (2) or more factories, project offices, plants, or plantations located in different localities, the seventy percent (70%) sales allocation mentioned in subparagraph (b) of subsection (2) above shall be prorated among the localities where the factories, project offices, plants, and plantations are located in proportion to their respective volumes of production during the period for which the tax is due. (e) The foregoing sales allocation shall be applied irrespective of whether or not sales are made in the locality where the factory, project office, plant, or plantation is located. RA 9167 (2002), Sec. 13. Privileges of Graded Films. - Films which have obtained an "A" or "B" grading from the Council pursuant to Sections 11 and 12 of this Act shall be entitled to the following privileges: a. Amusement tax reward. - A grade "A" or "B" film shall entitle its producer to an incentive equivalent to the amusement tax imposed and collected on the graded films by cities and municipalities in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized and independent component cities in the Philippines pursuant to Sections 140 and 151 of Republic Act No. 7160 at the following rates: 1. For grade "A" films - 100% of the amusement tax collected on such films; and 2. For grade "B" films. - 65% of the amusement tax collected on such films. The remaining thirty-five (35%) shall accrue to the funds of the Council. RA 9167 (2002), Sec. 14. Amusement Tax Deduction and Remittances. - All revenue from the amusement tax on the graded film which may otherwise accrue to the cities and municipalities in Metropolitan Manila and highly urbanized and independent component cities in the Philippines pursuant to Section 140 of Republic Act. No. 7160 during the period the graded film is exhibited, shall be deducted and withheld by the proprietors, operators or lessees of
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theaters or cinemas and remitted within thirty (30) days from the termination of the exhibition to the Council which shall reward the corresponding amusement tax to the producers of the graded film within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof. Proprietors, operators and lessees of theaters or cinemas who fail to remit the amusement tax proceeds within the prescribed period shall be liable to a surcharge equivalent to five percent (5%) of the amount due for each month of delinquency which shall be paid to the Council. RA 9167 (2002), Sec. 15. Enforcement. - For purposes of implementing the previous Section, the Council may: 1. Impose administrative fines and penalties of not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) for the violation of any provision of this Act and/or its implementing rules and regulations issued by the Council; 2. Cause or initiate the criminal or administrative prosecution of violators of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. For this purpose, the Council is hereby given the power to issue subpoena duces tecum and enlist the assistance or services of the Department of Justice or the Office of the Solicitor General; 3. Cause the closure of any theater or cinema that fails or unreasonably refuses to remit the tax collected on a graded film for a period not exceeding fifteen (15) days after which such period shall be automatically lifted without prejudice to the right of the Council to cause or initiate criminal or administrative prosecution against the erring theater or cinema owners pursuant to paragraph 2 of this section; 4. Call upon representative of the different government agencies and other various associations in the movie industry to help ensure compliance with the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. For this purpose, the Council may continue Local Regulatory Council or Councils in the cities and municipalities throughout the country composed of representatives from the government and from the private sector as may be appropriate to implement the purposes and objectives of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations and they shall serve without compensation and only for such period of time as the Chairperson shall determine; 5. To deputize any law enforcement agency and instrumentality of the government for assistance in the implementation and enforcement of its functions and orders. PBA v. CA. LGUs authority to tax professional basketball games is not included. PBA is liable to pay 15% of its GR to the National Government Real Property Taxation LGC, 197. Scope. - This Title shall govern the administration, appraisal, assessment, levy and collection of real property tax. LGC, 198. Fundamental Principles. - The appraisal, assessment, levy and collection of real property tax shall be guided by the following fundamental principles: (a) Real property shall be appraised at its current and fair market value; (b) Real property shall be classified for assessment purposes on the basis of its actual use; (c) Real property shall be assessed on the basis of a uniform classification within each local government unit; (d) The appraisal, assessment, levy and collection of real property tax shall not be let to any private person; and (e) The appraisal and assessment of real property shall be equitable. LGC, 199. Definitions. - When used in this Title: (a) "Acquisition Cost" for newly-acquired machinery not yet depreciated and appraised within the year of its purchase, refers to the actual cost of the machinery to its present owner, plus the cost of transportation, handling, and installation at the present site; (b) "Actual Use" refers to the purpose for which the property is principally or predominantly utilized by the person in possession thereof; (c) "Ad Valorem Tax" is a levy on real property determined on the basis of a fixed proportion of the value of the property; (d) "Agricultural Land" is land devoted principally to the planting of trees, raising of crops, livestock and poultry, dairying, salt making, inland fishing and similar aquacultural activities, and other agricultural activities, and is not classified as mineral, timber, residential, commercial or industrial land; (e) "Appraisal" is the act or process of determining the value of property as of a specified date for a specific purpose; (f) "Assessment" is the act or process of determining the value of a property, or proportion thereof subject to tax, including the discovery, listing, classification, and appraisal of properties; (g) "Assessment Level" is the percentage applied to the fair market value to determine the taxable value of the property; (h) "Assessed Value" is the fair market value of the real property multiplied by the assessment level. It is synonymous to taxable value; (i) "Commercial Land" is land devoted principally for the object of profit and is not classified as agricultural, industrial, mineral, timber, or residential land; (j) "Depreciated Value" is the value remaining after deducting depreciation from the acquisition cost; (k) "Economic Life" is the estimated period over which it is anticipated that a machinery or equipment may be profitably utilized; (l) "Fair Market Value" is the price at which a property may be sold by a seller who is not compelled to sell and bought by a buyer who is not compelled to buy; (m) "Improvement" is a valuable addition made to a property or an amelioration in its condition, amounting to more than a mere repair or replacement of parts involving capital expenditures and labor, which is intended to enhance its value, beauty or utility or to adapt it for new or further purposes; (n) "Industrial Land" is land devoted principally to industrial activity as capital investment and is not classified as agricultural, commercial, timber, mineral or residential land; (o) "Machinery" embraces machines, equipment, mechanical contrivances, instruments, appliances or apparatus which may or may not be attached, permanently or temporarily, to the real property. It includes the physical facilities for production, the installations and appurtenant service facilities, those which are mobile, self-powered or self-propelled, and those not permanently attached to the real property which are actually, directly, and exclusively used to meet the needs of the particular industry, business or activity and which by their very nature and purpose are designed for, or necessary to its manufacturing, mining, logging, commercial, industrial or agricultural purposes; (p) "Mineral Lands" are lands in which minerals, metallic or non-metallic, exist in sufficient quantity or grade to justify the necessary expenditures to extract and utilize such materials; (q) "Reassessment" is the assigning of new assessed values to property, particularly real estate, as the result of a general, partial, or individual reappraisal of the property; (r) "Remaining Economic Life" is the period of time expressed in years from the date of appraisal to the date when the machinery becomes valueless; (s) "Remaining Value" is the value corresponding to the remaining useful life of the machinery; (t) "Replacement or Reproduction Cost" is the cost that would be incurred on the basis of current prices, in acquiring an equally desirable substitute property, or the cost of reproducing a new replica of the property on the basis of current prices with the same or closely similar material; and (u) "Residential Land" is land principally devoted to habitation. LGC, 200. Administration of the Real Property Tax. - The provinces and cities, including the municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area, shall be primarily responsible for the proper, efficient and effective administration of the real property tax. CHAPTER II: Appraisal and Assessment of Real Property LGC, 201. Appraisal of Real Property. - All real property, whether taxable or exempt, shall be appraised at the current and fair market value prevailing in the locality where the property is situated. The Department of Finance shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the classification, appraisal, and assessment of real property pursuant to the provisions of this Code. LGC, 202. Declaration of real Property by the Owner or Administrator. - It shall be the duty of all persons, natural or juridical, owning or administering real property, including the improvements therein, within a city or municipality, or their duly authorized representative, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and file with the provincial, city or municipal assessor, a sworn statement declaring the true value of their property, whether previously declared or undeclared, taxable or exempt, which shall be the current and fair market value of the property, as determined by the declarant. Such declaration shall contain a description of the property sufficient in detail to enable the assessor or his deputy to identify the same for assessment purposes. The sworn declaration of real property herein referred to shall be filed with the assessor concerned once every three (3) years during the period from January first (1st) to June thirtieth (30th) commencing with the calendar year 1992. LGC, 203. Duty of Person Acquiring Real Property or Making Improvement Thereon. - It shall also be the duty of any person, or his authorized representative, acquiring at any time real property in any municipality or city or making any improvement on real property, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and file with
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the provincial, city or municipal assessor, a sworn statement declaring the true value of subject property, within sixty (60) days after the acquisition of such property or upon completion or occupancy of the improvement, whichever comes earlier. LGC, 204. Declaration of Real Property by the Assessor. - When any person, natural or juridical, by whom real property is required to be declared under Section 202 hereof, refuses or fails for any reason to make such declaration within the time prescribed, the provincial, city or municipal assessor shall himself declare the property in the name of the defaulting owner, if known, or against an unknown owner, as the case may be, and shall assess the property for taxation in accordance with the provision of this Title. No oath shall be required of a declaration thus made by the provincial, city or municipal assessor. LGC, 205. Listing of Real Property in the Assessment Rolls. (a) In every province and city, including the municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area, there shall be prepared and maintained by the provincial, city or municipal assessor an assessment roll wherein shall be listed all real property, whether taxable or exempt, located within the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit concerned. Real property shall be listed, valued and assessed in the name of the owner or administrator, or anyone having legal interest in the property. (b) The undivided real property of a deceased person may be listed, valued and assessed in the name of the estate or of the heirs and devisees without designating them individually; and undivided real property other than that owned by a deceased may be listed, valued and assessed in the name of one or more co-owners: Provided, however, That such heir, devisee, or co-owner shall be liable severally and proportionately for all obligations imposed by this Title and the payment of the real property tax with respect to the undivided property. (c) The real property of a corporation, partnership, or association shall be listed, valued and assessed in the same manner as that of an individual. (d) Real property owned by the Republic of the Philippines, its instrumentalities and political subdivisions, the beneficial use of which has been granted, for consideration or otherwise, to a taxable person, shall be listed, valued and assessed in the name of the possessor, grantee or of the public entity if such property has been acquired or held for resale or lease. LGC, 206. Proof of Exemption of Real Property from Taxation. - Every person by or for whom real property is declared, who shall claim tax exemption for such property under this Title shall file with the provincial, city or municipal assessor within thirty (30) days from the date of the declaration of real property sufficient documentary evidence in support of such claim including corporate charters, title of ownership, articles of incorporation, by-laws, contracts, affidavits, certifications and mortgage deeds, and similar documents. If the required evidence is not submitted within the period herein prescribed, the property shall be listed as taxable in the assessment roll. However, if the property shall be proven to be tax exempt, the same shall be dropped from the assessment roll. LGC, 207. Real Property Identification System. - All declarations of real property made under the provisions of this Title shall be kept and filed under a uniform classification system to be established by the provincial, city or municipal assessor. LGC, 208. Notification of Transfer of Real Property Ownership. - Any person who shall transfer real property ownership to another shall notify the provincial, city or municipal assessor concerned within sixty (60) days from the date of such transfer. The notification shall include the mode of transfer, the description of the property alienated, the name and address of the transferee. LGC, 209. Duty of Registrar of Deeds to Appraise Assessor of Real Property Listed in Registry. (a) To ascertain whether or not any real property entered in the Registry of Property has escaped discovery and listing for the purpose of taxation, the Registrar of Deeds shall prepare and submit to the provincial, city or municipal assessor, within six (6) months from the date of effectivity of this Code and every year thereafter, an abstract of his registry, which shall include brief but sufficient description of the real properties entered therein, their present owners, and the dates of their most recent transfer or alienation accompanied by copies of corresponding deeds of sale, donation, or partition or other forms of alienation. (b) It shall also be the duty of the Registrar of Deeds to require every person who shall present for registration a document of transfer, alienation, or encumbrance of real property to accompany the same with a certificate to the effect that the real property subject of the transfer, alienation, or encumbrance, as the case may be, has been fully paid of all real property taxes due thereon. Failure to provide such certificate shall be a valid cause for the Registrar of Deeds to refuse the registration of the document. LGC, 210. Duty of Official Issuing Building Permit or Certificate of Registration of Machinery to Transmit Copy to Assessor. - Any public official or employee who may now or hereafter be required by law or regulation to issue to any person a permit for the construction, addition, repair, or renovation of a building, or permanent improvement on land, or a certificate of registration for any machinery, including machines, mechanical contrivances, and apparatus attached or affixed on land or to another real property, shall transmit a copy of such permit or certificate within thirty (30) days of its issuance, to the assessor of the province, city or municipality where the property is situated. LGC, 211. Duty of Geodetic Engineers to Furnish Copy of Plans to Assessor. - It shall be the duty of all geodetic engineers, public or private, to furnish free of charge to the assessor of the province, city or municipality where the land is located with a white or blue print copy of each of all approved original or subdivision plans or maps of surveys executed by them within thirty (30) days from receipt of such plans from the Lands Management Bureau, the Land Registration Authority, or the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, as the case may be. LGC, 212. Preparation of Schedule of Fair Market Values. - Before any general revision of property assessment is made pursuant to the provisions of this Title, there shall be prepared a schedule of fair market values by the provincial, city and municipal assessor of the municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area for the different classes of real property situated in their respective local government units for enactment by ordinance of the sanggunian concerned. The schedule of fair market values shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the province, city or municipality concerned or in the absence thereof, shall be posted in the provincial capitol, city or municipal hall and in two other conspicuous public places therein. LGC, 213. Authority of Assessor to Take Evidence. - For the purpose of obtaining information on which to base the market value of any real property, the assessor of the province, city or municipality or his deputy may summon the owners of the properties to be affected or persons having legal interest therein and witnesses, administer oaths, and take deposition concerning the property, its ownership, amount, nature, and value. LGC, 214. Amendment of Schedule of Fair Market Values. - The provincial, city or municipal assessor may recommend to the sanggunian concerned amendments to correct errors in valuation in the schedule of fair market values. The sanggunian concerned shall, by ordinance, act upon the recommendation within ninety (90) days from receipt thereof. LGC, 215. Classes of Real Property for Assessment Purposes. - For purposes of assessment, real property shall be classified as residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, mineral, timberland or special. The city or municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, through their respective sanggunian, shall have the power to classify lands as residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, mineral, timberland, or special in accordance with their zoning ordinances. LGC, 216. Special Classes of Real Property. - All lands, buildings, and other improvements thereon actually, directly and exclusively used for hospitals, cultural, or scientific purposes, and those owned and used by local water districts, and government-owned or controlled corporations rendering essential public services in the supply and distribution of water and/or generation and transmission of electric power shall be classified as special. LGC, 217. Actual Use of Real Property as Basis for Assessment. - Real property shall be classified, valued and assessed on the basis of its actual use regardless of where located, whoever owns it, and whoever uses it. LGC, 218. Assessment Levels. - The assessment levels to be applied to the fair market value of real property to determine its assessed value shall be fixed by ordinances of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan of a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, at the rates not exceeding the following: (a) On Lands: CLASS Residential Agricultural Commercial Industrial Mineral ASSESSMENT LEVELS 20% 40% 50% 50% 50%
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Timberland 20%
(b) On Buildings and Other Structures:
(1) Fair market Value Over Not Over P175,000.00 P175,000.00 300,000.00 500,000.00 750,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 (2) Fair Market Value Over P300,000.00 P300,000.00 500,000.00 750,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 (3) Commercial Fair Market Value Over P300,000.00 P300,000.00 500,000.00 750,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 (4) Fair Market Value Over P300,000.00 P300,000.00 Not Over 45% 500,000.00 50% 500,000.00 750,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 Not Over 500,000.00 750,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 Not Over 300,000.00 500,000.00 750,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 10,000,000.00
Residential Assessment Levels 0% 10% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 50% 60% Agricultural Assessment Levels 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% / Industrial
Assessment Levels 30% 35% 40% 50% 60% 70% 75% 80% Timberland Assessment Levels
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500,000.00 750,000.00 5,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 (c) On Machineries Class Agricultural Residential Commercial Industrial Assessment Levels 40% 50% 80% 80% 750,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 70% 55% 60% 65%
(d) On Special Classes: The assessment levels for all lands buildings, machineries and other improvements; Actual Use Cultural Scientific Hospital Local water districts Assessment Level 15% 15% 15% 10%
Government-owned or controlled 10% corporations engaged in the supply and distribution of water and/or generation and transmission of electric power LGC, 219. General Revision of Assessment and Property Classification. - The provincial, city or municipal assessor shall undertake a general revision of real property assessments within two (2) years after the effectivity of this Code and every three (3) years thereafter. LGC, 220. Valuation of Real Property. - In cases where (a) real property is declared and listed for taxation purposes for the first time; (b) there is an ongoing general revision of property classification and assessment; or (c) a request is made by the person in whose name the property is declared, the provincial, city or municipal assessor or his duly authorized deputy shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, make a classification, appraisal and assessment or taxpayer's valuation thereon: Provided, however, That the assessment of real property shall not be increased oftener than once every three (3) years except in case of new improvements substantially increasing the value of said property or of any change in its actual use. LGC, 221. Date of Effectivity of Assessment or Reassessment. - All assessments or reassessments made after the first (1st) day of January of any year shall take effect on the first (1st) day of January of the succeeding year: Provided, however, That the reassessment of real property due to its partial or total destruction, or to a major change in its actual use, or to any great and sudden inflation or deflation of real property values, or to the gross illegality of the assessment when made or to any other abnormal cause, shall be made within ninety (90) days from the date any such cause or causes occurred, and shall take effect at the beginning of the quarter next following the reassessment. LGC, 222. Assessment of Property Subject to Back Taxes. - Real property declared for the first time shall be assessed for taxes for the period during which it would have been liable but in no case of more than ten (10) years prior to the date of initial assessment: Provided, however, That such taxes shall be computed on the basis of the applicable schedule of values in force during the corresponding period. If such taxes are paid on or before the end of the quarter following the date the notice of assessment was received by the owner or his representative, no interest for delinquency shall be imposed thereon; otherwise, such taxes shall be subject to an interest at the rate of two percent (2%) per month or a fraction thereof from the date of the receipt of the assessment until such taxes are fully paid. LGC, 223. Notification of New or Revised Assessment. - When real property is assessed for the first time or when an existing assessment is increased or decreased, the provincial, city or municipal assessor shall within thirty (30) days give written notice of such new or revised assessment to the person in whose name the property is declared. The notice may be delivered personally or by registered mail or through the assistance of the punong barangay to the last known address of the person to be served. LGC, 224. Appraisal and Assessment of Machinery. (a) The fair market value of a brand-new machinery shall be the acquisition cost. In all other cases, the fair market value shall be determined by dividing the remaining economic life of the machinery by its estimated economic life and multiplied by the replacement or reproduction cost. (b) If the machinery is imported, the acquisition cost includes freight, insurance, bank and other charges, brokerage, arrastre and handling, duties and taxes, plus charges at the present site. The cost in foreign currency of imported machinery shall be converted to peso cost on the basis of foreign currency exchange rates as fixed by the Central Bank. LGC, 225. Depreciation Allowance for Machinery. - For purposes of assessment, a depreciation allowance shall be made for machinery at a rate not exceeding five percent (5%) of its original cost or its replacement or reproduction cost, as the case may be, for each year of use: Provided, however, That the remaining value for all kinds of machinery shall be fixed at not less than twenty percent (20%) of such original, replacement, or reproduction cost for so long as the machinery is useful and in operation. CHAPTER III: Assessment Appeals LGC, 226. Local Board of Assessment Appeals. - Any owner or person having legal interest in the property who is not satisfied with the action of the provincial, city or municipal assessor in the assessment of his property may, within sixty (60) days from the date of receipt of the written notice of assessment, appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals of the provincial or city by filing a petition under oath in the form prescribed for the purpose, together with copies of the tax declarations and such affidavits or documents submitted in support of the appeal. LGC, 227. Organization, Powers, Duties, and Functions of the Local Board of Assessment Appeals. (a) The Board of Assessment Appeals of the province or city shall be composed of the Registrar of Deeds, as Chairman, the provincial or city prosecutor and the provincial, or city engineer as members, who shall serve as such in an ex officio capacity without additional compensation. (b) The chairman of the Board shall have the power to designate any employee of the province or city to serve as secretary to the Board also without additional compensation. (c) The chairman and members of the Board of Assessment Appeals of the province or city shall assume their respective positions without need of further appointment or special designations immediately upon effectivity of this Code. They shall take oath or affirmation of office in the prescribed form.
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(d) In provinces and cities without a provincial or city engineer, the district engineer shall serve as member of the Board. In the absence of the Registrar of Deeds, or the provincial or city prosecutor, or the provincial or city engineer, or the district engineer, the persons performing their duties, whether in an acting capacity or as a duly designated officer-in-charge, shall automatically become the chairman or member, respectively, of the said Board, as the case may be. LGC, 228. Meetings and Expenses of the Local Board of Assessment Appeals. (a) The Board of Assessment Appeals of the province or city shall meet once a month and as often as may be necessary for the prompt disposition of appealed cases. No member of the Board shall be entitled to per diems or traveling expenses for his attendance in Board meetings, except when conducting an ocular inspection in connection with a case under appeal. (b) All expenses of the Board shall be charged against the general fund of the province or city, as the case may be. The sanggunian concerned shall appropriate the necessary funds to enable the Board in their respective localities to operate effectively. LGC, 229. Action by the Local Board of Assessment Appeals. (a) The Board shall decide the appeal within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of receipt of such appeal. The Board, after hearing, shall render its decision based on substantial evidence or such relevant evidence on record as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support the conclusion. (b) In the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction, the Board shall have the power to summon witnesses, administer oaths, conduct ocular inspection, take depositions, and issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum. The proceedings of the Board shall be conducted solely for the purpose of ascertaining the facts without necessarily adhering to technical rules applicable in judicial proceedings. (c) The secretary of the Board shall furnish the owner of the property or the person having legal interest therein and the provincial or city assessor with a copy of the decision of the Board. In case the provincial or city assessor concurs in the revision or the assessment, it shall be his duty to notify the owner of the property or the person having legal interest therein of such fact using the form prescribed for the purpose. The owner of the property or the person having legal interest therein or the assessor who is not satisfied with the decision of the Board, may, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the decision of said Board, appeal to the Central Board of Assessment Appeals, as herein provided. The decision of the Central Board shall be final and executory. LGC, 230. Central Board of Assessment Appeals. - The Central Board of Assessment Appeals shall be composed of a chairman, and two (2) members to be appointed by the President, who shall serve for a term of seven (7) years, without reappointment. Of those first appointed, the chairman shall hold office for seven (7) years, one member for five (5) years, and the other member for three (3) years. Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term of the predecessor. In no case shall any member be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting capacity. The chairman and the members of the Board shall be Filipino citizens, at least forty (40) years old at the time of their appointment, and members of the Bar or Certified Public Accountants for at least ten (10) years immediately preceding their appointment. The chairman of the Board of Assessment Appeals shall have the salary grade equivalent to the rank of Director III under the Salary Standardization Law exclusive of allowances and other emoluments. The members of the Board shall have the salary grade equivalent to the rank of Director II under the Salary Standardization Law exclusive of allowances and other emoluments. The Board shall have appellate jurisdiction over all assessment cases decided by the Local Board of Assessment Appeals. There shall be Hearing Officers to be appointed by the Central Board of Assessment Appeals pursuant to civil service laws, rules and regulations, one each for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, who shall hold office in Manila, Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City, respectively, and who shall serve for a term of six (6) years, without reappointment until their successors have been appointed and qualified. The Hearing Officers shall have the same qualifications as that of the Judges of the Municipal Trial Courts. The Central Board Assessment Appeals, in the performance of its powers and duties, may establish and organize staffs, offices, units, prescribe the titles, functions and duties of their members and adopt its own rules and regulations. Unless otherwise provided by law, the annual appropriations for the Central Board of Assessment Appeals shall be included in the budget of the Department of Finance in the corresponding General Appropriations Act. LGC, 231. Effect of Appeal on the Payment of Real Property Tax. - Appeal on assessments of real property made under the provisions of this Code shall, in no case, suspend the collection of the corresponding realty taxes on the property involved as assessed by the provincial or city assessor, without prejudice to subsequent adjustment depending upon the final outcome of the appeal. CHAPTER IV: Imposition of Real Property Tax LGC, 232. Power to Levy Real Property Tax. - A province or city or a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area my levy an annual ad valorem tax on real property such as land, building, machinery, and other improvement not hereinafter specifically exempted. LGC, 233. Rates of Levy. - A province or city or a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area shall fix a uniform rate of basic real property tax applicable to their respective localities as follows: (a) In the case of a province, at the rate not exceeding one percent (1%) of the assessed value of real property; and (b) In the case of a city or a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, at the rate not exceeding two percent (2%) of the assessed value of real property. LGC, 234. Exemptions from Real Property Tax. - The following are exempted from payment of the real property tax: (a) Real property owned by the Republic of the Philippines or any of its political subdivisions except when the beneficial use thereof has been granted, for consideration or otherwise, to a taxable person; (b) Charitable institutions, churches, parsonages or convents appurtenant thereto, mosques, non-profit or religious cemeteries and all lands, buildings, and improvements actually, directly, and exclusively used for religious, charitable or educational purposes; (c) All machineries and equipment that are actually, directly and exclusively used by local water districts and government owned or controlled corporations engaged in the supply and distribution of water and/or generation and transmission of electric power; (d) All real property owned by duly registered cooperatives as provided for under R.A. No. 6938; and (e) Machinery and equipment used for pollution control and environmental protection. Except as provided herein, any exemption from payment of real property tax previously granted to, or presently enjoyed by, all persons, whether natural or juridical, including all government-owned or controlled corporations are hereby withdrawn upon the effectivity of this Code. CHAPTER V: Special Levies on Real Property LGC, 235. Additional Levy on Real Property for the Special Education Fund. - A province or city, or a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, may levy and collect an annual tax of one percent (1%) on the assessed value of real property which shall be in addition to the basic real property tax. The proceeds thereof shall exclusively accrue to the Special Education Fund (SEF). LGC, 236. Additional Ad Valorem Tax on Idle Lands. - A province or city, or a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, may levy an annual tax on idle lands at the rate not exceeding five percent (5%) of the assessed value of the property which shall be in addition to the basic real property tax. LGC, 237. Idle Lands, Coverage. - For purposes of real property taxation, idle lands shall include the following: (a) Agricultural lands, more than one (1) hectare in area, suitable for cultivation, dairying, inland fishery, and other agricultural uses, one-half (1/2) of which remain uncultivated or unimproved by the owner of the property or person having legal interest therein. Agricultural lands planted to permanent or perennial crops with at least fifty (50) trees to a hectare shall not be considered idle lands. Lands actually used for grazing purposes shall likewise not be considered idle lands. (b) Lands, other than agricultural, located in a city or municipality, more than one thousand (1,000) square meters in area one-half (1/2) of which remain unutilized or unimproved by the owner of the property or person having legal interest therein. Regardless of land area, this Section shall likewise apply to residential lots in subdivisions duly approved by proper authorities, the ownership of which has been transferred to individual owners, who shall be liable for the additional tax: Provided, however, That individual lots of such subdivisions, the ownership of which has not been transferred to the buyer shall be considered as part of the subdivision, and shall be subject to the additional tax payable by subdivision owner or operator. LGC, 238. Idle Lands Exempt from Tax. - A province or city or a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area may exempt idle lands from the additional levy by reason of force majeure, civil disturbance, natural calamity or any cause or circumstance which physically or legally prevents the owner of the property or person having legal interest therein from improving, utilizing or cultivating the same.
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LGC, 239. Listing of Idle Lands by the Assessor. - The provincial, city or municipal assessor shall make and keep an updated record of all idle lands located within his area of jurisdiction. For purposes of collection, the provincial, city or municipal assessor shall furnish a copy thereof to the provincial or city treasurer who shall notify, on the basis of such record, the owner of the property or person having legal interest therein of the imposition of the additional tax. LGC, 240. Special Levy by Local Government Units. - A province, city or municipality may impose a special levy on the lands comprised within its territorial jurisdiction specially benefited by public works projects or improvements funded by the local government unit concerned: Provided, however, That the special levy shall not exceed sixty percent (60%) of the actual cost of such projects and improvements, including the costs of acquiring land and such other real property in connection therewith: Provided, further, That the special levy shall not apply to lands exempt from basic real property tax and the remainder of the land portions of which have been donated to the local government unit concerned for the construction of such projects or improvements. LGC, 241. Ordinance Imposing a Special Levy. - A tax ordinance imposing a special levy shall describe with reasonable accuracy the nature, extent, and location of the public works projects or improvements to be undertaken, state the estimated cost thereof, specify the metes and bounds by monuments and lines and the number of annual installments for the payment of the special levy which in no case shall be less than five (5) nor more than ten (10) years. The sanggunian concerned shall not be obliged, in the apportionment and computation of the special levy, to establish a uniform percentage of all lands subject to the payment of the tax for the entire district, but it may fix different rates for different parts or sections thereof, depending on whether such land is more or less benefited by proposed work. LGC, 242. Publication of Proposed Ordinance Imposing a Special Levy. - Before the enactment of an ordinance imposing a special levy, the sanggunian concerned shall conduct a public hearing thereon; notify in writing the owners of the real property to be affected or the persons having legal interest therein as to the date and place thereof and afford the latter the opportunity to express their positions or objections relative to the proposed ordinance. LGC, 243. Fixing the Amount of Special Levy. - The special levy authorized herein shall be apportioned, computed, and assessed according to the assessed valuation of the lands affected as shown by the books of the assessor concerned, or its current assessed value as fixed by said assessor if the property does not appear of record in his books. Upon the effectivity of the ordinance imposing special levy, the assessor concerned shall forthwith proceed to determine the annual amount of special levy assessed against each parcel of land comprised within the area especially benefited and shall send to each landowner a written notice thereof by mail, personal service or publication in appropriate cases. LGC, 244. Taxpayer's Remedies Against Special Levy. - Any owner of real property affected by a special levy or any person having a legal interest therein may, upon receipt of the written notice of assessment of the special levy, avail of the remedies provided for in Chapter 3, Title Two, Book II of this Code. LGC, 245. Accrual of Special Levy. - The special levy shall accrue on the first day of the quarter next following the effectivity of the ordinance imposing such levy. CHAPTER VI: Collection of Real Property Tax LGC, 246. Date of Accrual of Tax. - The real property tax for any year shall accrue on the first day of January and from that date it shall constitute a lien on the property which shall be superior to any other lien, mortgage, or encumbrance of any kind whatsoever, and shall be extinguished only upon the payment of the delinquent tax. LGC, 247. Collection of Tax. - The collection of the real property tax with interest thereon and related expenses, and the enforcement of the remedies provided for in this Title or any applicable laws, shall be the responsibility of the city or municipal treasurer concerned. The city or municipal treasurer may deputize the barangay treasurer to collect all taxes on real property located in the barangay: Provided, That the barangay treasurer is properly bonded for the purpose: Provided, further, That the premium on the bond shall be paid by the city or municipal government concerned. LGC, 248. Assessor to Furnish Local Treasurer with Assessment Roll. - The provincial, city or municipal assessor shall prepare and submit to the treasurer of the local government unit, on or before the thirty-first (31st) day of December each year, an assessment roll containing a list of all persons whose real properties have been newly assessed or reassessed and the values of such properties. LGC, 249. Notice of Time for Collection of Tax. - The city or municipal treasurer shall, on or before the thirty-first (31st) day of January each year, in the case of the basic real property tax and the additional tax for the Special Education Fund (SEF) or any other date to be prescribed by the sanggunian concerned in the case of any other tax levied under this title, post the notice of the dates when the tax may be paid without interest at a conspicuous and publicly accessible place at the city or municipal hall. Said notice shall likewise be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks. LGC, 250. Payment of Real Property Taxes in Installments. - The owner of the real property or the person having legal interest therein may pay the basic real property tax and the additional tax for Special Education Fund (SEF) due thereon without interest in four (4) equal installments; the first installment to be due and payable on or before March Thirty-first (31st); the second installment, on or before June Thirty (30); the third installment, on or before September Thirty (30); and the last installment on or before December Thirty-first (31st), except the special levy the payment of which shall be governed by ordinance of the sanggunian concerned. The date for the payment of any other tax imposed under this Title without interest shall be prescribed by the sanggunian concerned. Payments of real property taxes shall first be applied to prior years delinquencies, interests, and penalties, if any, and only after said delinquencies are settled may tax payments be credited for the current period. LGC, 251. Tax Discount for Advanced Prompt Payment. - If the basic real property tax and the additional tax accruing to the Special Education Fund (SEF) are paid in advance in accordance with the prescribed schedule of payment as provided under Section 250, the sanggunian concerned may grant a discount not exceeding twenty percent (20%) of the annual tax due. LGC, 252. Payment Under Protest. (a) No protest shall be entertained unless the taxpayer first pays the tax. There shall be annotated on the tax receipts the words "paid under protest". The protest in writing must be filed within thirty (30) days from payment of the tax to the provincial, city treasurer or municipal treasurer, in the case of a municipality within Metropolitan Manila Area, who shall decide the protest within sixty (60) days from receipt. (b) The tax or a portion thereof paid under protest, shall be held in trust by the treasurer concerned. (c) In the event that the protest is finally decided in favor of the taxpayer, the amount or portion of the tax protested shall be refunded to the protestant, or applied as tax credit against his existing or future tax liability. (d) In the event that the protest is denied or upon the lapse of the sixty day period prescribed in subparagraph (a), the taxpayer may avail of the remedies as provided for in Chapter 3, Title II, Book II of this Code. LGC, 253. Repayment of Excessive Collections. - When an assessment of basic real property tax, or any other tax levied under this Title, is found to be illegal or erroneous and the tax is accordingly reduced or adjusted, the taxpayer may file a written claim for refund or credit for taxes and interests with the provincial or city treasurer within two (2) years from the date the taxpayer is entitled to such reduction or adjustment. The provincial or city treasurer shall decide the claim for tax refund or credit within sixty (60) days from receipt thereof. In case the claim for tax refund or credit is denied, the taxpayer may avail of the remedies as provided in Chapter 3, Title II, Book II of this Code. LGC, 254. Notice of Delinquency in the Payment of the Real Property Tax. (a) When the real property tax or any other tax imposed under this Title becomes delinquent, the provincial, city or municipal treasurer shall immediately cause a notice of the delinquency to be posted at the main hall and in a publicly accessible and conspicuous place in each barangay of the local government unit concerned. The notice of delinquency shall also be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation in the province, city, or municipality. (b) Such notice shall specify the date upon which the tax became delinquent and shall state that personal property may be distrained to effect payment. It shall likewise state that any time before the distraint of personal property, payment of the tax with surcharges, interests and penalties may be made in accordance with the next following Section, and unless the tax, surcharges and penalties are paid before the expiration of the year for which the tax is due except when the notice of assessment or special levy is contested administratively or judicially pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3, Title II, Book II of this Code, the delinquent real property will be sold at public auction, and the title to the property will be vested in the purchaser, subject, however, to the right of the delinquent owner of the property or any person having legal interest therein to redeem the property within one (1) year from the date of sale. LGC, 255. Interests on Unpaid Real Property Tax. - In case of failure to pay the basic real property tax or any other tax levied under this Title upon the expiration of the periods as provided in Section 250, or when due, as the case may be, shall subject the taxpayer to the payment of interest at the rate of two percent (2%) per month on the unpaid amount or a fraction thereof, until the delinquent tax shall have been fully paid: Provided, however, That in no case shall the total interest on the unpaid tax or portion thereof exceed thirty-six (36) months.
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LGC, 256. Remedies For The Collection Of Real Property Tax. - For the collection of the basic real property tax and any other tax levied under this Title, the local government unit concerned may avail of the remedies by administrative action thru levy on real property or by judicial action. LGC, 257. Local Governments Lien. - The basic real property tax and any other tax levied under this Title constitutes a lien on the property subject to tax, superior to all liens, charges or encumbrances in favor of any person, irrespective of the owner or possessor thereof, enforceable by administrative or judicial action, and may only be extinguished upon payment of the tax and the related interests and expenses. LGC, 258. Levy on Real Property. - After the expiration of the time required to pay the basic real property tax or any other tax levied under this Title, real property subject to such tax may be levied upon through the issuance of a warrant on or before, or simultaneously with, the institution of the civil action for the collection of the delinquent tax. The provincial or city treasurer, or a treasurer of a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, as the case may be, when issuing a warrant of levy shall prepare a duly authenticated certificate showing the name of the delinquent owner of the property or person having legal interest therein, the description of the property, the amount of the tax due and the interest thereon. The warrant shall operate with the force of a legal execution throughout the province, city or a municipality, within the Metropolitan Manila Area. The warrant shall be mailed to or served upon the delinquent owner of the real property or person having legal interest therein, or in case he is out of the country or cannot be located, the administrator or occupant of the property. At the same time, written notice of the levy with the attached warrant shall be mailed to or served upon the assessor and the Registrar of Deeds of the province, city or municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area where the property is located, who shall annotate the levy on the tax declaration and certificate of title of the property, respectively. The levying officer shall submit a report on the levy to the sanggunian concerned within ten (10) days after receipt of the warrant by the owner of the property or person having legal interest therein. LGC, 259. Penalty for Failure to Issue and Execute Warrant. - Without prejudice to criminal prosecution under the Revised Penal Code and other applicable laws, any local treasurer or his deputy who fails to issue or execute the warrant of levy within one (1) year from the time the tax becomes delinquent or within thirty (30) days from the date of the issuance thereof, or who is found guilty of abusing the exercise thereof in an administrative or judicial proceeding shall be dismissed from the service. LGC, 260. Advertisement and Sale. - Within thirty (30) days after service of the warrant of levy, the local treasurer shall proceed to publicly advertise for sale or auction the property or a usable portion thereof as may be necessary to satisfy the tax delinquency and expenses of sale. The advertisement shall be effected by posting a notice at the main entrance of the provincial, city or municipal building, and in a publicly accessible and conspicuous place in the barangay where the real property is located, and by publication once a week for two (2) weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province, city or municipality where the property is located. The advertisement shall specify the amount of the delinquent tax, the interest due thereon and expenses of sale, the date and place of sale, the name of the owner of the real property or person having legal interest therein, and a description of the property to be sold. At any time before the date fixed for the sale, the owner of the real property or person having legal interest therein may stay the proceedings by paying the delinquent tax, the interest due thereon and the expenses of sale. The sale shall be held either at the main entrance of the provincial, city or municipal building, or on the property to be sold, or at any other place as specified in the notice of the sale. Within thirty (30) days after the sale, the local treasurer or his deputy shall make a report of the sale to the sanggunian concerned, and which shall form part of his records. The local treasurer shall likewise prepare and deliver to the purchaser a certificate of sale which shall contain the name of the purchaser, a description of the property sold, the amount of the delinquent tax, the interest due thereon, the expenses of sale and a brief description of the proceedings: Provided, however, That proceeds of the sale in excess of the delinquent tax, the interest due thereon, and the expenses of sale shall be remitted to the owner of the real property or person having legal interest therein. The local treasurer may, by ordinance duly approved, advance an amount sufficient to defray the costs of collection thru the remedies provided for in this Title, including the expenses of advertisement and sale. LGC, 261. Redemption of Property Sold. - Within one (1) year from the date of sale, the owner of the delinquent real property or person having legal interest therein, or his representative, shall have the right to redeem the property upon payment to the local treasurer of the amount of the delinquent tax, including the interest due thereon, and the expenses of sale from the date of delinquency to the date of sale, plus interest of not more than two percent (2%) per month on the purchase price from the date of sale to the date of redemption. Such payment shall invalidate the certificate of sale issued to the purchaser and the owner of the delinquent real property or person having legal interest therein shall be entitled to a certificate of redemption which shall be issued by the local treasurer or his deputy. From the date of sale until the expiration of the period of redemption, the delinquent real property shall remain in possession of the owner or person having legal interest therein who shall be entitled to the income and other fruits thereof. The local treasurer or his deputy, upon receipt from the purchaser of the certificate of sale, shall forthwith return to the latter the entire amount paid by him plus interest of not more than two percent (2%) per month. Thereafter, the property shall be free from lien of such delinquent tax, interest due thereon and expenses of sale. LGC, 262. Final Deed to Purchaser. - In case the owner or person having legal interest fails to redeem the delinquent property as provided herein, the local treasurer shall execute a deed conveying to the purchaser said property, free from lien of the delinquent tax, interest due thereon and expenses of sale. The deed shall briefly state the proceedings upon which the validity of the sale rests. LGC, 263. Purchase of Property By the Local Government Units for Want of Bidder. - In case there is no bidder for the real property advertised for sale as provided herein, the real property tax and the related interest and costs of sale the local treasurer conducting the sale shall purchase the property in behalf of the local government unit concerned to satisfy the claim and within two (2) days thereafter shall make a report of his proceedings which shall be reflected upon the records of his office. It shall be the duty of the Registrar of Deeds concerned upon registration with his office of any such declaration of forfeiture to transfer the title of the forfeited property to the local government unit concerned without the necessity of an order from a competent court. Within one (1) year from the date of such forfeiture, the taxpayer or any of his representative, may redeem the property by paying to the local treasurer the full amount of the real property tax and the related interest and the costs of sale. If the property is not redeemed as provided herein, the ownership thereof shall be vested on the local government unit concerned. LGC, 264. Resale of Real Estate Taken for Taxes, Fees, or Charges. - The sanggunian concerned may, by ordinance duly approved, and upon notice of not less than twenty (20) days, sell and dispose of the real property acquired under the preceding section at public auction. The proceeds of the sale shall accrue to the general fund of the local government unit concerned. LGC, 265. Further Distraint or Levy. - Levy may be repeated if necessary until the full amount due, including all expenses, is collected. LGC, 266. Collection of Real Property Tax Through the Courts. - The local government unit concerned may enforce the collection of the basic real property tax or any other tax levied under this Title by civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction. The civil action shall be filed by the local treasurer within the period prescribed in Section 270 of this Code. LGC, 267. Action Assailing Validity of Tax Sale. - No court shall entertain any action assailing the validity or any sale at public auction of real property or rights therein under this Title until the taxpayer shall have deposited with the court the amount for which the real property was sold, together with interest of two percent (2%) per month from the date of sale to the time of the institution of the action. The amount so deposited shall be paid to the purchaser at the auction sale if the deed is declared invalid but it shall be returned to the depositor if the action fails. Neither shall any court declare a sale at public auction invalid by reason or irregularities or informalities in the proceedings unless the substantive rights of the delinquent owner of the real property or the person having legal interest therein have been impaired. LGC, 268. Payment of Delinquent Taxes on Property Subject of Controversy. - In any action involving the ownership or possession of, or succession to, real property, the court may, motu propio or upon representation of the provincial, city, or municipal treasurer or his deputy, award such ownership, possession, or succession to any party to the action upon payment to the court of the taxes with interest due on the property and all other costs that may have accrued, subject to the final outcome of the action. LGC, 269. Treasurer to Certify Delinquencies Remaining Uncollected. - The provincial, city or municipal treasurer or their deputies shall prepare a certified list of all real property tax delinquencies which remained uncollected or unpaid for at least one (1) year in his jurisdiction, and a statement of the reason or reasons for such non-collection or non-payment, and shall submit the same to the sanggunian concerned on or before December thirty-first (31st) of the year immediately succeeding the year in which the delinquencies were incurred, with a request for assistance in the enforcement of the remedies for collection provided herein. LGC, 270. Periods Within Which To Collect Real Property Taxes. - The basic real property tax and any other tax levied under this Title shall be collected within five (5) years from the date they become due. No action for the collection of the tax, whether administrative or judicial, shall be instituted after the expiration
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of such period. In case of fraud or intent to evade payment of the tax, such action may be instituted for the collection of the same within ten (10) years from the discovery of such fraud or intent to evade payment. The period of prescription within which to collect shall be suspended for the time during which: (1) The local treasurer is legally prevented from collecting the tax; (2) The owner of the property or the person having legal interest therein requests for reinvestigation and executes a waiver in writing before the expiration of the period within which to collect; and (3) The owner of the property or the person having legal interest therein is out of the country or otherwise cannot be located. CHAPTER VII: Disposition of Proceeds LGC, 271. Distribution of Proceeds. - The proceeds of the basic real property tax, including interest thereon, and proceeds from the use, lease or disposition, sale or redemption of property acquired at a public auction in accordance with the provisions of this Title by the province or city or a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area shall be distributed as follows: (a) In the case of provinces: (1) Province - Thirty-five percent (35%) shall accrue to the general fund; (2) Municipality - Forty percent (40%) to the general fund of the municipality where the property is located; and (3) Barangay - Twenty-five percent (25%) shall accrue to the barangay where the property is located. (b) In the case of cities: (1) City - Seventy percent (70%) shall accrue to the general fund of the city; and (2) Thirty percent (30%) shall be distributed among the component barangays of the cities where the property is located in the following manner: i. Fifty percent (50%) shall accrue to the barangay where the property is located; ii. Fifty percent (50%) shall accrue equally to all component barangays of the city; and (c) In the case of a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area: (1) Metropolitan Manila Authority - Thirty-five percent (35%) shall accrue to the general fund of the authority; (2) Municipality - Thirty-five percent (35% shall accrue to the general fund of the municipality where the property is located; (3) Barangays - Thirty percent (30%) shall be distributed among the component barangays of the municipality where the property is located in the following manner: i. Fifty percent (50%) shall accrue to the barangay where the property is located; ii. Fifty percent (50%) shall accrue equally to all component barangays of the municipality. (d) The share of each barangay shall be released, without need of any further action, directly to the barangay treasurer on a quarterly basis within five (5) days after the end of each quarter and shall not be subject to any lien or holdback for whatever purpose. LGC, 272. Application of Proceeds of the Additional One Percent SEF Tax. - The proceeds from the additional one percent (1%) tax on real property accruing to the Special Education Fund (SEF) shall be automatically released to the local school boards: Provided, That, in case of provinces, the proceeds shall be divided equally between the provincial and municipal school boards: Provided, however, That the proceeds shall be allocated for the operation and maintenance of public schools, construction and repair of school buildings, facilities and equipment, educational research, purchase of books and periodicals, and sports development as determined and approved by the Local School Board. LGC, 273. Proceeds of the Tax on Idle Lands. - The proceeds of the additional real property tax on idle lands shall accrue to the respective general fund of the province or city where the land is located. In the case of a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, the proceeds shall accrue equally to the Metropolitan Manila Authority and the municipality where the land is located. LGC, 274. Proceeds of the Special Levy. - The proceeds of the special levy on lands benefited by public works, projects and other improvements shall accrue to the general fund of the local government unit which financed such public works, projects or other improvements. CHAPTER VIII: Special Provisions LGC, 275. General Assessment Revision; Expenses Incident Thereto. - The sanggunian of provinces, cities and municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area shall provide the necessary appropriations to defray the expenses incident to the general revision of real property assessment. All expenses incident to a general revision of real property assessment shall, by ordinance of the sangguniang panlalawigan, be apportioned between the province and the municipality on the basis of the taxable area of the municipality concerned. LGC, 276. Condonation or Reduction of Real Property Tax and Interest. - In case of a general failure of crops or substantial decrease in the price of agricultural or agribased products, or calamity in any province, city or municipality, the sanggunian concerned, by ordinance passed prior to the first (1st) day of January of any year and upon recommendation of the Local Disaster Coordinating Council, may condone or reduce, wholly or partially, the taxes and interest thereon for the succeeding year or years in the city or municipality affected by the calamity. LGC, 277. Condonation or Reduction of Tax by the President of the Philippines. - The President of the Philippines may, when public interest so requires, condone or reduce the real property tax and interest for any year in any province or city or a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area. LGC, 278. Duty of Registrar of Deeds and Notaries Public to Assist the Provincial, City or Municipal Assessor. - It shall be the duty of the Registrar of Deeds and notaries public to furnish the provincial, city or municipal assessor with copies of all contracts selling, transferring, or otherwise conveying, leasing, or mortgaging real property received by, or acknowledged before them. LGC, 279. Insurance Companies to Furnish Information. - Insurance companies are hereby required to furnish the provincial, city or municipal assessor copies of any contract or policy insurance on buildings, structures, and improvements insured by them or such other documents which may be necessary for the proper assessment thereof. LGC, 280. Fees in Court Actions. - All court actions, criminal or civil, instituted at the instance of the provincial, city or municipal treasurer or assessor under the provisions of this Code, shall be exempt from the payment of court and sheriff's fees. LGC, 281. Fees in Registration of Papers or Documents on Sale of Delinquent Real Property to Province, City or Municipality. - All certificates, documents, and papers covering the sale of delinquent property to the province, city or municipality, if registered in the Registry of Property, shall be exempt from the documentary stamp tax and registration fees. LGC, 282. Real Property Assessment Notices or Owner's Copies of Tax Declarations to be Exempt from Postal Charges or Fees. - All real property assessment notices or owner's copies of tax declaration sent through the mails by the assessor shall be exempt from the payment of postal charges or fees. LGC, 283. Sale and Forfeiture Before Effectivity of Code. - Tax delinquencies incurred, and sales and forfeitures of delinquent real property effected, before the effectivity of this Code shall be governed by the provisions of applicable laws then in force. Lopez v. City of Manila. As a general rule, where the law provides for the remedies against the action of an administrative board, body, or officer, relief to courts can be sought only after exhausting all remedies provided. The reason rests upon the presumption that the administrative body, if given the chance to correct its mistake or error, may amend its decision on a given matter and decide it properly. Therefore, where a remedy is available within the administrative machinery, this should be resorted to before resort can be made to the courts, not only to give the administrative agency the opportunity to decide the matter by itself correctly, but also to prevent unnecessary and premature resort to courts. [9] This rule, however, admits certain exceptions. With regard to questions on the legality of a tax ordinance, the remedies available to the taxpayer are provided under Sections 187, 226, and 252 of R.A. 7160. Section 187 of R.A. 7160 provides, that the taxpayer may question the constitutionality or legality of tax ordinance on appeal within thirty (30) days from effectivity thereof, to the Secretary of Justice. The petitioner after finding that his assessment is unjust, confiscatory, or excessive, must have brought the case before the Secretary of Justice for questions of legality or constitutionality of the city ordinance. Under Section 226 of R.A. 7160, an owner of real property who is not satisfied with the assessment of his property may, within sixty (60) days from notice of assessment, appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals. Should the taxpayer question the excessiveness of the amount of tax, he must first pay the amount due, in accordance with Section 252 of R.A. 7160. Then, he must request the annotation of the phrase paid under protest and accordingly appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals by filing a petition under oath toget her with copies of the tax declarations and affidavits or documents to support his appeal. The rule is well-settled that courts will not interfere in matters which are addressed to the sound discretion of government agencies entrusted with the regulations of activities coming under the special technical knowledge and training of such agencies. Furthermore, the crux of petitioners cau se of action is the determination of whether or not the tax is excessive, oppressive or confiscatory. This issue is essentially a question of fact and thereby, precludes this Court from reviewing the same. Yamane v. BA Lepanto Condominium . Makati cannot tax Lepanto. The coverage of business tax is in the Makati Revenue Code. Business taxes imposed are specific as to which businesses are covered. || At no point has the City Treasurer informed the corp and courts as to what is preciselt the stutotry vasis for
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levying tax on lepanto. || As stated earlier, local tax on businesses is authorized under Section 143 of the Local Government Code. The word business itself is defined under Section 131(d) of the Code as trade or commercial activity regularly engaged in as a means of livelihood or with a view to profit. This definition of business takes on importance, since Section 143 allows local government units to impose local taxes on businesses other than those specified under the provision. Moreover, even those business activities specifically named in Section 143 are themselves susceptible to broad interpretation. It is thus imperative that in order that the Corporation may be subjected to business taxes, its activities must fall within the definition of busi ness as provided in the Local Government Code. And to hold that they do is to ignore the very statutory nature of a condominium corporation. AOI + CondoLaw = not for profit Callanta v. Ombudsman. Under the aforecited procedure, the issuance of a notice of assessment by the local assessor shall be his last action on a particular assessment. On the side of the property owner, it is this last action which gives him [the] right to appeal to the Local Board of Assessment Appeals. The above procedure also, does not grant the property owner the remedy of filing a motion for reconsideration before the local assessor. The act of herein petitioners in providing the corresponding notices of assessment the chance for the property owners concerned to file a motion for reconsideration and for acting on the motions filed is not in accordance with law and in excess of their authority and therefore constitutes ultra vires acts || Thus, petitioners unauthorized reduction of the assessed values ineluctably resulted in the lo cal governments deprivation of the corresponding revenues. Lost or reduced revenues undeniably translate into damages or injury within the contemplation of the law. The city government of Cebu, therefore, had every legal right to feel aggrieved and to institute this proceeding against petitioners. Ty v. Trampe. SC ruled that PD 921 is still a good law and the schedule of values prepared solely by the municipal assessor is illegal & void. It was held that if the intention of the legislature was to abrogate PD 921, it would have included it in such repealing clause. An implied repeal will not be allowed unless it is convincingly and unambiguously demonstrated that the two laws are clearly repugnant & inconsistent that they cannot co-exist. While RA 7160 covers almost governmental functions delegated to local governments units, PD 921 embraces only the Metropolitan Manila Area and is limited especially to the assessment and collection of real estate (& some other taxes). Therefore, it is obvious that harmony in these provisions is not only possible, but in fact desirable, necessary and consistent with the legislative intent & policy. By this harmonization, the preamble of both statutes shall be fulfilled. RA 10149, Sec. 3(m). Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) refer to financial institutions or corporations in which the government directly or indirectly owns majority of the capital stock and. which are either: (1) registered with or directly supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; or (2) collecting or transacting funds or contributions from the public and places them in financial instruments or assets such as deposits, loans, bonds and equity including, but not limited to, the Government Service Insurance System and the Social Security System. RA 10149, Sec. 3(n). Government Instrumentalities with Corporate Powers (GICP)/Government Corporate Entities (GCE) refer to instrumentahties or agencies of the government, which are neither corporations nor agencies integrated within the departmental framework, but vested by law with special functions or jurisdiction, endowed with some if not all corporate powers, administering special funds, and enjoying operational autonomy usually through a charter including, but not limited to, the following: the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the Cebu Port Authority (CPA), the Cagayan de Orb Port Authority, the San Fernando Port Authority, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO). RA 10149, Sec. 3(o) Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporation (GOCC) refers to any agency organized as a stock or nonstock corporation, vested with functions relating to public needs whether governmental or proprietary in nature, and owned by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines directly or through its instrumentahties either wholly or, where applicable as in the case of stock corporations, to the extent of at lea st a majority of its outstanding capital stock: Provided, however, That for purposes of this Act, the term GOCC- shall include GICP/GCE and GFI as defined herein. RA 10149, Sec. 3(p) Nonchartered GOCC refers to a GOCC organized and operating under Batas Pambansa Bilang 68, or The Corporation Code of the Philippines. MCIAA v. Marcos. [petitioner asserts that although it is a government-owned or controlled corporation it is mandated to perform functions in the same category as an instrumentality of Government. An instrumentality of Government is one created to perform governmental functions primarily to promote certain aspects of the economic life of the people. Considering its task "not merely to efficiently operate and manage the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, but more importantly, to carry out the Government policies of promoting and developing the Central Visayas and Mindanao regions as centers of international trade and tourism, and accelerating the development of the means of transportation and communication in the country," and that it is an attached agency of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), 8 the petitioner "may stand in [sic] the same footing as an agency or instrumentality of the national government." Hence, its tax exemption privilege under Section 14 of its Charter "cannot be considered withdrawn with the passage of the Local Government Code of 1991 (hereinafter LGC) because Section 133 thereof specifically states that the taxing powers of local government units shall not extend to the levy of taxes of fees or charges of any kind on the national government its agencies and instrumentalities.] Thus, reading together Section 133, 232 and 234 of the LGC, we conclude that as a general rule, as laid down in Section 133 the taxing powers of local government units cannot extend to the levy of inter alia, "taxes, fees, and charges of any kind of the National Government, its agencies and instrumentalties, and local government units"; however, pursuant to Section 232, provinces, cities, municipalities in the Metropolitan Manila Area may impose the real property tax except on, inter alia, "real property owned by the Republic of the Philippines or any of its political subdivisions except when the beneficial used thereof has been granted, for consideration or otherwise, to a taxable person", as provided in item (a) of the first paragraph of Section 234. || As to tax exemptions or incentives granted to or presently enjoyed by natural or juridical persons, including government-owned and controlled corporations, Section 193 of the LGC prescribes the general rule, viz., they are withdrawn upon the effectivity of the LGC, except those granted to local water districts, cooperatives duly registered under R.A. No. 6938, non stock and non-profit hospitals and educational institutions, and unless otherwise provided in the LGC. The latter proviso could refer to Section 234, which enumerates the properties exempt from real property tax. But the last paragraph of Section 234 further qualifies the retention of the exemption in so far as the real property taxes are concerned by limiting the retention only to those enumerated there-in; all others not included in the enumeration lost the privilege upon the effectivity of the LGC. Moreover, even as the real property is owned by the Republic of the Philippines, or any of its political subdivisions covered by item (a) of the first paragraph of Section 234, the exemption is withdrawn if the beneficial use of such property has been granted to taxable person for consideration or otherwise. MIAA v. Pasay. MIAA is a government "instrumentality" that does not qualify as a "government-owned or controlled corporation. Under Section 133(o) of the Local Government Code, local government units have no power to tax instrumentalities of the national government. Therefore, MIAA is exempt from any kind of tax from the local governments. A government "instrumentality" may or may not be a "government-owned or controlled corporation" (Section 2(10) of the Introductory Provisions of the Administrative Code of 1987). A government-owned or controlled corporation must be "organized as a stock or non-stock corporation." MIAA is not organized as a stock or non-stock corporation. It is not a stock corporation because it has no capital stock divided into shares. It is also not a non-stock corporation because it has no members. The Government cannot be considered as the sole member of MIAA because non-stock corporations cannot distribute any part of their income to their members. Section 11 of the MIAA Charter mandates MIAA to remit 20% of its annual gross operating income to the National Treasury. || MIAA is like any other government instrumentality, but is vested with corporate powers to perform efficiently its governmental functions. When the law vests in a government instrumentality corporate powers, the instrumentality does not become a corporation. The airport lands and buildings of MIAA are properties of public dominion intended for public use, and as such are exempt from real property tax under Section 234(a) of the Local Government Code. NAPOCOR v. Lanao del Sur. Valid Restoration of Tax Exemptions Although Section 1 of PD 1931 withdrew all tax exemptions presumably including those of petitioner, Section 2 thereof authorized and empowered the President and/or the Minister of Finance to restore the same to deserving entities. In order to reinstate the petitioners tax exemptions, Hon. De Roda, Jr., in his concurrent capacities as Acting Minister of Finance and as Acting Chairman of FIRB, signed FIRB Resolution No. 10-85 which was made effective as of June 11, 1984, the promulgation date of PD 1931, until June 30, 1985. On the other hand, by virtue of FIRB Resolution No. 1-86, Hon. Virata fully restored the tax exemption as of July 1, 1985, to continue for an indefinite period. He also signed the same in his dual capacities as Minister of Finance and as Chairman of the FIRB. || Subject Properties Exempt from RPT: The exemption is not only legally defensible, but also logically unassailable. The properties in question comprise the site of the entire Agus II Hydroelectric Power Plant Complex, which generates and supplies relatively cheap electricity to the island of Mindanao. These are government properties, wholly owned by petitioner and devoted directly and solely for public service and utilized in the implementation of the state policy of bringing about the total electrification of the country at the least cost to the public, through the development of power from all sources to meet the needs of industrial development and rural electrification. It can be noted, from RA 6395, PD 380 and PD 938, that petitioners non-profit character has been maintained throughout its existence, and that petitioner is mandated to devote all its returns
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from capital investment and excess revenues from operations to its expansion.[19] On account thereof, and to enable petitioner to pay its indebtedness and obligations and in furtherance of the state policy on electrification and power generation, petitioner has always been exempted from taxes. LRTA v. CBAA. LRT is real property, and it is not exempt from RPT. They cannot be considered improvements of government-owned national roads nor can they be deemed to be of public use, since only those who can afford can use it. PHILRECA v. Secretary. The equal protection clause under the Constitution means that no person or class of persons shall be deprived of the same protection of laws which is enjoyed by other persons or othe r classes in the same place and in like circumstances. Thus, the guaranty of the equal protection of the laws is not violated by a law based on reasonable classification. Classification, to be reasonable, must (1) rest on substantial distinctions; (2) be germane to the purposes of the law; (3) not be limited to existing conditions only; and (4) apply equally to all members of the same class. || We hold that there is reasonable classification under the Local Government Code to justify the different tax treatment between electric cooperatives covered by P.D. No. 269, as amended, and electric cooperatives under R.A. No. 6938. First, substantial distinctions exist between cooperatives under P.D. No. 269, as amended, and cooperatives under R.A. No. 6938. These distinctions are manifest in at least two material respects which go into the nature of cooperatives envisioned by R.A. No. 6938 and which characteristics are not present in the type of cooperative associations created under P.D. No. 269, as amended. [capital contribution by members; extent of government control]. Second, the classification of tax-exempt entities in the Local Government Code is germane to the purpose of the law. The Constitutional mandate that every local government unit shall enjoy local autonomy, does not mean that the exercise of power by local governments is beyond regulation by Congress. Thus, while each government unit is granted the power to create its own sources of revenue, Congress, in light of its broad power to tax, has the discretion to determine the extent of the taxing powers of local government units consistent with the policy of local autonomy. Finally, Sections 193 and 234 of the Local Government Code permit reasonable classification as these exemptions are not limited to existing conditions and apply equally to all members of the same class. Exemptions from local taxation, including real property tax, are granted to all cooperatives covered by R.A. No. 6938 and such exemptions exist for as long as the Local Government Code and the provisions therein on local taxation remain good law. Lung Center v. QC. As a general principle, a charitable institution does not lose its character as such and its exemption from taxes simply because it derives income from paying patients, whether out-patient, or confined in the hospital, or receives subsidies from the government, so long as the money received is devoted or used altogether to the charitable object which it is intended to achieve; and no money inures to the private benefit of the persons managing or operating the institution. || In this case, the petitioner adduced substantial evidence that it spent its income, including the subsidies from the government for 1991 and 1992 for its patients and for the operation of the hospital. It even incurred a net loss in 1991 and 1992 from its operations. || Even as we find that the petitioner is a charitable institution, we hold, anent the second issue, that those portions of its real property that are leased to private entities are not exempt from real property taxes as these are not actually, directly and exclusively used for charitable purposes. || The settled rule in this jurisdiction is that laws granting exemption from tax are construed strictissimi juris against the taxpayer and liberally in favor of the taxing power. Taxation is the rule and exemption is the exception. The effect of an exemption is equivalent to an appropriation. Hence, a claim for exemption from tax payments must be clearly shown and based on language in the law too plain to be mistaken. PFDA v. CA. Thus, for an entity to be considered as a GOCC, it must either be organized as a stock or non-stock corporation. Two requisites must concur before one may be classified as a stock corporation, namely: (1) that it has capital stock divided into shares, and (2) that it is authorized to distribute dividends and allotments of surplus and profits to its stockholders. If only one requisite is present, it cannot be properly classified as a stock corporation. As for non-stock corporations, they must have members and must not distribute any part of their income to said members. On the basis of the parameters set in the MIAA case, the Authority should be classified as an instrumentality of the national government. As such, it is generally exempt from payment of real property tax, except those portions which have been leased to private entities. || Indeed, the Authority is not a GOCC but an instrumentality of the government. The Authority has a capital stock but it is not divided into shares of stocks.12 Also, it has no stockholders or voting shares. Hence, it is not a stock corporation. Neither it is a nonstock corporation because it has no members. || The Authority is actually a national government instrumentality which is defined as an agency of the national government, not integrated within the department framework, vested with special functions or jurisdiction by law, endowed with some if not all corporate powers, administering special funds, and enjoying operational autonomy, usually through a charter . When the law vests in a government instrumentality corporate powers, the instrumentality does not become a corporation. Unless the government instrumentality is organized as a stock or nonstock corporation, it remains a government instrumentality exercising not only governmental but also corporate powers. Thus, the Authority which is tasked with the special public function to carry out the government s policy "to promote the development of the countrys fishing industry and improve the efficiency in handling, preserving, marketing, and distribution of fish and other aquatic products," exercises the governmental powers of eminent domain,14 and the power to levy fees and charges.15 At the same time, the Authority exercises "the general corporate powers conferred by laws upon private and governmentowned or controlled corporations." The MIAA case held 17 that unlike GOCCs, instrumentalities of the national government , like MIAA, are exempt from local taxes pursuant to Section 133(o) of the Local Government Code. This exemption, however, admits of an exception with respect to real property taxes. Applying Section 234(a) of the Local Government Code, the Court ruled that when an instrumentality of the national government grants to a taxable person the beneficial use of a real property owned by the Republic, said instrumentality becomes liable to pay real property tax. Thus, while MIAA was held to be an instrumentality of the national government which is generally exempt from local taxes, it was at the same time declared liable to pay real property taxes on the airport lands and buildings which it leased to private persons. It was held that the real property tax assessments and notices of delinquencies issued by the City of Pasay to MIAA are void except those pertaining to portions of the airport which are leased to private parties. Davao v. RTC, Branch XII, Davao. GSIS NOT EXEMPT. Thus, reading together Sections 133, 232, and 234 of the LGC, we conclude that as a general rule, as laid down in Section 133, the taxing powers of local government units cannot extend to the levy of, inter alia, "taxes, fees and charges of any kind on the National Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and local government units"; however, pursuant to Section 232, provinces, cities, and municipalities in the Metropolitan Manila Area may impose the real property tax except on, inter alia, "real property owned by the Republic of the Philippines or any of its political subdivisions except when the beneficial use thereof has been granted, for consideration or otherwise, to a taxable person," as provided in item (a) of the first paragraph of Section 234. NAPOCOR v. Quezon Province. NOT EXEMPT By our above conclusion, we do not thereby pass upon the validity of the contractual stipulation between the NPC and Mirant on the assumption of liability that the NPC undertook. All we declare is that the stipulation is entirely between the NPC and Mirant, and does not bind third persons who are not privy to the contract between these parties. We say this pursuant to the principle of relativity of contracts under Article 1311 of the Civil Code which postulates that contracts take effect only between the parties, their assigns and heirs. Quite obviously, there is no privity between the respondent local government units and the NPC, even though both are public corporations. The tax due will not come from o ne pocket and go to another pocket of the same governmental entity. NHA v. Iloilo. Exempt. || The deposit required before courts entertain any action assailing the public auction of real property under Section 257 of RA 7160 is not applicable on the Government or its agencies as NHA especially when its tax-exempt status is the basis of suit Provincial Assessor of Marinduque v. CA. A Siltation Dam is a structure and not considered as machinery or equipment for pollution control and environmental protec-tion which is exempt from real property tax. GSIS v. City Treasurer. The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is liable for the real property tax (RPT) on its properties from 1992 when the Local Government Code (LGC) took effect and withdrew the tax exemption privileges including the RPT exemption of GSIS under Presidential Decree No. 1146 up to 1996, upon the restoration of its taxexempt status by virtue of passage into law of Republic Act (RA) 8291, which re-enacted the tax exemption clause proviso under Section 33 of PD 1146. The SC held that RA 7160 or the LGC of 1991 withdrew the full tax exemption granted to GSIS under PD 1146. This was, however, restored by RA 8291 in 1997. Thus, according to the SC, GSIS should only be made liable to the RPT from 1992 to 1996. The SC ruled that although GSIS is subject to RPT for said period, there is a specific condoning proviso under Section 39 of RA 8291 that rendered its RPT assessments paid. Said Section 39 of RA 8291 provides that any assessment against the GSIS as of the approval of this Act are hereby considered paid. Moreover, the SC held that GSIS does not qualify as a government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) but instead should be considered as an instrumentality of the government, and is thus outside the purview of local taxation under Section 133 of the LGC of 1991. Unless otherwise provided, local governments cannot tax national government instrumentalities. According to the SC, GSIS is not a GOCC following the ruling in the case of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) v. City of Paranaque (GR 155650, July 20, 2006), since the GSIS is not organized as a stock corporation, its capital is not divided into shares, and it has no members (not the compulsory members who are government employees) who, under Section 87 of the Corporation Code, make up the non-stock corporation. As regards the GSIS property that was leased to a private entity, the SC held that the leased property is subject to RPT pursuant to the be neficial use principle under Section 234(a) of the LGC of 1991. The SC noted that while the LGC exempts from real estate taxes the real property owned by the Republic, the same will be subject to RPT if the beneficial use of the property is, for consideration, transferred to a taxable person. The SC declared that the taxable person who had actual or beneficial use and possession of the property, regardless of whether or not he is the owner, should pay the accrued real estate tax. Notwithstanding the real estate delinquency, however, the SC held that the GSIS properties cannot be the subject of a levy to answer for real estate tax deficiencies because of Section
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39 of RA 8291, which exempts the funds and/or properties of the GSIS from attachment, garnishment, execution or levy or other processes issued by the courts, quasijudicial agencies or administrative bodies. Hence, the LGU has to satisfy its tax claim by serving the accrued realty tax assessment on the beneficial user of the property and, in case of nonpayment, through means other than the sale of the property at a public auction. Violations of Tax ordinances LGC, 516. Penalties for Violation of Tax Ordinances. - The sanggunian of a local government unit is authorized to prescribe fines or other penalties for violation of tax ordinances but in no case shall such fines be less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), nor shall imprisonment be less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months. Such fine or other penalty, or both, shall be imposed at the discretion of the court. The sangguniang barangay may prescribe a fine of not less than One hundred pesos (P100.00) nor more than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00). LGC, 517. Omission of Property from Assessment or Tax Rolls by Officers and Other Acts. - Any officer charged with the duty of assessing real property who willfully fails to assess, or who intentionally omits from the assessment or tax roll any real property which he knows to be taxable, or who willfully or negligently under assesses any real property, or who intentionally violates or fails to perform any duty imposed upon him by law relating to the assessment of taxable real property shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. The same penalty shall be imposed upon any officer charged with the duty of collecting the tax due on real property who willfully or negligently fails to collect the tax and institute the necessary proceedings for the collection of the same. Any other officer required by this Code to perform acts relating to the administration of the real property tax or to assist the assessor or treasurer in such administration, who willfully fails to discharge such duties shall, upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. LGC, 518. Government Agents Delaying Assessment of Real Property and Assessment Appeals. - Any government official who intentionally and deliberately delays the assessment of real property or the filing of any appeal against its assessment shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. LGC, 519. Failure to Dispose of Delinquent Real Property at Public Auction. - The local treasurer concerned who fails to dispose of delinquent real property at public auction in compliance with the pertinent provisions of this Code, and any other local government official whose acts hinder the prompt disposition of delinquent real property at public auction shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. Internal Revenue Allotment LGC, 284. Allotment of Internal Revenue Taxes. - Local government units shall have a share in the national internal revenue taxes based on the collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year as follows: (a) On the first year of the effectivity of this Code, thirty percent (30%); (b) On the second year, thirty-five percent (35%); and (c) On the third year and thereafter, forty percent (40%). Provided, That in the event that the national government incurs an unmanageable public sector deficit, the President of the Philippines is hereby authorized, upon the recommendation of Secretary of Finance, Secretary of Interior and Local Government and Secretary of Budget and Management, and subject to consultation with the presiding officers of both Houses of Congress and the presidents of the "liga", to make the necessary adjustments in the internal revenue allotment of local government units but in no case shall the allotment be less than thirty percent (30%) of the collection of national internal revenue taxes of the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year: Provided, further, That in the first year of the effectivity of this Code, the local government units shall, in addition to the thirty percent (30%) internal revenue allotment which shall include the cost of devolved functions for essential public services, be entitled to receive the amount equivalent to the cost of devolved personal services. LGC, 285. Allocation to Local Government Units. - The share of local government units in the internal revenue allotment shall be collected in the following manner: (a) Provinces - Twenty-three percent (23%); (b) Cities - Twenty-three percent (23%); (c) Municipalities - Thirty-four percent (34%); and (d) Barangays - Twenty percent (20%) Provided, however, That the share of each province, city, and municipality shall be determined on the basis of the following formula: (a) Population - Fifty percent (50%); (b) Land Area - Twenty-five percent (25%); and (c) Equal sharing - Twenty-five percent (25%) Provided, further, That the share of each barangay with a population of not less than one hundred (100) inhabitants shall not be less than Eighty thousand (P80,000.00) per annum chargeable against the twenty percent (20%) share of the barangay from the internal revenue allotment, and the balance to be allocated on the basis of the following formula: (a) On the first year of the effectivity of this Code: (1) Population - Forty percent (40%); and (2) Equal sharing - Sixty percent (60%) (b) On the second year: (1) Population - Fifty percent (50%); and (2) Equal sharing - Fifty percent (50%) (c) On the third year and thereafter: (1) Population - Sixty percent (60%); and (2) Equal sharing - Forty percent (40%). Provided, finally, That the financial requirements of barangays created by local government units after the effectivity of this Code shall be the responsibility of the local government unit concerned. LGC, 286. Automatic Release of Shares. (a) The share of each local government unit shall be released, without need of any further action, directly to the provincial, city, municipal or barangay treasurer, as the case may be, on a quarterly basis within five (5) days after the end of each quarter, and which shall not be subject to any lien or holdback that may be imposed by the national government for whatever purpose. (b) Nothing in this Chapter shall be understood to diminish the share of local government units under existing laws. LGC, 287. Local Development Projects. - Each local government unit shall appropriate in its annual budget no less than twenty percent (20%) of its annual internal revenue allotment for development projects. Copies of the development plans of local government units shall be furnished the Department of Interior and Local Government. LGC, 288. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Finance, in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and Management, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for a simplified disbursement scheme designed for the speedy and effective enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter. Alvarez v. Guingona. The annual income of an LGU includes the IRAs The IRAs are items of income because they form part of the gross accretion of the funds of the local government unit. The IRAs regularly and automatically accrue to the local treasury without need of any further action on the part of the local government unit. They thus constitute income which the local government can invariably rely upon as the source of much needed funds. || Furthermore, Section 450 (c) of the Local Government Code provides that the average annual income shall include the income accruing to th e general fund, exclusive of special funds, transfers, and non-recurring income. To reiterate, IRAs are a regular, recurr ing item of income; nil is there a basis, too, to classify the same as a special fund or transfer, since IRAs have a technical definition and meaning all its own as used in the Local Government Code that unequivocally makes it
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distinct from special funds or transfers referred to when the Code speaks of funding support from the national government, its instrumentalities and government-owned-or-controlled corporations. NB: What is automatic is the release, not the appropriations Pimentel v. Aguirre. Section 1 of the AO does not violate local fiscal autonomy. Local fiscal autonomy does not rule out any manner of national government intervention by way of supervision, in order to ensure that local programs, fiscal and otherwise, are consistent with national goals. AO 372 is merely directory and has been issued by the President consistent with his powers of supervision over local governments. A directory order cannot be characterized as an exercise of the power of control. The AO is intended only to advise all government agencies and instrumentalities to undertake cost-reduction measures that will help maintain economic stability in the country. It does not contain any sanction in case of noncompliance. || The Local Government Code also allows the President to interfere in local fiscal matters, provided that certain requisites are met: (1) an unmanaged public sector deficit of the national government; (2) consultations with the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the presidents of the various local leagues; (3) the corresponding recommendation of the secretaries of the Department of Finance, Interior and Local Government, and Budget and Management; and (4) any adjustment in the allotment shall in no case be less than 30% of the collection of national internal revenue taxes of the third fiscal year preceding the current one. || Section 4 of AO 372 cannot be upheld. A basic feature of local fiscal autonomy is the automatic release of the shares of LGUs in the national internal revenue. This is mandated by the Constitution and the Local Government Code. Section 4 which orders the withholding of 10% of the LGUs IRA clearly contravenes the Constitution and the law. Batangas v. Romulo. To the Courts mind, the entire process invol ving the distribution and release of the LGSEF is constitutionally impermissible. The LGSEF is part of the IRA or just share of the LGUs in the national taxes. To subject its distribution and release to the vagarie s of the implementing rules and regulations, including the guidelines and mechanisms unilaterally prescribed by the Oversight Committee from time to time, as sanctioned by the assailed provisos in the GAAs of 1999, 2000 and 2001 and the OCD resolutions, makes the release not automatic, a flagrant violation of the constitutional and statutory mandate that the just share of the LGUs shall be automatically released to them. The LGUs are, thus, placed at the mercy of the Oversight Committee. That the automatic release of the IRA was precisely intended to guarantee and promote local autonomy can be gleaned from the records of the ConCom. Our national officials should not only comply with the constitutional provisions on local autonomy but should also appreciate the spirit and liberty upon which these provisions are based. ACCORD v. Zamora. Respondents argue that Art. X Sec. 6 is addressed to the executive, not the legislative; and that it merely prevents the executive from unilaterallywithholding IRA, but not the legislative from authorizing the executive to withhold the same. SC: WRONG. As the Consti lays upon the executive the duty to automatically release the njust share of LGUs in national taxes, so it enjoins the legislature not to pass laws that might prevent the executive from performing his duties. To hold that the executive may disregard the constitutional provision which defines its duties, provided it is backed by a statute is virtually to make the Consti amendable. || Only the just share is qualified by as determined by law and NOT th e release thereof Share of Local Government Units in National Wealth LGC, 289. Share in the Proceeds from the Development and Utilization of the National Wealth. - Local government units shall have an equitable share in the proceeds derived from the utilization and development of the national wealth within their respective areas, including sharing the same with the inhabitants by way of direct benefits. LGC, 290. Amount of Share of Local Government Units. - Local government units shall, in addition to the internal revenue allotment, have a share of forty percent (40%) of the gross collection derived by the national government from the preceding fiscal year from mining taxes, royalties, forestry and fishery charges, and such other taxes, fees, or charges, including related surcharges, interests, or fines, and from its share in any co-production, joint venture or production sharing agreement in the utilization and development of the national wealth within their territorial jurisdiction. LGC, 291. Share of the Local Governments from any Government Agency or Owned or Controlled Corporation. - Local government units shall have a share based on the preceding fiscal year from the proceeds derived by any government agency or government-owned or controlled corporation engaged in the utilization and development of the national wealth based on the following formula whichever will produce a higher share for the local government unit: (a) One percent (1%) of the gross sales or receipts of the preceding calendar year; or (b) Forty percent (40%) of the mining taxes, royalties, forestry and fishery charges and such other taxes, fees or charges, including related surcharges, interests, or fines the government agency or government owned or controlled corporation would have paid if it were not otherwise exempt. LGC, 292. Allocation of Shares. - The share in the preceding Section shall be distributed in the following manner: (a) Where the natural resources are located in the province: (1) Province - Twenty percent (20%); (2) Component City/Municipality - Forty-five percent (45%); and (3) Barangay - Thirty-five percent (35%) Provided, however, That where the natural resources are located in two (2) or more provinces, or in two (2) or more component cities or municipalities or in two (2) or more barangays, their respective shares shall be computed on the basis of: (1) Population - Seventy percent (70%); and (2) Land area - Thirty percent (30%) (b) Where the natural resources are located in a highly urbanized or independent component city: (1) City - Sixty-five percent (65%); and (2) Barangay - Thirty-five percent (35%) Provided, however, That where the natural resources are located in such two (2) or more cities, the allocation of shares shall be based on the formula on population and land area as specified in paragraph (a) of this Section. LGC, 293. Remittance of the Share of Local Government Units. - The share of local government units from the utilization and development of national wealth shall be remitted in accordance with Section 286 of this Code: Provided, however, That in the case of any government agency or government-owned or controlled corporation engaged in the utilization and development of the national wealth, such share shall be directly remitted to the provincial, city, municipal or barangay treasurer concerned within five (5) days after the end of each quarter. LGC, 294. Development and Livelihood Projects. - The proceeds from the share of local government units pursuant to this chapter shall be appropriated by their respective sanggunian to finance local government and livelihood projects: Provided, however, That at least eighty percent (80%) of the proceeds derived from the development and utilization of hydrothermal. geothermal, and other sources of energy shall be applied solely to lower the cost of electricity in the local government unit where such a source of energy is located. RA 7076, Sec. 19. Government Share and Allotment. The revenue to be derived by the Government from the operation of the mining program herein established shall be subject to the sharing provided in the Local Government Code. Credit Financing. LGC, 295. Scope. - This Title shall govern the power of local government units to create indebtedness and to enter into credit and other financial transactions. LGC, 296. General Policy. (a) It shall be the basic policy that any local government unit may create indebtedness, and avail of credit facilities to finance local infrastructure and other socio-economic development projects in accordance with the approved local development plan and public investment program. (b) A local government unit may avail of credit lines from government or private banks and lending institutions for the purpose of stabilizing local finances. LGC, 297. Loans, Credits, and Other Forms of Indebtedness of Local Government Units. (a) A local government unit may contract loans, credits, and other forms of indebtedness with any government or domestic private bank and other lending institutions to finance the construction, installation, improvement, expansion, operation, or maintenance of public facilities, infrastructure facilities, housing projects, the acquisition of real property, and the implementation of other capital investment projects, subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the local government unit and the lender. The proceeds from such transactions shall accrue directly to the local government unit concerned. (b) A local government unit may likewise secure from any government bank and lending institution short, medium and long-term loans and advances against security of real estate or other acceptable assets for the establishment, development, or expansion of agricultural, industrial, commercial, house financing projects, livelihood projects, and other economic enterprises.
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(c)
Government financial and other lending institutions are hereby authorized to grant loans, credits, and other forms of indebtedness out of their loanable funds to local government units for purposes specified above. LGC, 298. Deferred-Payment and other Financial Schemes. - Provincial, city and municipal governments may likewise acquire property, plant, machinery, equipment, and such necessary accessories under a supplier's credit, deferred payment plan, or either financial scheme. LGC, 299. Bonds and Other Long-Term Securities. - Subject to the rules and regulations of the Central Bank and the Securities and Exchange Commission, provinces, cities, and municipalities are hereby authorized to issue bonds, debentures, securities, collaterals, notes and other obligations to finance selfliquidating, income-producing development or livelihood projects pursuant to the priorities established in the approved local development plan or the public investment program. The sanggunian concerned shall, through an ordinance approved by a majority of all its members, declare and state the terms and conditions of the bonds and the purpose for which the proposed indebtedness is to be incurred. LGC, 300. Inter-Local Government Loans, Grants, and Subsidies. - Provinces, cities, and municipalities may, upon approval of the majority of all members of the sanggunian concerned and in amounts not exceeding their surplus funds, extend loans, grants, or subsidies to other local government units under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the contracting parties. Local government units may, upon approval of their respective sanggunian, jointly or severally contract loans, credits, and other forms of indebtedness for purposes mutually beneficial to them. LGC, 301. Loans from Funds Secured by the National Government from Foreign Sources. (a) The President, or his duly authorized representative, may, through any government financial or other lending institution, relend to any province, city, municipality, or barangay, the proceeds of loans contracted with foreign financial institutions or other international funding agencies for the purpose of financing the construction, installation, improvement, expansion, operation, or maintenance of public utilities and facilities, infrastructure facilities, or housing projects, the acquisition of real property, and the implementation of other capital investment projects, subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the President and the local government unit. The proceeds from such loans shall accrue directly to the local government concerned. (b) The President may likewise authorize the relending to local government units the proceeds of grants secured from foreign sources, subject to the provisions of existing laws and the applicable grant agreements. (c) Repayment or amortization of loans including accrued interest thereon, may be financed partly from the income of the projects or services and from the regular income of the local government unit, which must be provided for and appropriated regularly in its annual budget until the loan and the interest thereon shall have been fully paid. LGC, 302. Financing, Construction, Maintenance, Operation, and Management of Infrastructure Projects by the Private Sector. (a) Local government units may enter into contracts with any duly prequalified individual contractor, for the financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of any financially viable infrastructure facilities, under the build-operate-transfer agreement, subject to the applicable provisions of Republic Act Numbered Sixty-nine hundred fifty-seven (R.A. No. 6957) authorizing the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects by the private sector and the rules and regulations issued thereunder and such terms and conditions provided in this Section. (b) Local government units shall include in their respective local development plans and public investment programs priority projects that may be financed, constructed, operated and maintained by the private sector under this Section. It shall be the duty of the local government unit concerned to disclose to the public all projects eligible for financing under this Section, including official notification of duly registered contractors and publications in newspapers of general or local circulation and in conspicuous and accessible public places. Local projects under the build-operateand-transfer agreement shall be confirmed by the local development councils. (c) Projects implemented under this Section shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: (1) The provincial, city or municipal engineer, as the case may be, upon formal request in writing by the local chief executive, shall prepare the plans and specifications for the proposed projects, which shall be submitted to the sanggunian for approval. (2) Upon approval by the sanggunian of the project plans and specifications, the provincial, city, or municipal engineer shall, as the case may be, cause to be published once every week, for two (2) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) local newspaper which is circulated in the region, province, city or municipality in which the project is to be implemented, a notice inviting all duly qualified contractors to participate in a public bidding for the projects so approved. The conduct of public bidding and award of contracts for local government projects under this Section shall be in accordance with this Code and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. In the case of a build-operate-and-transfer agreement, the contract shall be awarded to the lowest complying bidder whose offer is deemed most advantageous to the local government and based on the present value of its proposed tolls, fees, rentals, and charges over a fixed term for the facility to be constructed, operated, and maintained according to the prescribed minimum design and performance standards, plans, and specifications. For this purpose, the winning contractor shall be automatically granted by the local government unit concerned the franchise to operate and maintain the facility, including the collection of tolls, fees, rentals, and charges in accordance with subsection (c-4) hereof. In the case of a build-operate-and-transfer agreement, the contract shall be awarded to the lowest complying bidder based on the present value of its proposed schedule of amortization payments for the facility to be constructed according to the prescribed minimum design and performance standards, plans, and specifications. (3) Any contractor who shall undertake the prosecution of any project under this Section shall post the required bonds to protect the interest of the province, city, or municipality, in such amounts as may be fixed by the sanggunian concerned and the provincial, city or municipal engineer shall not, as the case may be, allow any contractor to initiate the prosecution of projects under this Section unless such contractor presents proof or evidence that he has posted the required bond. (4) The contractor shall be entitled to a reasonable return of its investment in accordance with its bid proposal as accepted by the local government unit concerned. In the case of a build-operate-and-transfer agreement, the repayment shall be made by authorizing the contractor to charge and collect reasonable tolls, fees, rentals, and charges for the use of the project facility not exceeding those proposed in the bid and incorporated in the contract: Provided, That the local government unit concerned shall, based on reasonableness and equity, approve the tolls, fees, rentals and charges: Provided, further, That the imposition and collection of tolls, fees, rentals and charges shall be for a fixed period as proposed in the bid and incorporated in the contract which shall in no case exceed fifty (50) years: Provided, finally, That during the lifetime of the contract, the contractor shall undertake the necessary maintenance and repair of the facility in accordance with standards prescribed in the bidding documents and in the contract. In the case of a build-operate-and-transfer agreement, the repayment shall be made through amortization payments in accordance with the schedule proposed in the bid and incorporated in the contract. In case of land reclamation or construction of industrial estates, the repayment plan may consist of the grant of a portion or percentage of the reclaimed land or the industrial estate constructed. (5) Every infrastructure project undertaken under this Section shall be constructed, operated, and maintained by the contractor under the technical supervision of the local government unit and in accordance with the plans, specifications, standards, and costs approved by it. (d) The provincial, city, or municipal legal officer shall, as the case may be, review the contracts executed pursuant to this Section to determine their legality, validity, enforceability and correctness of form. LGC, 303. Remedies and Sanctions. - Local government unit shall appropriate in their respective annual budgets such amounts as are sufficient to pay the loans and other indebtedness incurred or redeem or retire bonds, debentures, securities, notes and other obligations issued under this Title: Provided, That failure to provide the appropriations herein required shall render their annual budgets inoperative. Chavez v. PEA, skipped. Local Fiscal Administration LGC, 304. Scope. - This Title shall govern the conduct and management of financial affairs, transactions, and operations of provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. LGC, 305. Fundamental Principles. - The financial affairs, transactions, and operations of local government units shall be governed by the following fundamental principles:
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(a) No money shall be paid out of the local treasury except in pursuance of an appropriations ordinance or law; (b) Local government funds and monies shall be spent solely for public purposes; (c) Local revenue is generated only from sources expressly authorized by law or ordinance, and collection thereof shall at all times be acknowledged properly; (d) All monies officially received by a local government officer in any capacity or on any occasion shall be accounted for as local funds, unless otherwise provided by law; (e) Trust funds in the local treasury shall not be paid out except in fulfillment of the purpose for which the trust was created or the funds received; (f) Every officer of the local government unit whose duties permit or require the possession or custody of local funds shall be properly bonded, and such officer shall be accountable and responsible for said funds and for the safekeeping thereof in conformity with the provisions of law; (g) Local governments shall formulate sound financial plans, and local budgets shall be based on functions, activities, and projects, in terms of expected results; (h) Local budget plans and goals shall, as far as practicable, be harmonized with national development plans, goals, and strategies in order to optimize the utilization of resources and to avoid duplication in the use of fiscal and physical resources; (i) Local budgets shall operationalize approved local development plans; (j) Local government units shall ensure that their respective budgets incorporate the requirements of their component units and provide for equitable allocation of resources among these component units; (k) National planning shall be based on local planning to ensure that the needs and aspirations of the people as articulated by the local government units in their respective local development plans are considered in the formulation of budgets of national line agencies or offices; (l) Fiscal responsibility shall be shared by all those exercising authority over the financial affairs, transactions, and operations of the local government units; and (m) The local government unit shall endeavor to have a balanced budget in each fiscal year of operation. LGC, 306. Definitions. - When used in this Title, the term (a) "Annual Budget" refers to a financial plan embodying the estimates of income and expenditures for one (1) fiscal year; (b) "Appropriation" refers to an authorization made by ordinance, directing the payment of goods and services from local government funds under specified conditions or for specific purposes; (c) "Budget Document" refers to the instrument used by the local chief executive to present a comprehensive financial plan to the sanggunian concerned; (d) "Capital Outlays" refers to appropriations for the purchase of goods and services, the benefits of which extend beyond the fiscal year and which add to the assets of the local government unit concerned, including investments in public utilities such as public markets and slaughterhouses; (e) "Continuing Appropriation" refers to an appropriation available to support obligations for a specified purpose or projects, such as those for the construction of physical structures or for the acquisition of real property or equipment, even when these obligations are incurred beyond the budget year; (f) "Current Operating Expenditures" refers to appropriations for the purchase of goods and services for the conduct of normal local government operations within the fiscal year, including goods and services that will be used or consumed during the budget year; (g) "Expected Results" refers to the services, products, or benefits that shall accrue to the public, estimated in terms of performance measures or physical targets; (h) "Fund" refers to a sum of money, or other assets convertible to cash, set aside for the purpose of carrying out specific activities or attaining certain objectives in accordance with special regulations, restrictions, or limitations, and constitutes as independent fiscal and accounting entity; (i) "Income" refers to all revenues and receipts collected or received forming the gross accretions of funds of the local government unit; (j) "Obligations" refers to an amount committed to be paid by the local government unit for any lawful act made by an accountable officer for and in behalf of the local unit concerned; (k) "Personal Services" refers to appropriations for the payment of salaries, wages and other compensation of permanent, temporary, contractual, and casual employees of the local government unit; (l) "Receipts" refers to income realized from operations and activities of the local government or are received by it in the exercise of its corporate functions, consisting of charges for services rendered, conveniences furnished, or the price of a commodity sold, as well as loans, contributions or aids from other entities, except provisional advances for budgetary purposes; and (m) "Revenue" refers to income derived from the regular system of taxation enforced under authority of law or ordinance, and, as such, accrue more or less regularly every year. CHAPTER II: Local and Other Special Funds ARTICLE I: Receipts, Safekeeping Article and Disposition of Local Funds LGC, 307. Remittance of Government Monies to the Local Treasury. - Officers of local government authorized to receive and collect monies arising from taxes, revenues, or receipts of any kind shall remit the full amount received and collected to the treasury of such local government unit which shall be credited to the particular account or accounts to which the monies in question properly belong. LGC, 308. Local Funds. - Every local government unit shall maintain a General Fund which shall be used to account for such monies and resources as may be received by and disbursed from the local treasury. The General Fund shall consist of monies and resources of the local government which are available for the payment of expenditures, obligations or purposes not specifically declared by law as accruing and chargeable to, or payable from, any other fund. LGC, 309. Special Funds. - There shall be maintained in every provincial, city, or municipal treasury the following special funds: (a) Special Education Fund (SEF) shall consist of the respective shares of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the proceeds of the additional tax on real property to be appropriated for purposes prescribed in Section 272 of this Code; and (b) Trust Funds shall consist of private and public monies which have officially come into the possession of the local government or of a local government official as trustee, agent or administrator, or which have been received as a guaranty for the fulfillment of some obligation. A trust fund shall only be used for the specific purpose for which it was created or for which it came into the possession of the local government unit. LGC, 310. Separation of Books and Depository Accounts. - Local accountants and treasurers shall maintain separate books and depository accounts, respectively, for each fund in their custody or administration under such rules and regulations as the Commission on Audit may prescribe. LGC, 311. Depository Accounts. - Local treasurers shall maintain depository accounts in the name of their respective local government units with banks, preferably government-owned, located in or nearest to their respective areas of jurisdiction. Earnings of each depository account shall accrue exclusively thereto. LGC, 312. Separation of Personal Money from Public Funds. - Local treasurers and other accountable officers shall keep monies separate and distinct from local public funds in their custody and shall not make profit out of public money or otherwise apply the same to any use not authorized by law or ordinance. ARTICLE II: Special Accounts LGC, 313. Special Accounts to be Maintained in the General Fund. - Local government units shall maintain special accounts in the general fund for the following: (a) Public utilities and other economic enterprises; (b) Loans, interests, bond issues, and other contributions for specific purposes; and (c) Development projects funded from the share of the local government unit concerned in the internal revenue allotment and such other special accounts which may be created by law or ordinance. Receipts, transfers, and expenditures involving the foregoing special accounts shall be properly taken up thereunder. Profits or income derived the operation of public utilities and other economic enterprises, after deduction for the cost of improvement, repair and other related expenses of the public utility or economic enterprise concerned, shall first be applied for the return of the advances or loans made therefor. Any excess shall form part of the general fund of the local government unit concerned. CHAPTER III: Budgeting ARTICLE I: Local Government Budgets LGC, 314. Form and Content. (a) Local government budgets shall primarily consists of two (2) parts: (1) The estimates of income; and
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(2) The total appropriations covering the current operating expenditures and capital outlays. (b) The budget document shall contain: (1) A budget message of the local chief executive setting forth in brief the significance of the executive budget, particularly in relation to the approved local development plan; (2) A brief summary of the functions, projects, and activities to be accomplished in pursuit of the goals and objectives of the local government unit for the ensuing fiscal year, specifically the delivery of basic services or facilities enumerated under Section 17 of this Code; (3) Summary of financial statements setting forth: i. The actual income and expenditures during the immediately preceding year; ii. The actual income and expenditures of the first two (2) quarters and the estimates of income and expenditures for the last two (2) quarters of the current fiscal year; iii. The estimates of income for the ensuing fiscal year from ordinances and laws existing at the time the proposed budget is transmitted, together with other proposals; iv. The estimated expenditures necessary to carry out the functions, projects, and activities of the local government unit for the ensuing fiscal year; v. All essential facts regarding the bonded and other long-term obligations and indebtedness of the local government unit, if any; vi. Summary statement of all statutory and contractual obligations due; and vii. Such other financial statements and data as are deemed necessary or desirable in order to disclose in all practicable detail the financial condition of the local government unit. LGC, 315. Submission of Detailed Statements of Income and Expenditures. - (a) On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of July of each year, local treasurers shall submit to their respective local chief executives a certified statement, covering the income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year, the actual income and expenditures of the first two (2) quarters of the current year, and the estimated income and expenditures for the last two (2) quarters of the current year. LGC, 316. Local Finance Committee. - There is hereby created in every province, city or municipality a local finance committee to be composed of the local planning and development officer, the local budget officer, and the local treasurer. It shall exercise the following functions: (a) Determine the income reasonably projected as collectible for the ensuing fiscal year; (b) Recommend the appropriate tax and other revenue measures or borrowings which may be appropriate to support the budget; (c) Recommend to the local chief executive concerned the level of the annual expenditures and the ceilings of spending for economic, social, and general services based on the approved local development plans; (d) Recommend to the local chief executive concerned the proper allocation of expenditures for each development activity between current operating expenditures and capital outlays; (e) Recommend to the local chief executive concerned the amount to be allocated for capital outlay under each development activity or infrastructure project; (f) Assist the sangguniang panlalawigan in the review and evaluation of budget of component cities and municipalities in the case of provincial finance committee, the barangay budgets in the case of city or municipal finance committee, and recommend the appropriate action thereon; (g) Assist the sanggunian concerned in the analysis and review of annual regular and supplemental budgets of the respective local government unit to determine compliance with statutory and administrative requirements; and (h) Conduct semi-annual review and general examination of cost and accomplishments against performance standards applied in undertaking development projects. A copy of this report shall be furnished the local chief executive and the sanggunian concerned, and shall be posted in consp icuous and publicly accessible places in the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. LGC, 317. Submission of Budget Proposals by Heads or Departments or Offices. (a) Each head of department or office shall submit a budget proposal for his department or office to the local chief executive on or before the fifteenth (15th) of July of each year: Provided, That the budget proposal of each department of office shall be categorized under either economic, social or general services: Provided, further, That each service shall be covered by the budget of at least one (1) department or office of the local government unit concerned. The said budget proposal shall be prepared in accordance with such policy and program guidelines as the local chief executive concerned may issue in conformity with the local development plan, the budgetary ceilings prescribed by the local finance committee, and the general requirements prescribed in this Title. (b) Budget proposals of departments or offices shall be divided into two (2) primary categories, namely: the current operating expenditures and the capital outlays. Such budget proposals shall contain the following information: (1) Objectives, functions, and projects showing the general character and relative importance of the work to be accomplished or the services to be rendered, and the cost thereof; (2) Organizational charts and staffing patterns indicating the list of plantilla positions with their corresponding salaries, and proposals for reclassification of positions and salary changes, as well as the creation of new positions with their proposed salary grade, duly supported by proper justification; (3) Brief description of the functions, projects and activities for the ensuing fiscal year, expected results for each function, project and activity, and the nature of work to be performed, including the objects of expenditures for each function, project and activity; (4) Relation of the work and financial proposals to approved local development plans; (5) Estimated current operating expenditures and capital outlays with comparative data for the last two (2) preceding, current, and ensuing fiscal years; and (6) Accomplishment reports for the last two (2) preceding and current fiscal years. LGC, 318. Preparation of the Budget by the Local Chief Executive. - Upon receipt of the statements of income and expenditures from the treasurer, the budget proposals of the heads of departments and offices, and the estimates of income and budgetary ceilings from the local finance committee, the local chief executive shall prepare the executive budget for the ensuing fiscal year in accordance with the provisions of this Title. The local chief executive shall submit the said executive budget to the sanggunian concerned not later than the sixteenth (16th) of October of the current fiscal year. Failure to submit such budget on the date prescribed herein shall subject the local chief executive to such criminal and administrative penalties as provided for under this Code and other applicable laws. LGC, 319. Legislative Authorization of the Budget. - On or before the end of the current fiscal year, the sanggunian concerned shall, through an ordinance, the annual budget of the local government unit for the ensuing fiscal year on the basis of the estimates of income and expenditures submitted by the local chief executive. LGC, 320. Effectivity of Budgets. - The ordinance enacting the annual budget shall take effect at the beginning of the ensuing calendar year. An ordinance enacting a supplemental budget, however, shall take effect upon its approval or on the date fixed therein. The responsibility for the execution of the annual and supplemental budgets and the accountability therefor shall be vested primarily in the local chief executive concerned. LGC, 321. Changes in the Annual Budget. - All budgetary proposals shall be included and considered in the budget preparation process. After the local chief executive concerned shall have submitted the executive budget to the sanggunian, no ordinance providing for a supplemental budget shall be enacted, except when supported by funds actually available as certified by the local treasurer or by new revenue sources. A supplemental budget may also be enacted in times of public calamity by way of budgetary realignment to set aside appropriations for the purchase of supplies and materials or the payment of services which are exceptionally urgent or absolutely indispensable to prevent imminent danger to, or loss of, life or property, in the jurisdiction of the local government unit or in other areas declared by the President in a state of calamity. Such ordinance shall clearly indicate the sources of funds available for appropriations, as certified under oath by the local treasurer and local accountant and attested by the local chief executive, and the various items of appropriations affected and the reasons for the change. LGC, 322. Reversion of Unexpended Balances of Appropriations, Continuing Appropriations. - Unexpended balances of appropriations authorized in the annual appropriations ordinance shall revert to the unappropriated surplus of the general fund at the end of the fiscal year and shall not thereafter be available for
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the expenditure except by subsequent enactment. However, appropriations for capital outlays shall continue and remain valid until fully spent, reverted or the project is completed. Reversions of continuing appropriations shall not be allowed unless obligations therefor have been fully paid or otherwise settled. The balances of continuing appropriations shall be reviewed as part of the annual budget preparation and the sanggunian concerned may approve, upon recommendation of the local chief executive, the reversion of funds no longer needed in connection with the activities funded by said continuing appropriations subject to the provisions of this Section. LGC, 323. Failure to Enact the Annual Appropriations. - In case the sanggunian concerned fails to pass the ordinance authorizing the annual appropriations at the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year, it shall continue to hold sessions, without additional remuneration for its members, until such ordinance is approved, and no other business may be taken up during such sessions. If the sanggunian still fails to enact such ordinance after ninety (90) days from the beginning of the fiscal year, the ordinance authorizing the appropriations of the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted and shall remain in force and effect until the ordinance authorizing the proposed appropriations is passed by the sanggunian concerned. However, only the annual appropriations for salaries and wages of existing positions, statutory and contractual obligations, and essential operating expenses authorized in the annual and supplemental budgets for the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted and disbursement of funds shall be in accordance therewith. In the implementation of such reenacted ordinance, the local treasurer concerned shall exclude from the estimates of income for the preceding fiscal year those realized from nonrecurring sources, like national aids, proceeds from loans, sale of assets, prior year adjustments, and other analogous sources of income. No ordinance authorizing supplemental appropriations shall be passed in place of the annual appropriations. In case the revised income estimates be less than the aggregate reenacted appropriations, the local treasurer concerned shall accordingly advise the sanggunian concerned which shall, within ten (10) days from the receipt of such advice, make the necessary adjustments or reductions. The revised appropriations authorized by the sanggunian concerned shall then be the basis for disbursements. LGC, 324. Budgetary Requirements. - The budgets of local government units for any fiscal year shall comply with the following requirements: (a) The aggregate amount appropriated shall not exceed the estimates of income; (b) Full provision shall be made for all statutory and contractual obligations of the local government unit concerned: Provided, however, That the amount of appropriations for debt servicing shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the regular income of the local government unit concerned; (c) In the case of provinces, cities, and municipalities, aid to component barangays shall be provided in amounts of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) per barangay; and (d) Five percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as an annual lump sum appropriation for unforeseen expenditures arising from the occurrence of calamities: Provided, however, That such appropriation shall be used only in the area, or a portion thereof, of the local government unit or other areas declared by the President in a state of calamity. LGC, 325. General Limitations. - The use of the provincial, city, and municipal funds shall be subject to the following limitations: (a) The total appropriations, whether annual or supplemental, for personal services of a local government unit for one (1) fiscal year shall not exceed forty-five percent (45%) in the case of first to third class provinces, cities and municipalities, and fifty-five percent (55%) in the case of fourth class or lower, of the total annual income from regular sources realized in the next preceding fiscal year. The appropriations for salaries, wages, representation and transportation allowances of officials and employees of the public utilities and economic enterprises owned, operated, and maintained by the local government unit concerned shall not be included in the annual budget or in the computation of the maximum amount for personal services. The appropriations for the personal services of such economic enterprises shall be charged to their respective budgets; (b) No official or employee shall be entitled to a salary rate higher than the maximum fixed for his position or other positions of equivalent rank by applicable laws or rules and regulations issued thereunder; (c) No local fund shall be appropriated to increase or adjust salaries or wages of officials and employees of the national government, except as may be expressly authorized by law; (d) In cases of abolition of positions and the creation of new ones resulting from the abolition of existing positions in the career service, such abolition or creation shall be made in accordance with pertinent provisions of this code and the civil service law, rules and regulations; (e) Positions in the official plantilla for career positions which are occupied by incumbents holding permanent appointments shall be covered by adequate appropriations; (f) No changes in designation or nomenclature of positions resulting in a promotion or demotion in rank or increase or decrease in compensation shall be allowed, except when the position is actually vacant, and the filling of such positions shall be strictly made in accordance with the civil service law, rules and regulations; (g) The creation of new positions and salary increases or adjustments shall in no case be made retroactive; (h) The annual appropriations for discretionary purposes of the local chief executive shall not exceed two percent (2%) of the actual receipts derived from basic real property tax in the next preceding calendar year. Discretionary funds shall be disbursed only for public purposes to be supported by appropriate vouchers and subject to such guidelines as may be prescribed by law. No amount shall be appropriated for the same purpose except as authorized under this Section. LGC, 326. Review of Appropriation Ordinances of Provinces, Highly-Urbanized Cities, Independent Component Cities, and Municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area. - The Department of Budget and Management shall review ordinances authorizing the annual or supplemental appropriations of provinces, highly-urbanized cities, independent component cities, and municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area in accordance with the immediately succeeding Section. LGC, 327. Review of Appropriation Ordinances of Component Cities and Municipalities. - The sangguniang panlalawigan shall review the ordinance authorizing annual or supplemental appropriations of component cities and municipalities in the same manner and within the same period prescribed for the review of other ordinances. If within ninety (90) days from receipt of copies of such ordinance, the sangguniang panlalawigan takes no action thereon, the same shall be deemed to have been reviewed in accordance with law and shall continue to be in full force and effect. If within the same period, the sangguniang panlalawigan shall have ascertained that the ordinance authorizing annual or supplemental appropriations has not complied with the requirements set forth in this Title, the sangguniang panlalawigan shall, within the ninety-day period hereinabove prescribed declare such ordinance inoperative in its entirety or in part. Items of appropriation contrary to limitations prescribed in this Title or in excess of the amounts prescribed herein shall be disallowed or reduced accordingly. The sangguniang panlalawigan shall within the same period advise the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned through the local chief executive of any action on the ordinance under review. Upon receipt of such advice, the city or municipal treasurer concerned shall not make further disbursements of funds from any of the items of appropriation declared inoperative, disallowed or reduced. LGC, 328. Duration of Appropriation. - Appropriations for ordinary administrative purposes not duly obligated shall terminate with the fiscal year and all unexpended balances thereof shall be automatically reverted on the thirty-first (31st) day of December of each year to the general fund of the local government unit. ARTICLE II: Barangay Budgets LGC, 329. Barangay Funds. - Unless otherwise provided in this Title, all the income of the barangay from whatever source shall accrue to its general fund and shall, at the option of the barangay concerned, be kept as trust fund in the custody of the city or municipal treasurer or be deposited in a bank, preferably government-owned, situated in or nearest to its area of jurisdiction. Such funds shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of this Title. Ten percent (10%) of the general fund of the barangay shall be set aside for the sangguniang kabataan. LGC, 330. Submission of Detailed Statements of Income and Expenditures for the Barangay Budgets. - On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of September of each year, the barangay treasurer shall submit to the punong barangay a statement covering the estimates of income and expenditures for the ensuing fiscal year, based on a certified statement issued by the city or municipal treasurer covering the estimates of income from local sources for the barangay concerned. LGC, 331. Preparation of the Barangay Budget. (a) Upon receipt of the statement of income and expenditures from the barangay treasurer, the punong barangay shall prepare the barangay budget for the ensuing fiscal year in the manner and within the period prescribed in this Title and submit the annual barangay budget to the sangguniang barangay for legislative enactment. (b) The total annual appropriations for personal services of a barangay for one (1) fiscal year shall not exceed fifty-five percent (55%) of the total annual income actually realized from local sources during the next preceding fiscal year. (c) The barangay budget shall likewise be subject to the same budgetary requirements and limitations hereinabove prescribed.
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LGC, 332. Effectivity of Barangay Budgets. - The ordinance enacting the annual budget shall take effect at the beginning of the ensuing calendar year. An ordinance enacting a supplemental budget, however, shall take effect upon its approval or on the date fixed therein. The responsibility for the execution of the annual and supplemental budgets and the accountability therefor shall be vested primarily in the punong barangay concerned. LGC, 333. Review of the Barangay Budget. (a) Within ten (10) days from its approval, copies of the barangay ordinance authorizing the annual appropriations shall be furnished the sangguniang panlungsod or the sangguniang bayan, as the case may be, through the city or municipal budget officer. The sanggunian concerned shall have the power to review such ordinance in order to ensure that the provisions of this Title are complied with. If within sixty (60) days after the receipt of the ordinance, the sanggunian concerned takes no action thereon, the same shall continue to be in full force and effect. If within the same period, the sanggunian concerned shall have ascertained that the ordinance contains appropriations in excess of the estimates of the income duly certified as collectible, or that the same has not complied with the budgetary requirements set forth in this Title, the said ordinance shall be declared inoperative in its entirety or in part. Items of appropriation contrary to, or in excess of, any of the general limitations or the maximum amount prescribed in this Title shall be disallowed or reduced accordingly. (b) Within the period hereinabove fixed, the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned shall return the barangay ordinance, through the city or municipal budget officer, to the punong barangay with the advice of action thereon for proper adjustments, in which event, the barangay shall operate on the ordinance authorizing annual appropriations of the preceding fiscal year until such time that the new ordinance authorizing annual appropriations shall have met the objections raised. Upon receipt of such advice, the barangay treasurer or the city or municipal treasurer who has custody of the funds shall not make further disbursement from any item of appropriation declared inoperative, disallowed, or reduced. LGC, 334. Barangay Financial Procedures. (a) The barangay treasurer shall collect all taxes, fees, and other charges due and contributions accruing to the barangay for which he shall issue official receipts, and shall deposit all collections with the city or municipal treasury or in the depository account maintained in the name of the barangay within five (5) days after receipt thereof. He may collect real property taxes and such other taxes as may be imposed by a province, city or municipality that are due in his barangay only after being deputized by the local treasurer concerned for the purpose. (b) The barangay treasurer may be authorized by the sangguniang barangay to make direct purchases amounting to not more than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) at any time for the ordinary and essential needs of the barangay. The petty cash that the barangay treasurer may be authorized to hold for the purpose shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the funds available and to the credit of the barangay treasury. (c) The financial records of the barangay shall be kept in the office of the city or municipal accountant in simplified manner as prescribed by the Commission on Audit. Representatives of the Commission on Audit shall audit such accounts annually or as often as may be necessary and make a report of the audit to the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan, as the case may be. The Commission on Audit shall prescribe and put into effect simplified procedures for barangay finances within six (6) months following the effectivity of this Code. CHAPTER IV: Expenditures, Disbursements, Accounting and Accountability LGC, 335. Prohibitions Against Expenditures for Religious or Private Purposes. - No public money or property shall be appropriated or applied for religious or private purposes. LGC, 336. Use of Appropriated Funds and Savings. - Funds shall be available exclusively for the specific purpose for which they have been appropriated. No ordinance shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations from one item to another. However, the local chief executive or the presiding officer of the sanggunian concerned may, by ordinance, be authorized to augment any item in the approved annual budget for their respective offices from savings in other items within the same expense class of their respective appropriations. LGC, 337. Restriction Upon Limit of Disbursements. - Disbursements in accordance with appropriations in the approved annual budget may be made from any local fund in the custody of the treasurer, but the total disbursements from any local fund shall in no case exceed fifty percent (50%) of the uncollected estimated revenue accruing to such local fund in addition to the actual collections: Provided, however, That no cash overdraft in any local fund shall be incurred at the end of the fiscal year. In case of emergency arising from a typhoon, earthquake, or any other calamity, the sanggunian concerned may authorize the local treasurer to continue making disbursements from any local fund in his possession in excess of the limitations herein provided, but only for such purposes and amounts included in the approved annual budgets. Any overdraft which may be incurred at the end of the year in any local fund by virtue of the provisions hereof shall be covered with the first collections of the immediately succeeding fiscal year accruing to such local fund. LGC, 338. Prohibitions Against Advance Payments. - No money shall be paid on account of any contract under which no services have been rendered or goods delivered. LGC, 339. Cash Advances. - No cash advance shall be granted to any local official or employee, elective or appointive, unless made in accordance with the rules and regulations as the Commission on Audit may prescribe. LGC, 340. Persons Accountable for Local Government Funds. - Any officer of the local government unit whose duty permits or requires the possession or custody of local government funds shall be accountable and responsible for the safekeeping thereof in conformity with the provisions of this Title. Other local officers who, though not accountable by the nature of their duties, may likewise be similarly held accountable and responsible for local government funds through their participation in the use or application thereof. LGC, 341. Prohibitions Against Pecuniary Interest. - Without prejudice to criminal prosecution under applicable laws, any local treasurer, accountant, budget officer, or other accountable local officer having any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, work or other business of the local government unit of which he is an accountable officer shall be administratively liable therefor. LGC, 342. Liability for Acts Done Upon Direction of Superior Officer, or Upon Participation of Other Department Heads or Officers of Equivalent Rank. - Unless he registers his objection in writing, the local treasurer, accountant, budget officer, or other accountable officer shall not be relieved of liability for illegal or improper use or application or deposit of government funds or property by reason of his having acted upon the direction of a superior officer, elective or appointive, or upon participation of other department heads or officers of equivalent rank. The superior officer directing, or the department head participating in such illegal or improper use or application or deposit of government funds or property, shall be jointly and severally liable with the local treasurer, accountant, budget officer, or other accountable officer for the sum or property so illegally or improperly used, applied or deposited. LGC, 343. Prohibition Against Expenses for Reception and Entertainment. - No money shall be appropriated, used, or paid for entertainment or reception except to the extent of the representation allowances authorized by law or for the reception of visiting dignitaries of foreign governments or foreign missions, or when expressly authorized by the President in specific cases. LGC, 344. Certification, and Approval of, Vouchers. - No money shall be disbursed unless the local budget officer certifies to the existence of appropriation that has been legally made for the purpose, the local accountant has obligated said appropriation, and the local treasurer certifies to the availability of funds for the purpose. Vouchers and payrolls shall be certified to and approved by the head of the department or office who has administrative control of the fund concerned, as to validity, propriety, and legality of the claim involved. Except in cases of disbursements involving regularly recurring administrative expenses such as payrolls for regular or permanent employees, expenses for light, water, telephone and telegraph services, remittances to government creditor agencies such as GSIS, SSS, LDP, DBP, National Printing Office, Procurement Service of the DBM and others, approval of the disbursement voucher by the local chief executive himself shall be required whenever local funds are disbursed. In cases of special or trust funds, disbursements shall be approved by the administrator of the fund. In case of temporary absence or incapacity of the department head or chief of office, the officer next-in-rank shall automatically perform his function and he shall be fully responsible therefor. LGC, 345. Officials Authorized to Draw Checks in Settlement of Obligations. - Checks in obligations shall be drawn by the local treasurer and countersigned by the local administrator. In case of temporary absence or incapacity of the foregoing officials, these duties shall devolve upon their immediate assistants. LGC, 346. Disbursements of Local Funds and Statement of Accounts. - Disbursements shall be made in accordance with the ordinance authorizing the annual or supplemental appropriations without the prior approval of the sanggunian concerned. Within thirty (30) days after the close of each month, the local accountant shall furnish the sanggunian with such financial statements as may be prescribed by the Commission on Audit. In the case of the year-end statement of accounts, the period shall be sixty (60) days after the thirty-first (31st) of December.
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LGC, 347. Rendition of Accounts. - Local treasurers, accountants and other local accountable officers shall render their accounts within such time, in such form, style, and content and under such regulations as the Commission on Audit may prescribe. Provincial, city, and municipal auditors shall certify the balances arising in the accounts settled by them to the Chairman of the Commission on Audit and to the local treasurer, accountant, and other accountable officers. Copies of the certification shall be prepared and furnished other local officers who may be held jointly and severally liable for any loss or illegal, improper or unauthorized use or misappropriation of local funds or property. LGC, 348. Auditorial Visitation. - The books, accounts, papers, and cash of local treasurer, accountant, budget officer, or other accountable officers shall at all times be open for inspection of the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representative. In case an examination of the accounts of a local treasurer discloses a shortage in cash which should be on hand, it shall be the duty of the examining officer to seize the office and its contents, notify the Commission on Audit, the local chief executive concerned, and the local accountant. Thereupon, the examining officer shall immediately turn over to the accountable officer next-in-rank in the local treasury service, unless the said officer is likewise under investigation, the office of the treasurer and its contents, and close and render his accounts on the date of turnover. In case the accountable officer next in rank is under investigation, the auditor shall take full possession of the office and its contents, close and render his accounts on the date of taking possession, and temporarily continue the public business of such office until such time that the local treasurer is restored or a successor has been duly designated. The local treasurer or accountable officer found with such shortage shall be automatically suspended from office. LGC, 349. Accounting for Revenues. - Estimated revenues which remain unrealized at the close of the fiscal year shall not be booked or credited to the unappropriated surplus or any other account. LGC, 350. Accounting for Obligations. - All lawful expenditures and obligations incurred during a fiscal year shall be taken up in the accounts of that year. LGC, 351. General Liability for Unlawful Expenditures. - Expenditures of funds or use of property in violation of this Title and other laws shall be a personal liability of the official or employee responsible therefor. LGC, 352. Posting of the Summary of Income and Expenditures. - Local treasurers, accountants, budget officers, and other accountable officers shall, within thirty (30) days from the end of the fiscal year, post in at least three (3) publicly accessible and conspicuous places in the local government unit a summary of all revenues collected and funds received including the appropriations and disbursements of such funds during the preceding fiscal year. LGC, 353. The Official Fiscal Year. - The official fiscal year of local government units shall be the period beginning with the first day of January and ending with the thirty-first day of December of the same year. LGC, 354. Administrative Issuances; Budget Operations Manual. - The Secretary of Budget and Management jointly with the Chairman of the Commission on Audit shall, within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Code, promulgate a Budget Operations Manual for local government units to improve and systematize methods, techniques, and procedures employed in budget preparation, authorization, execution, and accountability. Malonzo v. Zamora. The question, however, is not whether the appropriation of P39,352,047.75 could fall under the definitions of continuing appropriation 26 and capital outlays, 27 considering that such amount was not the subject of the realignment made by Ordinance No. 0254, Series of 1998. Rather, the issue is whether petitioners are liable for their actions in regard to said ordinance which actually realigned a position of the P50 million which was simply denominated in a general manner as "Expropriation of Properties" and classified under "Current Operating Expenditures in the 1998 Annual Budget of Caloocan City. Clearly, these are two distinct amounts separate from each other. That this is the case has likewise been clarified in the pleadings and during the oral argument where petitioners adequately explained that the P50 Million was NOT appropriated for the purpose of purchasing Lot 26 of the Maysilo Estate but rather for expenses incidental to expropriation such as relocation of squatters, appraisal fee, expenses for publication, mobilization fees, and expenses for preliminary studies. 28 This position appears to us more convincing than that of the interpretation of respondents. The appropriation of P39,352,047.75 under Ordinance No. 0246, S. 1997 is, we believe, still a subsisting appropriation that has never been lumped together with other funds to arrive at the sum of P50 million allocated in the 1998 budget. To be sure, denomination of the P50 million amount as "Expropriation of Properties" left much to be desired and would have been confused with the appropriation for expropriation under Ordinance No. 0246, S, 1997, but had respondents probed deeper into the actual intention for which said amount was allocated, then they would have reached an accurate characterization of the P50 million Atienza v. Villarosa. The avowed intent of Rep. Act. No. 7160, therefore, is to vest on the Sangguniang Panlalawigan independence in the exercise of its legislative functions vis-a-vis the discharge by the Governor of the executive functions. The Memoranda dated June 25, 2002 and July 1, 2002 of the respondent Governor, which effectively excluded the petitioner Vice-Governor, the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, from signing the purchase orders for the procurement of supplies, materials or equipment needed for the operation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as well as from appointing its casual and job order employees, constituted undue interference with the latter's functions. The assailed memoranda are clearly not in keeping with the intent of Rep. Act No. 7160 and their implementation should thus be permanently enjoined Quisumbing v. Garcia. Cebus Reenacted budget Elsewhere in R.A. No. 7160 are found provisions which buttress the stand taken by petitioners against Gov. Garcias seemingly heedless actions. Sec. 465, Art. 1, Chapter 3 of R.A. No. 7160 states that the provincial governor shall [r]epresent the province in all its business transactions and sign in its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents upon authority of the sangguniang panlalawigan or pursuant to law or ordinances. Sec. 468, Art. 3 of the same chapter also establishes the sanggunians power, as the provinces legislative body, to authorize the provincial governor to negotiate and contract loans, lease public buildings held in a proprietary capacity to private parties, among other things. || The foregoing inexorably confirms the indispensability of the sanggunians authorization in the execution of contracts which bind the lo cal government unit to new obligations. Note should be taken of the fact that R.A. No. 7160 does not expressly state the form that the authorization by the sanggunian has to take. Such authorization may be done by resolution enacted in the same manner prescribed by ordinances, except that the resolution need not go through a third reading for final consideration unless the majority of all the members of the sanggunian decides otherwise.|| The question of whether a sanggunian authorization separate from the appropriation ordinance is required should be resolved depending on the particular circumstances of the case. Resort to the appropriation ordinance is necessary in order to determine if there is a provision therein which specifically covers the expense to be incurred or the contract to be entered into. Should the appropriation ordinance, for instance, already contain in sufficient detail the project and cost of a capital outlay such that all that the local chief executive needs to do after undergoing the requisite public bidding is to execute the contract, no further authorization is required, the appropriation ordinance already being sufficient. || On the other hand, should the appropriation ordinance describe the projects in generic terms such as infrastructure projects, inter -municipal waterworks, drainage and sewerage, flood control, and irrigation systems projects, reclamation projects or roads and bridges, there is an obvious need for a covering contract for every specific project that in turn requires approval by the sanggunian. Specific sanggunian approval may also be required for the purchase of goods and services which are neither specified in the appropriation ordinance nor encompassed within the regular personal services and maintenance operating expenses. Sison v. PP. RA 7160 requires that where the head of the office/department requesting requisition sits in a dual capacity, participation of a Sangguniang member is necessary. In CAB, petitioner signed as char and as member. Where any of the regular members is requisitioning party, special member presence is required. Calingin v. Desierto. R.A. No. 6770, also known as the Ombudsman Act of 1989, provides that the Special Prosecutor has the power and authority, under the supervision and control of the Ombudsman, to conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases before the Sandiganbayan and perform such other duties assigned to him by the Ombudsman. Verily, the Office of the Special Prosecutor is but a mere subordinate of the Ombudsman and is subject to his supervision and control. In Perez v. Sandiganbayan, this Court held that control means the power of an officer to alter or modify or nullify or set aside what a subordinate officer had done in the performance of his duties and to substitute the judgment of the former for that of the latter. Clearly, in disapproving the recommendation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to dismiss all the charges against petitioner and his co-accused, respondent Ombudsman did not act with grave abuse of discretion. Montuerto v. Ty. The law is clear. Under Section 443(a) and (d) of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7160 [5] or the Local Government Code, the head of a department or office in the municipal government, such as the Municipal Budget Officer, shall be appointed by the mayor with the concurrence of the majority of all Sangguniang Bayan members[6] subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. Per records, the appointment of petitioner was never submitted to the Sangguniang Bayan for its concurrence or, even if so submitted, no such concurrence was obtained. Such factual finding of quasi-judicial agencies, especially if adopted and affirmed by the CA, is deemed final and conclusive and may not be reviewed on appeal by this Court. This Court is not a trier of facts and generally, does not weigh anew evidence already passed upon by the CA. Absent a showing that this case falls under any of the exceptions to this general rule, this Court will refrain from disturbing the findings of fact of the tribunals below. Moreover, we agree with the ruling of the CA that the verbal concurrence allegedly given by the Sanggunian, as postulated by the petitioner, is not the concurrence required and envisioned under R.A. No. 7160. The Sanggunian, as a body, acts through a resolution or an ordinance. Absent such resolution of concurrence, the appointment of petitioner failed to comply with the mandatory
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requirement of Section 443(a) and (d) of R.A. No. 7160. Without a valid appointment, petitioner acquired no legal title to the Office of Municipal Budget Officer, even if she had served as such for ten years. Accordingly, the CSC has the authority to recall the appointment of the petitioner. RA 8185 (1996). AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 324 (d) of REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 Sec. 1. Section 324(d) of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as follows: "(d)Five percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as annual lump sum appropriations for relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and other works or services in connection with calamities which may occur during the budget year.Provided, however, That such fund shall be used only in the area, or a portion thereof, of the local government unit or other areas affected by a disaster or calamity, as determined and declared by the local sanggunian concerned. "Calamity shall be defined as a state of extreme distress or misfortune, produced by some adverse circumstance or event or any great misfortune or cause or loss or misery caused by natural forces. "In case of fire or conflagration, the calamity fund shall be utilized only for relief operations. "The local development council shall more monitor the use and disbursement of the calamity fund." Sec. 2. The Oversight Committee on the Local Government Code, in coordination with concerned agencies, shall prepare and issue the implementing rules and regulation within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act. Property and Supply Management in the LGUs LGC, 355. Scope. - This Title shall govern the procurement, care, utilization, custody, and disposal of supplies, as defined herein, by local government units and the other aspects of supply management at the local levels. LGC, 356. General Rule in Procurement or Disposal. - Except as otherwise provided herein, acquisition of supplies by local government units shall be through competitive public bidding. Supplies which have become unserviceable or no longer needed shall be sold, whenever applicable, at public auction, subject to applicable rules and regulations. LGC, 357. Definition of Terms. - When used in this Title, the term (a) "Lowest Complying and Responsible Bid" refers to the proposal of one who offers the lowest price, meets all the technical specifications and requirements of the supplies desired and, as a dealer in the line of supplies involved, maintains a regular establishment, and has complied consistently with previous commitments; (b) "Suitable Substitute" refers to that kind of article which would serve substantially the same purpose or produce substantially the same results as the brand, type, or make of article originally desired or requisitioned; (c) "Supplies" includes everything, except real property, which may be needed in the transaction of public business or in the pursuit of any undertaking, project, or activity, whether in the nature of equipment, furniture, stationary materials for construction or personal property of any sort, including non-personal or contractual services such as the repair and maintenance of equipment and furniture, as well as trucking, hauling, janitorial, security, and related services; and (d) "Terms and Conditions" refer to other requirements not affecting the technical specifications and requirements of the required supplies desired such as bonding, terms of delivery and payment, and related preferences. LGC, 358. Requirement of Requisition. - Any order for supplies shall be filled by the provincial or city general services officer or the municipal or barangay treasurer concerned, as the case may be, for any office or department of a local government unit only upon written requisition as hereinafter provided. LGC, 359. Officers Having Authority to Draw Requisitions. - Requisitions shall be prepared by the head of office or department needing the supplies, who shall certify as to their necessity for official use and specify the project or activity where the supplies are to be used. LGC, 360. Certification by the Local Budget Officer, Accountant, and Treasurer. - Every requisition must be accompanied by a certificate signed by the local budget officer, the local accountant, and the local treasurer showing that an appropriation therefor exists, the estimated amount of such expenditure has been obligated, and the funds are available for the purpose, respectively. LGC, 361. Approval of Requisitions. - Approval of the requisition by the head of office or department concerned who has administrative control of the appropriation against which the proposed expenditure is chargeable is deemed sufficient, except in case of requisition for supplies to be carried in stock which shall be approved by the local chief executive concerned: Provided, That such supplies are listed or included in the annual procurement plan and the maximum quantity thereof does not exceed the estimated consumption corresponding to a programmed three-month period: Provided, further, That nothing herein contained shall be held as authorizing the purchase of furniture and equipment for stock purposes. LGC, 362. Call for Bids. - When procurement is to be made by local government units, the provincial or city general services officer or the municipal or barangay treasurer shall call bids for open public competition. The call for bids shall show the complete specifications and technical descriptions of the required supplies and shall embody all terms and conditions of participation and award, terms of delivery and payment, and all other covenants affecting the transaction. In all calls for bids, the right to waive any defect in the tender as well as the right to accept the bid most advantageous to the government shall be reserved. In no case, however, shall failure to meet the specifications or technical requirements of the supplies desired be awarded. LGC, 363. Publication of Call for Bids. - The call for bids shall be given the widest publicity possible, sending, by mail or otherwise, any known prospective participant in the locality, of copies of the call and by posting copies of the same in at least three (3) publicly accessible and conspicuous places in the provincial capitol or city, municipal, or barangay hall, as the case may be. The notice of the bidding may likewise be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit concerned when the provincial or city general services officer or the municipal or barangay treasurer, as the case may be, de ems it necessary in order to obtain the lowest responsible and complying bid. The opening of bids shall only be made in the presence of the provincial or city auditor or his duly authorized representative who shall initial and secure copies of the bids and certify the abstract of the bidding. LGC, 364. The Committee on Awards. - There shall be in every province, city or municipality a committee on awards to decide the winning bids and questions of awards on procurement and disposal of property. The Committee on Awards shall be composed of the local chief executive as chairman, the local treasurer, the local accountant, the local budget officer, the local general services officer, and the head of office or department for whose use the supplies are being procured, as members. In case a head of office or department would sit in a dual capacity, a member of the sanggunian elected from among its members shall sit as a member. The committee on awards at the barangay level shall be the sangguniang barangay. No national official shall sit as a member of the committee on awards. The results of the bidding shall be made public by conspicuously posting the same in the provincial capitol or city, municipal, or barangay hall. LGC, 365. Rule on Awards. - Awards in the procurement of supplies shall be given to the lowest complying and responsible bid which meets all the terms and conditions of the contract or undertaking. LGC, 366. Procurement Without Public Bidding. - Procurement of supplies may be made without the benefit of public bidding under any of the following modes: (a) Personal canvass of responsible merchants; (b) Emergency purchase; (c) Negotiated purchase; (d) Direct purchase from manufacturers or exclusive distributors; and (e) Purchase from other government entities. LGC, 367. Procurement through Personal Canvass. - Upon approval by the Committee on Awards, procurement of supplies may be effected after personal canvass of at least three (3) responsible suppliers in the locality by a committee of three (3) composed of the local services officer or the municipal or barangay treasurer, as the case may be, the local accountant, and the head of office or department for whose use the supplies are being procured. The award shall be decided by the Committee on Awards. Purchases under this Section shall not exceed the amounts specified hereunder for all items in any one (1) month for each local government unit: Provinces and Cities and Municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area:
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First and Second Class - One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000.00) Third and Fourth Class - One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) Fifth and Sixth Class - Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) Municipalities: First Class - Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) Second and Third Class - Forty thousand pesos (P40,000.00) Fourth Class and Below - Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) LGC, 368. Emergency Purchase. - In cases of emergency where the need for the supplies is exceptionally urgent or absolutely indispensable and only to prevent imminent danger to, or loss of, life or property, local government units may, through the local chief executive concerned, make emergency purchases or place repair orders, regardless of amount, without public bidding. Delivery of purchase orders or utilization of repair orders pursuant to this Section shall be made within ten (10) days after placement of the same. Immediately after the emergency purchase or repair order is made, the chief of office or department making the emergency purchase or repair order shall draw a regular requisition to cover the same which shall contain the following: (a) A complete description of the supplies acquired or the work done or to be performed; (b) By whom furnished or executed; (c) Date of placing the order and the date and time of delivery or execution; (d) The unit price and the total contract price; (e) A brief and concise explanation of the circumstances why procurement was of such urgency that the same could not be done through the regular course without involving danger to, or loss of, life or property; (f) A certification of the provincial or city general services or the municipal or barangay treasurer, as the case may be, to the effect that the price paid or contracted for was the lowest at the time of procurement; and (g) A certification of the local budget officer as to the existence of appropriations for the purpose, the local accountant as to the obligation of the amount involved, and the local treasurer as to the availability of funds. The goods or services procured under this Section must be utilized or availed of within fifteen (15) days from the date of delivery or availability. Without prejudice to criminal prosecution under applicable laws, the local chief executive, the head of department, or the chief of office making the procurement shall be administratively liable for any violation of this Section and shall be a ground for suspension or dismissal from service. LGC, 369. Negotiated Purchase. (a) In cases where public biddings have failed for two (2) consecutive times and no suppliers have qualified to participate or win in the biddings, local government units may, through the local chief executive concerned, undertake the procurement of supplies by negotiated purchase, regardless of amount, without public bidding: Provided, however, That the contract covering the negotiated purchase shall be approved by the sanggunian concerned. Delivery of purchase orders or utilization of repair orders pursuant to this Section shall be made within seven (7) days after placement of the same. Immediately after the negotiated purchase or repair order is made, the local chief executive concerned shall draw a regular requisition to cover the same which shall contain the following: (1) A complete description of the supplies acquired or the work done or to be performed; (2) By whom furnished or executed; (3) Date of placing the order and the date and time of delivery or execution; (4) The unit price and the total contract price; (5) A certification of the provincial or city general services of the municipal or barangay treasurer, as the case may be, to the effect that the price paid or contracted for was the lowest at the time of procurement; (6) A certification to the effect that the price paid or contracted for was the lowest at the time of procurement; and (7) A certification of the local budget officer as to the existence of appropriations for the purpose, the local accountant as to the obligation of the amount involved, and the local treasurer as to the availability of funds. (b) In case of repeat orders for regular supplies, procurement may be made by negotiated purchase: Provided, That the repeat order is made within three (3) months from the last procurement of the same item: Provided, further, That the same terms and conditions of sale are obtained for the said repeat order. LGC, 370. Procurement from Duly Licensed Manufacturer. - Procurement may be made directly from duly licensed manufacturers in cases of supplies of Philippine manufacture or origin and in case there are two (2) or more manufacturers shall be conducted to obtain the lowest price for the quality of the said supplies. LGC, 371. Procurement from Exclusive Philippine Agents or Distributors. - Procurement may, in the case of supplies of foreign origin, preferably be made directly from the exclusive or reputable Philippine distributors or agents, subject to the following conditions: (a) That the Philippine distributor has no subdealers selling at lower prices; and (b) That no suitable substitutes or substantially the same quality are available at lower prices. LGC, 372. Procurement from Government Entities. - Procurement may be made directly from the government entities producing the required supplies, including units or agencies of foreign governments with which the Philippines maintains diplomatic relations. In the latter case, prior authority from the Office of the President shall be required. LGC, 373. Annual Procurement Program. (a) On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of July each year, the local chief executive shall prepare an annual procurement program for the ensuing fiscal year which shall contain an itemized list of the estimated quantity of supplies needed for such year, a complete description thereof as to kind, quality, estimated cost, and balance on hand: Provided, however, That the total estimated cost of the approved annual procurement program shall not exceed the total appropriations authorized for the acquisition of supplies. The local government units may augment the supplies and equipment provided by the Supreme Court to the lower courts located in their respective jurisdictions. (b) Except in emergency cases or where urgent indispensable needs could not have been reasonably anticipated, no purchase of supplies shall be made unless included in. or covered by, the approved procurement program. (c) The conversion of excess cash into supplies stock is hereby prohibited except to the extent of the kind and quantity specified in the approved annual procurement plan. A violation of this Section shall be a ground for suspension or dismissal of any political or employee responsible therefor. LGC, 374. Establishment of an Archival System. - Every local government unit shall provide for the establishment of archival system to ensure the safety and protection of all government property, public documents or records such as records of births, marriages, property inventory, land assessments, land ownership, tax payments, tax accounts, and business permits, and such other records or documents of public interest in the various departments and offices of the provincial, city, or municipal government concerned. LGC, 375. Primary and Secondary Accountability for Government Property. (a) Each head of department or office of a province, city, municipality or barangay shall be primarily accountable for all government property assigned or issued to his department or office. The person or persons entrusted with the possession or custody of government property under the accountability of any head of department or office shall be immediately accountable to such officer. (b) The head of a department or office primarily accountable for government property may require any person in possession of the property or having custody and control thereof under him to keep such records and make reports as may be necessary for his own information and protection. (c) Buildings and other physical structures shall be under the accountability and responsibility of the provincial or city general services officer or the municipal mayor or punong barangay, as the case may be. (d) Every officer primarily accountable for government property shall keep a complete record of all properties under his charge and render his accounts therefor semiannually to the provincial or city general services officer or the municipal mayor or punong barangay, as the case may be. LGC, 376. Responsibility for Proper Use and Care of Government Property. - The person in actual physical possession of government property or entrusted with its custody and control shall be responsible for its proper use and care and shall exercise due diligence in the utilization and safekeeping thereof. LGC, 377. Measure of Liability of Persons Accountable for Government Property. (a) The person immediately accountable for government property shall be liable for its money value in case of the illegal, improper or unauthorized use or misapplication thereof, by himself or any other person for whose acts he may be responsible, and he shall be liable for all loss, damage, or
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deterioration occasioned by negligence in the keeping or use of property unless it is proved that he has exercised due diligence and care in the utilization and safekeeping thereof. (b) Unless he registers his objection in writing, an accountable person shall not be relieved from liability by reason of his having acted under the direction of a superior officer in using property with which he is chargeable; but the officer directing any illegal, unauthorized or improper use of property shall first be required to answer therefor. (c) In cases of loss, damage, or deterioration of government property arising from, or attributable to, negligence in security, the head of the security agency shall be held liable therefor. LGC, 378. Credit for Loss Occurring in Transit or Due to Casualty. - When a loss of government property occurs while the same is in transit or is caused by fire, theft, force majeure, or other casualty, the officer accountable therefor or having custody thereof shall immediately notify the provincial or city auditor concerned within thirty (30) days from the date the loss occurred or for such longer period as the provincial, city or municipal auditor, as the case may be, may in the particular case allow, and he shall present his application for relief, with the available evidence in support thereof. An officer who fails to comply with this requirement shall not be relieved of liability or allowed credit for any such loss in the settlement of his accounts. A provincial, city or municipal auditor shall not allow credit for these losses unless so expressly authorized by the Chairman of the Commission on Audit, to the exercised only if the loss is not in excess of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00). In any case when the allowance of credit is not within the competence of the provincial, city or municipal auditor, the application and evidence, with the recommendation of the auditor concerned, shall be forwarded to the Chairman of the Commission on Audit for his appropriate action. LGC, 379. Property Disposal. - When property of any local government unit has become unserviceable for any cause or is no longer needed, it shall upon application of the officer accountable therefor, be inspected and appraised by the provincial, city or municipal auditor, as the case may be, or his duly authorized representative or that of the Commission on Audit and, if found valueless or unusable, shall be destroyed in the presence of the inspecting officer. If found valuable, the same shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder under the supervision of the committee on awards and in the presence of the provincial, city or municipal auditor or his duly authorized representative. Notice of the public auction shall be posted in at least three (3) publicly accessible and conspicuous places, and if the acquisition cost exceeds One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) in the case of provinces and cities, and Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) in the case of municipalities, notice of auction shall be published at least two (2) times within a reasonable period in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality. LGC, 380. Negotiated Sale of Property. - Property no longer needed may also be disposed of at a private sale at such price as may be determined by the committee on awards, subject to the approval of the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representative when the acquisition or transfer cost of the property exceeds Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) in the case of provinces and cities, and Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000.00) in the case of municipalities and barangays. In case of real property, the disposal shall be subject to the approval of the Commission on Audit regardless of the value or cost involved. LGC, 381. Transfer Without Cost. - Property which has become unserviceable or is no longer needed may be transferred without cost to another office, agency, subdivision or instrumentality of the national government or another local government unit at an appraised valuation determined by the local committee on awards. Such transfer shall be subject to the approval of the sanggunian concerned making the transfer and by the head of the office, agency, subdivision, instrumentality or local government unit receiving the property. LGC, 382. Tax Exemption Privileges of Local Government Units. - Local government units shall be exempt from the payment of duties and taxes for the importation of heavy equipment or machineries which shall be used for the construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects, as well as garbage trucks, fire trucks, and other similar equipment: Provided, however, That such equipment or machineries shall not be disposed of, either by public auction or negotiated sale as hereinabove provided, within five (5) years from the importation thereof. In case the machinery or equipment is sold within the five-year period, the purchasers or recipients shall be considered the importers thereof, and shall be liable for duties and taxes computed on the book value of such importation. LGC, 383. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Chairman of the Commission on Audit shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to effectively implement the provisions of this Title, including requirements as to testing, inspection, and standardization of supply and property. GSIS v. Province of Tarlac. A transfer of real property by a local government unit to an instrumentality of government without first securing an appraised valuation from the local committee on awards does not appear to be one of the void contracts enumerated in the afore-quoted Article 1409 of the Civil Code. Neither does Section 381 of the Local Government Code expressly prohibit or declare void such transfers if an appraised valuation from the local committee on awards is not first obtained. || The freedom of contract is both a constitutional and statutory right and to uphold this right, courts should move with all the necessary caution and prudence in holding contracts void. 15 Furthermore, a duly executed contract carries with it the presumption of validity. 16 In the assailed decision, the Court of Appeals simply ruled that the absence of a prior appraised valuation by the local committee on awards rendered the donation null and void. This, to our mind, did not sufficiently overcome the presumption of validity of the contract, considering that there is no express provision in the law which requires that the said valuation is a condition sine qua non for the validity of a donation. || There being a perfected contract, the Province of Tarlac, through Gov. Yap, cannot revoke or renounce the same without the consent of the other party. From the moment of perfection, the parties are bound not only to the fulfillment of what has been expressly stipulated but also to all the consequences which, according to their nature, may be in keeping with good faith, usage, and law.17 The contract has the force of law between the parties and they are expected to abide in good faith by their respective contractual commitments. Just as nobody can be forced to enter into a contract, in the same manner, once a contract is entered into, no party can renounce it unilaterally or without the consent of the other. It is a general principle of law that no one may be permitted to change his mind or disavow and go back upon his own acts, or to proceed contrary thereto, to the prejudice of the other party. Part III. Local Government Units The Barangay LGC, 384. Role of the Barangay. - As the basic political unit, the barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled. LGC, 385. Manner of Creation. - A barangay may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered, by law or by an ordinance of the sangguniang panlalawigan or panlungsod, subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be conducted by the COMELEC in the local government unit or units directly affected within such period of time as may be determined by the law or ordinance creating said barangay. In the case of the creation of barangays by the sangguniang panlalawigan, the recommendation of the sangguniang bayan concerned shall be necessary. LGC, 386. Requisites for Creation. (a) A barangay may be created out of a contiguous territory which has a population of at least two thousand (2,000) inhabitants as certified by the National Statistics Office except in cities and municipalities within Metro Manila and other metropolitan political subdivisions or in highly urbanized cities where such territory shall have a certified population of at least five thousand (5,000) inhabitants: Provided, That the creation thereof shall not reduce the population of the original barangay or barangays to less than the minimum requirement prescribed herein. To enhance the delivery of basic services in the indigenous cultural communities, barangays may be created in such communities by an Act of Congress, notwithstanding the above requirement. (b) The territorial jurisdiction of the new barangay shall be properly identified by metes and bounds or by more or less permanent natural boundaries. The territory need not be contiguous if it comprises two (2) or more islands. (c) The governor or city mayor may prepare a consolidation plan for barangays, based on the criteria prescribed in this Section, within his territorial jurisdiction. The plan shall be submitted to the sangguniang panlalawigan or sangguniang panlungsod concerned for appropriate action. In the case of municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area and other metropolitan political subdivisions, the barangay consolidation plan shall be prepared and approved by the sangguniang bayan concerned. CHAPTER II: Barangay Officials and Offices LGC, 387. Chief Officials and Offices. (a) There shall be in each barangay a punong barangay, seven (7) sangguniang barangay members, the sangguniang kabataan chairman, a barangay secretary, and a barangay treasurer.
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(b) There shall also be in every barangay a lupong tagapamayapa. The sangguniang barangay may form community brigades and create such other positions or offices as may be deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the barangay government in accordance with the needs of public service, subject to the budgetary limitations on personal services prescribed under Title Five, Book II of this Code. LGC, 388. Persons in Authority. - For purposes of the Revised Penal Code, the punong barangay, sangguniang barangay members, and members of the lupong tagapamayapa in each barangay shall be deemed as persons in authority in their jurisdictions, while other barangay officials and members who may be designated by law or ordinance and charged with the maintenance of public order, protection and security of life and property, or the maintenance of a desirable and balanced environment, and any barangay member who comes to the aid of persons in authority, shall be deemed agents of persons in authority. CHAPTER III: The Punong Barangay LGC, 389. Chief Executive: Powers, Duties, and Functions. (a) The punong barangay, as the chief executive of the barangay government, shall exercise such powers and perform such duties and functions, as provided by this Code and other laws. (b) For efficient, effective and economical governance, the purpose of which is the general welfare of the barangay and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code, the punong barangay shall: (1) Enforce all laws and ordinances which are applicable within the barangay; (2) Negotiate, enter into, and sign contracts for and in behalf of the barangay, upon authorization of the sangguniang barangay; (3) Maintain public order in the barangay and, in pursuance thereof, assist the city or municipal mayor and the sanggunian members in the performance of their duties and functions; (4) Call and preside over the sessions of the sangguniang barangay and the barangay assembly, and vote only to break a tie; (5) Upon approval by a majority of all the members of the sangguniang barangay, appoint or replace the barangay treasurer, the ba rangay secretary, and other appointive barangay officials; (6) Organize and lead an emergency group whenever the same may be necessary for the maintenance of peace and order or on occasions of emergency or calamity within the barangay; (7) In coordination with the barangay development council, prepare the annual executive and supplemental budgets of the barangay; (8) Approve vouchers relating to the disbursement of barangay funds; (9) Enforce laws and regulations relating to pollution control and protection of the environment; (10) Administer the operation of the katarungang pambarangay in accordance with the provisions of this Code; (11) Exercise general supervision over the activities of the sangguniang kabataan; (12) Ensure the delivery of basic services as mandated under Section 17 of this Code; (13) Conduct an annual palarong barangay which shall feature traditional sports and disciplines included in national and international games, in coordination with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; (14) Promote the general welfare of the barangay; and (15) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (c) In the performance of his peace and order functions. the punong barangay shall be entitled to possess and carry the necessary firearm within his territorial jurisdiction, subject to appropriate rules and regulations. CHAPTER IV: The Sangguniang Barangay LGC, 390. Composition. - The sangguniang barangay, the legislative body of the barangay, shall be composed of the punong barangay as presiding officer, and the seven (7) regular sangguniang barangay members elected at large and sangguniang kabataan chairman, as members. LGC, 391. Powers, Duties, and Functions. (a) The sangguniang barangay, as the legislative body of the barangay, shall: (1) Enact ordinances as may be necessary to discharge the responsibilities conferred upon it by law or ordinance and to promote the general welfare of the inhabitants therein; (2) Enact tax revenue ordinances, subject to the limitations imposed in this Code; (3) Enact annual and supplemental budgets in accordance with the provisions of this Code; (4) Provide for the construction and maintenance of barangay facilities and other public works projects chargeable to the general fund of the barangay or such other funds actually available for the purpose; (5) Submit to the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan such suggestions or recommendations as it may see fit for the improvement of the barangay or for the welfare of the inhabitants thereof; (6) Assist in the establishment, organization, and promotion of cooperative enterprises that will improve the economic condition and well-being of the residents; (7) Regulate the use of multi-purpose halls, multi-purpose pavements, grain or copra dryers, patios and other post-harvest facilities, barangay waterworks, barangay markets, parking areas or other similar facilities constructed with government funds within the jurisdiction of the barangay and charge reasonable fees for the use thereof; (8) Solicit or accept monies, materials and voluntary labor for specific public works and cooperative enterprises of the barangay from residents, land owners, producers and merchants in the barangay; monies from grants-in-aid, subsidies, contributions, and revenues made available to the barangays from national, provincial, city or municipal funds; and monies from other private agencies and individuals: Provided, however, That monies or properties donated by private agencies and individuals for specific purposes shall accrue to the barangay as trust fund; (9) Solicit or accept, in any or all the foregoing public works and cooperative enterprises, such cooperation as is made available by national, provincial, city, or municipal agencies established by law to render financial, technical, and advisory assistance to barangays and to barangay residents: Provided, however, That in soliciting or accepting such cooperation, the sangguniang barangay need not pledge any sum of money for expenditure in excess of amounts currently in the barangay treasury or encumbered for other purposes; (10) Provide compensation, reasonable allowances or per diems as well as travel expenses for sangguniang barangay members and other barangay officials, subject to the budgetary limitations prescribed under Title Five, Book II of this Code: Provided, however, That no increase in the compensation or honoraria of the sangguniang barangay members shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of all members of the sangguniang barangay approving such increase; (11) Hold fund-raising activities for barangay projects without the need of securing permits from any national or local office or agency. The proceeds from such activities shall be tax-exempt and shall accrue to the general fund of the barangay: Provided, That in the appropriation thereof, the specific purpose for which such fund-raising activity has been held shall be first satisfied: Provided, further, That no fund-raising activities shall be held within a period of sixty (60) days immediately preceding and after a national or local election, recall, referendum, or plebiscite: Provided, finally, That said fund-raising activities shall comply with national policy standards and regulations on morals, health, and safety of the persons participating therein. The sangguniang barangay, through the punong barangay, shall render a public accounting of the funds raised at the completion of the project for which the fund-raising activity was undertaken; (12) Authorize the punong barangay to enter into contracts in behalf of the barangay, subject to the provisions of this Code; (13) Authorize the barangay treasurer to make direct purchases in an amount not exceeding One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) at any one time for the ordinary and essential administrative needs of the barangay; (14) Prescribe fines in amounts not exceeding One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) for violation of barangay ordinances; (15) Provide for the administrative needs of the lupong tagapamayapa and the pangkat ng tagapagkasundo; (16) Provide for the organization of community brigades, barangay tanod, or community service units as may be necessary; (17) Organize regular lectures, programs, or fora on community problems such as sanitation, nutrition, literacy, and drug abuse, and convene assemblies to encourage citizen participation in government; (18) Adopt measures to prevent and control the proliferation of squatters and mendicants in the barangay; (19) Provide for the proper development and welfare of children in the barangay by promoting and supporting activities for the protection and total development of children, particularly those below seven (7) years of age; (20) Adopt measures towards the prevention and eradication of drug abuse, child abuse, and juvenile delinquency; (21) Initiate the establishment of a barangay high school, whenever feasible, in accordance with law;
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(22) Provide for the establishment of a non-formal education center in the barangay whenever feasible, in coordination with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; (23) Provide for the delivery of basic services; and (24) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 392. Other Duties of Sangguniang Barangay Members. - In addition to their duties as members of the sangguniang barangay, sangguniang barangay members may: (a) Assist the punong barangay in the discharge of his duties and functions; (b) Act as peace officers in the maintenance of public order and safety; and (c) Perform such other duties and functions as the punong barangay may delegate. LGC, 393. Benefits of Barangay Officials. (a) Barangay officials, including barangay tanods and members of the lupong tagapamayapa, shall receive honoraria, allowances, and such other emoluments as may be authorized by law or barangay, municipal or city ordinance in accordance with the provisions of this Code, but in no case shall it be less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) per month for the punong barangay and Six hundred pesos (P600.00) per month for the sangguniang barangay members, barangay treasurer, and barangay secretary: Provided, however, That the annual appropriations for personal services shall be subject to the budgetary limitations prescribed under Title Five, Book II of this Code; (b) The punong barangay, the sangguniang barangay members, the barangay treasurer, and the barangay secretary shall also: (1) Be entitled to Christmas bonus of at least One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) each, the funds for which shall be taken from the general fund of the barangay or from such other funds appropriated by the national government for the purpose; (2) Be entitled, during their incumbency, to insurance coverage which shall include, but shall not be limited to temporary and permanent disability, double indemnity, accident insurance, death and burial benefits, in accordance with Republic Act Numbered Sixty-nine hundred forty-two (R.A. No. 6942), entitled "An Act Increasing the Insurance Benefits of Local Government Officials and Providing Funds Therefor"; (3) Be entitled to free medical care including subsistence, medicines, and medical attendance in any government hospital or institution: Provided, That such hospital care shall include surgery or surgical expenses, medicines, X-rays, laboratory fees, and other hospital expenses; In case of extreme urgency where there is no available government hospital or institution, the barangay official attendance to the nearest private clinic, hospital or institution and the expenses not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) that may be incurred therein shall be chargeable against the funds of the barangay concerned; (4) Be exempted during their incumbency from paying tuition and matriculation fees for their legitimate dependent children attending state colleges or universities. He may likewise avail of such educational benefits in a state college or university located within the province or city to which the barangay belongs; and (5) Be entitled to appropriate civil service eligibility on the basis of the number of years of service to the barangay, pursuant to the rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission. (c) Elective barangay officials shall have preference in appointments to any government position or in any government-owned or controlled corporations, including their subsidiaries, after their tenure of office, subject to the requisite qualifications and the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph. (d) All duly appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades, or their equivalent, which shall number not more than twenty (20) in each barangay, shall be granted insurance or other benefits during their incumbency, chargeable to the barangay or the city or municipal government to which the barangay belongs. CHAPTER V: Appointive Barangay Officials LGC, 394. Barangay Secretary: Appointment, Qualifications, Powers and Duties. (a) The barangay secretary shall be appointed by the punong barangay with the concurrence of the majority of all the sangguniang barangay members. The appointment of the barangay secretary shall not be subject to attestation by the Civil Service Commission. (b) The barangay secretary shall be of legal age, a qualified voter and an actual resident of the barangay concerned. (c) No person shall be appointed barangay secretary if he is a sangguniang barangay member, a government employee, or a relative of the punong barangay within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity of affinity. (d) The barangay secretary shall: (1) Keep custody of all records of the sangguniang barangay and the barangay assembly meetings; (2) Prepare and keep the minutes of all meetings of the sangguniang barangay and the barangay assembly; (3) Prepare a list of members of the barangay assembly, and have the same posted in conspicuous places within the barangay; (4) Assist in the preparation of all necessary forms for the conduct of barangay elections, initiatives, referenda or plebiscites, in coordination with the COMELEC; (5) Assist the municipal civil registrar in the registration of births, deaths, and marriages; (6) Keep an updated record of all inhabitants of the barangay containing the following items of information: name, address, place and date of birth, sex, civil status, citizenship, occupation, and such other items of information as may be prescribed by law or ordinance; (7) Submit a report on the actual number of barangay residents as often as may be required by the sangguniang barangay; and (8) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 395. Barangay Treasurer: Appointment, Qualification, Powers and Duties. (a) The barangay treasurer shall be appointed by the punong barangay with the concurrence of the majority of all the sangguniang barangay members. The appointment of the barangay treasurer shall not be subject to attestation by the Civil Service Commission. (b) The barangay treasurer shall be of legal age, a qualified voter, and an actual resident of the barangay concerned. (c) No person shall be appointed barangay treasurer if he is a sangguniang barangay member, a government employee, or a relative of the punong barangay within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity. (d) The barangay treasurer shall be bonded in accordance with existing laws in an amount to be determined by the sangguniang barangay but not exceeding Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00), premiums for which shall be paid by the barangay. (e) The barangay treasurer shall: (1) Keep custody of barangay funds and properties; (2) Collect and issue official receipts for taxes, fees, contributions, monies, materials, and all other resources accruing to the barangay treasury and deposit the same in the account of the barangay as provided under Title Five, Book II of this Code; (3) Disburse funds in accordance with the financial procedures provided in this Code; (4) Submit to the punong barangay a statement covering the actual and estimates of income and expenditures for the preceding and ensuing calendar years, respectively, subject to the provisions of Title Five, Book II of this Code. (5) Render a written accounting report of all barangay funds and property under his custody at the end of each calendar year, and ensure that such report shall be made available to the members of the barangay assembly and other government agencies concerned; (6) Certify as to the availability of funds whenever necessary; (7) Plan and attend to the rural postal circuit within his jurisdiction; and (8) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 396. Other Appointive Officials. - The qualifications, duties, and functions of all other barangay officials appointed by the punong barangay shall be governed by the provisions of this Code and other laws or by barangay ordinances. CHAPTER VI: Barangay Assembly LGC, 397. Composition; Meetings. (a) There shall be a barangay assembly composed of all persons who are actual residents of the barangay for at least six (6) months, fifteen (15) years of age or over, citizens of the Philippines, and duly registered in the list of barangay assembly members. (b) The barangay assembly shall meet at least twice a year to hear and discuss the semestral report of the sangguniang barangay concerning its activities and finances as well as problems affecting the barangay. Its meetings shall be held upon call of the punong barangay or of at least four (4) members of the sangguniang barangay, or upon written petition of at least five percent (5%) of the assembly members.
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(c)
No meeting of the barangay assembly shall take place unless a written notice is given one (1) week prior to the meeting except on matters involving public safety or security, in which case notice within a reasonable time shall be sufficient. The punong barangay, or in his absence, the sangguniang barangay member acting as punong barangay, or any assembly member selected during the meeting, shall act as presiding officer in all the meetings of the assembly. The barangay secretary, or in his absence, any member designated by the presiding officer to act as secretary, shall discharge the duties of secretary of the barangay assembly. LGC, 398. Powers of the Barangay Assembly. - The barangay assembly shall: (a) Initiate legislative processes by recommending to the sangguniang barangay the adoption of measures for the welfare of the barangay and the city or municipality concerned; (b) Decide on the adoption of initiative as a legal process whereby the registered voters of the barangay may directly propose, enact, or amend any ordinance; and (c) Hear and pass upon the semestral report of the sangguniang barangay concerning its activities and finances. CHAPTER VII: Katarungang Pambarangay LGC, 399. Lupong Tagapamayapa. (a) There is hereby created in each barangay a lupong tagapamayapa, hereinafter referred to as the lupon, composed of the punong barangay, as chairman and ten (10) to twenty (20) members. The lupon shall be constituted every three (3) years in the manner provided herein. (b) Any person actually residing or working, in the barangay, not otherwise expressly disqualified by law, and possessing integrity, impartiality, independence of mind, sense of fairness, and reputation for probity, may be appointed a member of the lupon. (c) A notice to constitute the lupon, which shall include the names of proposed members who have expressed their willingness to serve, shall be prepared by the punong barangay within the first fifteen (15) days from the start of his term of office. Such notice shall be posted in three (3) conspicuous places in the barangay continuously for a period of not less than three (3) weeks; (d) The punong barangay, taking into consideration any opposition to the proposed appointment or any recommendations for appointment as may have been made within the period of posting, shall within ten (10) days thereafter, appoint as members those whom he determines to be suitable therefor. Appointments shall be in writing, signed by the punong barangay, and attested to by the barangay secretary. (e) The list of appointed members shall be posted in three (3) conspicuous places in the barangay for the entire duration of their term of office; and (f) In barangays where majority of the inhabitants are members of indigenous cultural communities, local systems of settling disputes through their councils of datus or elders shall be recognized without prejudice to the applicable provisions of this Code. LGC, 400. Oath and Term of Office. - Upon appointment, each lupon member shall take an oath of office before the punong barangay. He shall hold office until a new lupon is constituted on the third year following his appointment unless sooner terminated by resignation, transfer of residence or place of work, or withdrawal of appointment by the punong barangay with the concurrence of the majority of all the members of the lupon. LGC, 401. Vacancies. - Should a vacancy occur in the lupon for any cause, the punong barangay shall immediately appoint a qualified person who shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of the term. LGC, 402. Functions of the Lupon. - The lupon shall: (a) Exercise administrative supervision over the conciliation panels provided herein; (b) Meet regularly once a month to provide a forum for exchange of ideas among its members and the public on matters relevant to the amicable settlement of disputes, and to enable various conciliation panel members to share with one another their observations and experiences in effecting speedy resolution of disputes; and (c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 403. Secretary of the Lupon. - The barangay secretary shall concurrently serve as the secretary of the lupon. He shall record the results of mediation proceedings before the punong barangay and shall submit a report thereon to the proper city or municipal courts. He shall also receive and keep the records of proceedings submitted to him by the various conciliation panels. LGC, 404. Pangkat ng Tagapagkasundo. (a) There shall be constituted for each dispute brought before the lupon a conciliation panel to be known as the pangkat ng tagapagkasundo, hereinafter referred to as the pangkat, consisting of three (3) members who shall be chosen by the parties to the dispute from the list of members of the lupon. Should the parties fail to agree on the pangkat membership, the same shall be determined by lots drawn by the lupon chairman. (b) The three (3) members constituting the pangkat shall elect from among themselves the chairman and the secretary. The secretary shall prepare the minutes of the pangkat proceedings and submit a copy duly attested to by the chairman to the lupon secretary and to the proper city or municipal court. He shall issue and cause to be served notices to the parties concerned. The lupon secretary shall issue certified true copies of any public record in his custody that is not by law otherwise declared confidential. LGC, 405. Vacancies in the Pangkat. - Any vacancy in the pangkat shall be chosen by the parties to the dispute from among the other lupon members. Should the parties fail to agree on a common choice, the vacancy shall be filled by lot to be drawn by the lupon chairman. LGC, 406. Character of Office and Service of Lupon Members. (a) The lupon members, while in the performance of their official duties or on the occasion thereof, shall be deemed as persons in authority, as defined in the Revised Penal Code. (b) The lupon or pangkat members shall serve without compensation, except as provided for in Section 393 and without prejudice to incentives as provided for in this Section and in Book IV of this Code. The Department of the Interior and Local Government shall provide for a system of granting economic or other incentives to the lupon or pangkat members who adequately demonstrate the ability to judiciously and expeditiously resolve cases referred to them. While in the performance of their duties, the lupon or pangkat members, whether in public or private employment, shall be deemed to be on official time, and shall not suffer from any diminution in compensation or allowance from said employment by reason thereof. LGC, 407. Legal Advice on Matters Involving Questions of Law. - The provincial, city legal officer or prosecutor or the municipal legal officer shall render legal advice on matters involving questions of law to the punong barangay or any lupon or pangkat member whenever necessary in the exercise of his functions in the administration of the katarungang pambarangay. LGC, 408. Subject Matter for Amicable Settlement; Exception Thereto. - The lupon of each barangay shall have authority to bring together the parties actually residing in the same city or municipality for amicable settlement of all disputes except: (a) Where one party is the government, or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof; (b) Where one party is a public officer or employee, and the dispute relates to the performance of his official functions; (c) Offenses punishable by imprisonment exceeding one (1) year or a fine exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00); (d) Offenses where there is no private offended party; (e) Where the dispute involves real properties located in different cities or municipalities unless the parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable settlement by an appropriate lupon; (f) Disputes involving parties who actually reside in barangays of different cities or municipalities, except where such barangay units adjoin each other and the parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable settlement by an appropriate lupon; (g) Such other classes of disputes which the President may determine in the interest of Justice or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Justice. The court in which non-criminal cases not falling within the authority of the lupon under this Code are filed may, at any time before trial motu propio refer the case to the lupon concerned for amicable settlement. LGC, 409. Venue. (a) Disputes between persons actually residing in the same barangay shall be brought for amicable settlement before the lupon of said barangay. (b) Those involving actual residents of different barangays within the same city or municipality shall be brought in the barangay where the respondent or any of the respondents actually resides, at the election of the complaint. (c) All disputes involving real property or any interest therein shall be brought in the barangay where the real property or the larger portion thereof is situated. (d) Those arising at the workplace where the contending parties are employed or at the institution where such parties are enrolled for study, shall be brought in the barangay where such workplace or institution is located.
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Objections to venue shall be raised in the mediation proceedings before the punong barangay; otherwise, the same shall be deemed waived. Any legal question which may confront the punong barangay in resolving objections to venue herein referred to may be submitted to the Secretary of Justice, or his duly designated representative, whose ruling thereon shall be binding. LGC, 410. Procedure for Amicable Settlement. (a) Who may initiate proceeding - Upon payment of the appropriate filing fee, any individual who has a cause of action against another individual involving any matter within the authority of the lupon may complain, orally or in writing, to the lupon chairman of the barangay. (b) Mediation by lupon chairman - Upon receipt of the complaint, the lupon chairman shall within the next working day summon the respondent(s), with notice to the complainant(s) for them and their witnesses to appear before him for a mediation of their conflicting interests. If he fails in his mediation effort within fifteen (15) days from the first meeting of the parties before him, he shall forthwith set a date for the constitution of the pangkat in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. (c) Suspension of prescriptive period of offenses - While the dispute is under mediation, conciliation, or arbitration, the prescriptive periods for offenses and cause of action under existing laws shall be interrupted upon filing the complaint with the punong barangay. The prescriptive periods shall resume upon receipt by the complainant of the complainant or the certificate of repudiation or of the certification to file action issued by the lupon or pangkat secretary: Provided, however, That such interruption shall not exceed sixty (60) days from the filing of the complaint with the punong barangay. (d) Issuance of summons; hearing; grounds for disqualification - The pangkat shall convene not later than three (3) days from its constitution, on the day and hour set by the lupon chairman, to hear both parties and their witnesses, simplify issues, and explore all possibilities for amicable settlement. For this purpose, the pangkat may issue summons for the personal appearance of parties and witnesses before it. In the event that a party moves to disqualify any member of the pangkat by reason of relationship, bias, interest, or any other similar grounds discovered after the constitution of the pangkat, the matter shall be resolved by the affirmative vote of the majority of the pangkat whose decision shall be final. Should disqualification be decided upon, the resulting vacancy shall be filled as herein provided for. (e) Period to arrive at a settlement - The pangkat shall arrive at a settlement or resolution of the dispute within fifteen (15) days from the day it convenes in accordance with this section. This period shall, at the discretion of the pangkat, be extendible for another period which shall not exceed fifteen (15) days, except in clearly meritorious cases. LGC, 411. Form of settlement. - All amicable settlements shall be in writing, in a language or dialect known to the parties, signed by them, and attested to by the lupon chairman or the pangkat chairman, as the case may be. When the parties to the dispute do not use the same language or dialect, the settlement shall be written in the language known to them. LGC, 412. Conciliation. (a) Pre-condition to Filing of Complaint in Court. - No complaint, petition, action, or proceeding involving any matter within the authority of the lupon shall be filed or instituted directly in court or any other government office for adjudication, unless there has been a confrontation between the parties before the lupon chairman or the pangkat, and that no conciliation or settlement has been reached as certified by the lupon secretary or pangkat secretary as attested to by the lupon or pangkat chairman or unless the settlement has been repudiated by the parties thereto. (b) Where Parties May Go Directly to Court. - The parties may go directly to court in the following instances: (1) Where the accused is under detention; (2) Where a person has otherwise been deprived of personal liberty calling for habeas corpus proceedings; (3) Where actions are coupled with provisional remedies such as preliminary injunction, attachment, delivery of personal property and support pendente lite; and (4) Where the action may otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations. (c) Conciliation among members of indigenous cultural communities. - The customs and traditions of indigenous cultural communities shall be applied in settling disputes between members of the cultural communities. LGC, 413. Arbitration. (a) The parties may, at any stage of the proceedings, agree in writing that they shall abide by the arbitration award of the lupon chairman or the pangkat. Such agreement to arbitrate may be repudiated within five (5) days from the date thereof for the same grounds and in accordance with the procedure hereinafter prescribed. The arbitration award shall be made after the lapse of the period for repudiation and within ten (10) days thereafter. (b) The arbitration award shall be in writing in a language or dialect known to the parties. When the parties to the dispute do not use the same language or dialect, the award shall be written in the language or dialect known to them. LGC, 414. Proceedings Open to the Public; Exception. - All proceedings for settlement shall be public and informal: Provided, however, That the lupon chairman or the pangkat chairman, as the case may be, may motu proprio or upon request of a party, exclude the public from the proceedings in the interest of privacy, decency, or public morals. LGC, 415. Appearance of Parties in Person. - In all katarungang pambarangay proceedings, the parties must appear in person without the assistance of counsel or representative, except for minors and incompetents who may be assisted by their next-of-kin who are not lawyers. LGC, 416. Effect of Amicable Settlement and Arbitration Award. - The amicable settlement and arbitration award shall have the force and effect of a final judgment of a court upon the expiration of ten (10) days from the date thereof, unless repudiation of the settlement has been made or a petition to nullify the award has been filed before the proper city or municipal court. However, this provision shall not apply to court cases settled by the lupon under the last paragraph of Section 408 of this Code, in which case the compromise or the pangkat chairman shall be submitted to the court and upon approval thereof, have the force and effect of a judgment of said court. LGC, 417. Execution. - The amicable settlement or arbitration award may be enforced by execution by the lupon within six (6) months from the date of the settlement. After the lapse of such time, the settlement may be enforced by action in the appropriate city or municipal court. LGC, 418. Repudiation. - Any party to the dispute may, within ten (10) days from the date of the settlement, repudiate the same by filing with the lupon chairman a statement to that effect sworn to before him, where the consent is vitiated by fraud, violence, or intimidation. Such repudiation shall be sufficient basis for the issuance of the certification for filing a complaint as hereinabove provided. LGC, 419. Transmittal of Settlement and Arbitration. - Award to the Court. - The secretary of the lupon shall transmit the settlement or the arbitration award to the appropriate city or municipal court within five (5) days from the date of the award or from the lapse of the ten-day period repudiating the settlement and shall furnish copies thereof to each of the parties to the settlement and the lupon chairman. LGC, 420. Power to Administer Oaths. - The punong barangay, as chairman of the lupong tagapamayapa, and the members of the pangkat are hereby authorized to administer oaths in connection with any matter relating to all proceedings in the implementation of the katarungang pambarangay. LGC, 421. Administration; Rules and Regulations. - The city or municipal mayor, as the case may be, shall see to the efficient and effective implementation and administration of the katarungang pambarangay. The Secretary of Justice shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement this Chapter. LGC, 422. Appropriations. - Such amount as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the katarungang pambarangay shall be provided for in the annual budget of the city or municipality concerned. CHAPTER VIII: Sangguniang Kabataan LGC, 423. Creation and Election. (a) There shall be in every barangay a sangguniang kabataan to be composed of a chairman, seven (7) members, a secretary, and a treasurer. (b) A sangguniang kabataan official who, during his term of office, shall have passed the age of twenty-one (21) years shall be allowed to serve the remaining portion of the term for which he was elected. LGC, 424. Katipunan ng Kabataan. - The katipunan ng kabataan shall be composed of all citizens of the Philippines actually residing in the barangay for at least six (6) months, who are fifteen (15) but not more than twenty-one (21) years of age, and who are duly registered in the list of the sangguniang kabataan or in the official barangay list in the custody of the barangay secretary. LGC, 425. Meetings of the Katipunan ng Kabataan. - The katipunan ng kabataan shall meet at least once every three (3) months, or at the call of the chairman of the sangguniang kabataan or upon written petition of at least one-twentieth (1/20) of its members, to decide on important issues affecting the youth of the barangay. LGC, 426. Powers and Functions of the Sangguniang Kabataan. - The sangguniang kabataan shall: (a) Promulgate resolutions necessary to carry out the objectives of the youth in the barangay in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Code;
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(b) Initiate programs designed to enhance the social, political, economic, cultural, intellectual, moral, spiritual, and physical development of the members; (c) Hold fund-raising activities, the proceeds of which shall be tax-exempt and shall accrue to the general fund of the sangguniang kabataan: Provided, however, That in the appropriation thereof, the specific purpose for which such activity has been held shall be first satisfied; (d) Create such bodies or committees as it may deem necessary to effectively carry out its programs and activities; (e) Submit annual and end-of-term reports to the sangguniang barangay on their projects and activities for the survival and development of the youth in the barangay; (f) Consult and coordinate with all youth organizations in the barangay for policy formulation and program implementation; (g) Coordinate with the appropriate national agency for the implementation of youth development projects and programs at the national level; (h) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as the sangguniang barangay may determine or delegate; and (i) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 427. Meetings of the Sangguniang Kabataan. - The sangguniang kabataan shall meet regularly once a month on the date, time, and place to be fixed by the said sanggunian. Special meetings may be called by the sangguniang kabataan chairman or any three (3) of its members by giving written notice to all members of the date, time, place and agenda of the meeting at least one (1) day in advance. Notices of regular or special meetings shall be furnished the punong barangay and the sangguniang barangay. A majority of the members of the sangguniang kabataan shall constitute a quorum. LGC, 428. Qualifications. - An elective official of the sangguniang kabataan must be a citizen of the Philippines, a qualified voter of the katipunan ng kabataan, a resident of the barangay for at least one (1) year immediately prior to election, at least fifteen (15) years but not more than twenty- one (21) years of age on the day of his election, able to read and write Filipino, English, or the local dialect, and must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. LGC, 429. Term of Office. - The sangguniang kabataan chairman and members shall hold office for a period of three (3) years, unless sooner removed for cause as provided by law, permanently incapacitated, die or resign from office. LGC, 430. Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman. - The registered voters of the katipunan ng kabataan shall elect the chairman of the sangguniang kabataan who shall automatically serve as an ex officio member of the sangguniang barangay upon his assumption to office. As such, he shall exercise the same powers, discharge the same duties and functions, and enjoy the same privileges as the regular sangguniang barangay members, and shall be the chairman of the committee on youth and sports development in the said sanggunian. LGC, 431. Powers and Duties of the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman. - In addition to the duties which may be assigned to him by the sangguniang barangay, the sangguniang kabataan chairman shall: (a) Call and preside over all meetings of the katipunan ng kabataan and the sangguniang kabataan; (b) Implement policies, programs, and projects within his jurisdiction in coordination with the sangguniang barangay; (c) Exercise general supervision over the affairs and activities of the sangguniang kabataan and the official conduct of its members, and such other officers of the sangguniang kabataan within his jurisdiction; (d) With the concurrence of the sangguniang kabataan, appoint from among the members of the sangguniang kabataan, the secretary and treasurer and such other officers as may be deemed necessary; and (e) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. LGC, 432. Sangguniang Kabataan Secretary. - The sangguniang kabataan secretary shall: (a) Keep all records of the katipunan ng kabataan and sangguniang kabataan; (b) Prepare and keep the minutes of all meetings of the katipunan ng kabataan and sangguniang kabataan; (c) Prepare all forms necessary for the conduct of registrations, elections, initiatives, referenda, or plebiscites, in coordination with the barangay secretary and the COMELEC; and (d) Perform such other duties and discharge such other functions as the chairman of the sangguniang kabataan may prescribe or direct. LGC, 433. Sangguniang Kabataan Treasurer. - The sangguniang kabataan treasurer shall: (a) Take custody of all sangguniang kabataan property and funds not otherwise deposited with the city or municipal treasurer; (b) Collect and receive contributions, monies, materials, and all other sources intended for the sangguniang kabataan and katipunan ng kabataan; (c) Disburse funds in accordance with an approved budget of the sangguniang kabataan; (d) Certify to the availability of funds whenever necessary; (e) Submit to the sangguniang kabataan and to the sangguniang barangay certified and detailed statements of actual income and expenditures at the end of every month; and (f) Perform such other duties and discharge such other functions as the chairman of the sangguniang kabataan may direct. LGC, 434. Privileges of Sangguniang Kabataan Officials. - The sangguniang kabataan chairman shall have the same privileges enjoyed by other sangguniang barangay officials under this Code subject to such requirements and limitations provided herein. During their incumbency, sangguniang kabataan officials shall be exempt from payment of tuition and matriculation fees while enrolled in public tertiary schools, including state colleges and universities. The national government shall reimburse said college or university the amount of the tuition and matriculation fees: Provided, That, to qualify for the privilege, the said officials shall enroll in a state college or university within or nearest their area of jurisdiction. LGC, 435. Succession and Filling of Vacancies. (a) In case a sangguniang kabataan chairman refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, is convicted of a felony, voluntarily resigns, dies, is permanently incapacitated, is removed from office, or has been absent without leave for more than three (3) consecutive months, the sangguniang kabataan member who obtained the next highest number of votes in the election immediately preceding shall assume the office of the chairman for the unexpired portion of the term, and shall discharge the powers and duties, and enjoy the rights and privileges appurtenant to the office. In case the said member refuses to assume the position or fails to qualify, the sangguniang member obtaining the next highest number of votes shall assume the position of the chairman for the unexpired portion of the term. (b) Where two (2) or more sangguniang kabataan members obtained the same next highest number of votes, the other sangguniang kabataan members shall conduct an election to choose the successor to the chairman from among the said members. (c) After the vacancy shall have been filled, the sangguniang kabataan chairman shall call a special election to complete the membership of said sanggunian. Such sangguniang kabataan member shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the vacant seat. (d) In case of suspension of the sangguniang kabataan chairman, the successor, as determined in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section shall assume the position during the period of such suspension. CHAPTER IX: Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan LGC, 436. Pederasyon ng mga Kabataan. (a) There shall be an organization of all the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan to be known as follows: (1) in municipalities pambayang pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan; (2) in cities, panlungsod na pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan; (3) in provinces, panlalawigang pederasyon ng mga kabataan; (4) in special metropolitan political subdivisions, pangmetropolitan pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan; and (5) on the national level pambansang pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan. (b) The pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan shall, at all levels, elect from among themselves the president, vice- president and such other officers as may be necessary and shall be organized in the following manner: (1) The panlungsod and pambayang pederasyon shall be composed of the sangguniang kabataan chairmen of barangays in the city or municipality, respectively; (2) The panlalawigang pederasyon shall be composed of presidents of the panlungsod and pambayang pederasyon; (3) The pangmetropolitang pederasyon shall be composed of presidents of the panlungsod and pambayan pederasyon; (c) The elected presidents of the pederasyon at the provincial, highly urbanized city, and metropolitan political subdivision levels shall constitute the pambansang katipunan ng mga sangguniang kabataan.
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LGC, 437. Constitution and By-Laws. - The term of office, manner of election, removal and suspension of the officers of the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan at all levels shall be governed by the constitution and by-laws of the pederasyon in conformity with the provisions of this Code and national policies on youth. LGC, 438. Membership in the Sanggunian. (a) A sangguniang kabataan chairman shall, upon certification of his election by the COMELEC and during his tenure of office is elected as pederasyon president, serve as an ex-officio member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan, as the case may be, without need of further appointment. (b) The vice-president of the pederasyon whose president has been elected as president of a higher pederasyon shall serve as ex-officio member of the sanggunian concerned without need of further appointment. (c) The pederasyon president or vice-president, as the case may be, shall be the chairman of the committee on youth and sports development of the sanggunian concerned. CHAPTER X: Linggo ng Kabataan LGC, 439. Observance of Linggo ng Kabataan. (a) Every barangay, municipality, city and province shall, in coordination with the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan at all levels, conduct an annual activity to be known as the Linggo ng Kabataan on such date as shall be determined by the Office of the President. (b) The observance of the Linggo ng Kabataan shall include the election of the counterparts of all local elective and appointive officials, as well as heads of national offices or agencies stationed or assigned in the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit, among in-school and community youth residing in the local government unit concerned from ages thirteen (13) to seventeen (17). During said week, they shall hold office as boy and girl officials and shall perform such duties and conduct such activities as may be provided in the ordinance enacted pursuant to this Chapter. RA 8441 (1997), Sec. 4. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6686 is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4. All officials and employees of local government units may receive the same benefits as are provided under Sections 1 and 2 of this Act chargeable against their respective local funds. For CY 1997, local government units (municipalities, cities and provinces) may realign their budgets to give priority to the funding requirements under this Act and any deficiency may be booked as accounts payable to be paid on a first priority basis in succeeding years." RA 9178 (2002). AN ACT TO PROMOTE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BARANGAY MICRO BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (BMBEs), PROVIDING INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. RA 9285 (2004), Sec. 53. (ADR) Applicability of the Katarungan Pambarangay. - This Act shall not be interpreted to repeal, amend or modify the jurisdiction of the Katarungan Pambarangay under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. PP v. Recto. An agent of a person in authority is "any person who, by direct provision of law or by election or by appointment by competent authority, is charged with the maintenance of public order and the protection and security of life and property, such as barrio councilman, barrio policeman and barangay leader, and any person who comes to the aid of persons in authority." 28 In the case at bar, the victim, Melchor Recto29 being then the barangay chief tanodof Ambulong, Magdiwang, Romblon was clearly an agent of a person in authority. However, contrary to the findings of the trial court, he was not "engaged in the performance of his official duties" at the time he was shot. Neither was he attacked "on the occasion of such performance," as we will now show. David v. COMELEC, supra. Alquizola v. Ocol. Since there is no other provision that treats the power of the punong barangay to remove the barangay secretary or other appointive barangay officials, and the duration of their term of office is not fixed by law, it is a sound rule to consider the power of removal as being an incident to the power to appoint. Verily, the power of appointment is to be exercised conjointly by the punong barangay and a majority of all the members of the sangguniang barangay. Katarungang Pambarangay LGC, 399-422, supra. LGC, 515. Refusal or Failure of Any Party or Witness to Appear before the Lupon or Pangkat. - Refusal or willful failure of any party or witness to appear before the lupon or pangkat in compliance with a summons issued pursuant to the provisions on the Katarungang Pambarangay under Chapter 7, Title III of this Code may be punished by the city or municipal court as for indirect contempt of court upon application filed therewith by the lupon chairman, the pangkat chairman, or by any of the contending parties. Such refusal or willful failure to appear shall be reflected in the records of the lupon secretary or in the minutes of the pangkat secretary and shall bar the complainant who fails to appear, from seeking judicial recourse for the same cause of action, and the respondent who refuses to appear, from filing any counterclaim arising out of, or necessarily connected with the complaint. A pangkat member who serves as such shall be entitled to an honorarium, the amount of which is to be determined by the sanggunian concerned subject to the provisions in this Code cited above. Supreme Court Admin. Order 1493 . RA 9285 (2004), Sec. 35. Coverage of the Law. - Construction disputes which fall within the original and exclusive jurisdiction of the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (the "Commission") shall include those between or among parties to, or who are otherwise bound by, an arbitration agreement, directly or by reference whether such parties are project owner, contractor, subcontractor, quantity surveyor, bondsman or issuer of an insurance policy in a construction project. The Commission shall continue to exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction over construction disputes although the arbitration is "commercial" pursuant to Section 21 of this Act. Morata v. Go. Thus, except in the instances enumerated in sections 2 and 6 of the law, the Lupon has the authority to settle amicably all types of disputes involving parties who actually reside in the same city or municipality. The law, as written, makes no distinction whatsoever with respect to the classes of civil disputes that should be compromised at the barangay level, in contradistinction to the limitation imposed upon the Lupon by paragraph (3), section 2 thereof as regards its authority over criminal cases. In fact, in defining the Lupon's authority, Section 2 of said law employed the universal and comprehensive term "all", to which usage We should neither add nor subtract in consonance with the rudimentary precept in statutory construction that "where the law does not distinguish, We should not distinguish. || By compelling the disputants to settle their differences through the intervention of the barangay leader and other respected members of the barangay, the animosity generated by protracted court litigations between members of the same political unit, a disruptive factor toward unity and cooperation, is avoided. It must be borne in mind that the conciliation process at the barangay level is likewise designed to discourage indiscriminate filing of cases in court in order to decongest its clogged dockets and, in the process, enhance the quality of justice dispensed by it. Thus, to say that the authority of the Lupon is limited to cases exclusively cognizable by the inferior courts is to lose sight of this objective. Worse, it would make the law a self-defeating one. For what would stop a party, say in an action for a sum of money or damages, as in the instant case, from bloating up his claim in order to place his case beyond the jurisdiction of the inferior court and thereby avoid the mandatory requirement of P.D. 1508? And why, indeed, should the law seek to ease the congestion of dockets only in inferior courts and not in the regional trial courts where the log-jam of cases is much more serious? Indeed, the lawmakers could not have intended such half-measure and self-defeating legislation. || There can be no question that when the law conferred upon the Lupon "the authority to bring together the parties actually residing in the same city or municipality for amicable settlement of all disputes, ... ," its obvious intendment was to grant to the Lupon as broad and comprehensive an authority as possible as would bring about the optimum realization of the aforesaid objectives. These objectives would only be half-met and easily thwarted if the Lupon's authority is exercised only in cases falling within the exclusive jurisdiction of inferior courts Mendova v. Afable. In the present case, we noticed from the records before us that the complainant did not bother at all to file a motion for reconsideration of respondent judges decision dismissing the criminal case. No reason was advanced by complainant why he failed to do so. Thu s, following our settled pronouncements cited above, his instant administrative complaint is premature. Uy v. Contreras. The previous law on Katarungang Pambarangay has already been revised by the LGC and it has three significant features: PD1508 Authority over criminal offenses limited to those punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding P200 No similar provision LGC Authority over criminal offenses limited to those punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding P5,000 Disputes arising from the workplace where the contending parties are
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employed or at the institution where such parties are enrolled for study, shall be brought in the brgy where such workplace or institution is located Prescriptive periods of offenses suspended during the pendency of the mediation, conciliation or arbitration process
No similar provision
Zamora v. Heirs of Izquierdo. It is of no moment that the complaint was initially made by defendant-appellant Avelina Zamora because herein plaintiffappellee was given by the Sangguniang Barangay the authority to bring her grievance to the Court for resolution. While it is true that the Sertifikasyon dated September 14, 1997 is entitled Ukol Sa Hindi Pagbibigay Ng Pahintulot Sa Pagpapakabit Ng Tubig, this title must not prevail over the actual issues discussed in the proceedings. Hence, to require another confrontation at the barangay level as a sine qua non for the filing of the instant case would not serve any useful purpose anymore since no new issues would be raised therein and the parties have proven so many times in the past that they cannot get to settle their differences amicably. Boleyley v. Villanueva. From the above allegations, it is obvious that the parties do not reside in the same city or municipality, and hence, the dispute is excepted from the requirement of referral to the barangay lupon or pangkat for conciliation or settlement prior to filing with the court. || We lay down the doctrinal rule that the term resides connotes ex vi termini actual residence as distinguished from legal residence or domicile. The term resides, like the term residing or residence is elastic and should be interpreted in the light of the object or purpose of the statute or r ule in which it is employed. x x x In other words, resides should be viewed or understood in its popular sense, meaning, the personal, actual or physical habitation of a person, actual residence or place of abode. It signifies physical presence in a place and actual stay thereat. x x x No particular length of time of residence is required though; however, the residence must be more than temporary Vercide v. Judge Hernandez . P D 1 5 0 8 i s c l e a r o n t his p o i n t . W he r e pa r t ie s d o n ot r e si d e i n t he sa me c it y or municipality or in adjoining barangays, there is no requirement for them to submit their dispute involving real property to the Lupong Tagapamayapa || The phrase disputes which involves real property is merely a proviso Heirs of Vinzons v. CA. [ejectment suit] This case being one of unlawful detainer, it must have been filed within one year fromthe date of last demand with the MTC. Otherwise it is an accion publiciana cognizable by theRegional Trial Court. The rule is that the one-year period provided for in Section 1, Rule 70 of the Rules of Court within which a complaint for unlawful detainer can be filed should be countedfrom the last letter of demand to vacate || No evidence of compliance with KPL Idolor v. CA. Injunction is a preservative remedy aimed at protecting substantive rights and interests. Before an injunction can be issued, it is essential that the following requisites be present: (1) there must be a right in esse or the existence of a right to be protected; (2) the act against which the injunction is to be directed is a violation of such right. || Petitioner had one year redemption period from the registration of the sheriffs sale to redeem the property but she failed to exercise this right. Hence, the right no longer exists. || There was no novation that was brought by the Kasunduan, since it is essentially the same agreement as the first, only that the conditions were changed a little. Novation requires the extinguishment of the obligation, here the original obligation was not extinguished. Aquino v. Aure. MTC cannot motu proprio dismiss for failure to conciliate. Defendant must allege the same in the answer; otherwise, non-inclusion as a defense could be deemed as a waiver. Pang-et v. Manacnes-Dao-As. It is very clear from the foregoing that personal appearance of the parties in conciliation proceedings before a Lupon Tagapamayapa is mandatory. Likewise, the execution of the agreement to arbitrate must be done personally by the parties themselves so that they themselves are mandated to sign the agreement. || At this juncture, it must be stressed that the object of the Katarungang Pambarangay Law is the amicable settlement of disputes through conciliation proceedings voluntarily and freely entered into by the parties. Through this mechanism, the parties are encouraged to settle their disputes without enduring the rigors of court litigation. Nonetheless, the disputing parties are not compelled to settle their controversy during the barangay proceedings before the Lupon or the Pangkat, as they are free to instead find recourse in the courts in the event that no true compromise is reached. The key in achieving the objectives of an effective amicable settlement under the Katarungang Pambarangay Law is the free and voluntary agreement of the parties to submit the dispute for adjudication either by the Lupon or the Pangkat, whose award or decision shall be binding upon them with the force and effect of a final judgment of a court. Absent this voluntary submission by the parties to submit their dispute to arbitration under the Katarungang Pambarangay Law, there cannot be a binding settlement arrived at effectively resolving the case. Sangguniang Kabataan LGC, 423-439, supra. RA 7808 (1994). Sec. 532. Elections for the Sangguniang Kabataan. "(a) The first elections for the sangguniang kabataan to be conducted under this Code shall be held thirty (30) days after the next local elections: Provided, That, the regular elections for the sangguniang kabataan shall be held on the first Monday of May 1996: Provided, further, That the succeeding regular elections for the sangguniang kabataan shall be held every three (3) years thereafter: Provided, finally, That the national, special metropolitan, provincial, city and municipal federations of the sangguniang kabataan shall conduct the election of their respective officers thirty (30) days after the May 1996 sangguniang kabataan elections on dates to be scheduled by the Commission on Elections. "The conduct of the sangguniang kabataan elections shall be under the supervision of the Commission on Elections. "The Omnibus Election Code shall govern the elections of the sangguniang kabataan. RA 8044 (1995), Sec. 10. Functions of the National Youth Commission. - The Commission shall have the following functions: (a) To formulate and initiate the national policy or policies on youth; (b) To plan, implement, and oversee a national integrated youth promotion and development program; (c) To establish a consultative mechanism which shall provide a forum for continuing dialogue between the government and the youth sector on the proper planning and evaluation of policies, programs and projects affecting the youth, convening for the purpose, representatives of all youth organizations and institutions, including the Sangguniang Kabataan from barangay, municipal, city, provincial, and national levels; (d) To assist and coordinate with governmental and non- governmental organizations or institutions in the implementation of all laws, policies, programs and projects relative to youth promotion and development. (e) To seek or request the assistance and support of any government agency, office or instrumentality including government-owned or controlled corporations, local government units as well as non- governmental organizations or institutions in pursuance of its policies, programs and projects; (f) To conduct scientific, interdisciplinary and policy-oriented researches and studies on youth-related matters, as well as trainings, seminars and workshops that will enhance the skills and leadership potentials of the youth, instilling in them nationalism and patriotism, with particular emphasis on Filipino culture and values. (g) To establish and maintain linkages with international youth and youth-serving organizations or institutions and counterpart agencies of foreign governments in order to facilitate and ensure the participation of the Filipino youth in international functions and affairs; (h) To administer youth exchange programs as well as the monitor and coordinate all foreign-sponsored youth programs and projects such as the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program and other similar exchanges and goodwill missions; (i) To establish such organizational structures including regional offices, as maybe required to effectively carry out its functions; (j) To conduct promotion and fund-raising campaigns in accordance with existing laws; (k) To allocate resources for the implementation of youth programs and projects; (l) To extend and provide support or assistance to deserving youth and youth organizations including scholarship grants; (m) To register, establish and/or facilitate and help in the establishment of youth organizations and youth-serving organizations; (n) To participate in international youth fora, symposia and organizations such as the International Youth Forum, Asian Youth Council, ASEAN Youth Forum, United Nations Commission for International Youth Year (IYY) and other similar bodies; (o) To provide training and a national secretariat for the Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation pursuant to R.A. No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code; (p) To submit an annual report on the implementation of this Act to the President and to Congress; and (q) To perform such other functions as may be necessary to effectively and efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act. RA 9164 (2002), supra.
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Alunan III v. Mirasol. DILG Sec. has the authority under LGC 532(d) to exempt City of Manila from SK elections. || Elections of SK officers are not subject to COMELEC supervision in the same way that contest involving SK elections do not fall w/in COMELEC jurisdiction. || The role of the COMELEC in the 1992 elections was by no means inconsequential. DILG supervision was to be exercised within the framework of detailed and comprehensive rule. What was left was merely to implement the same. ALU v. Letrondo. First. The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) is part of the local government structure. The LGC (Rep. Act. No. 7160) creates in every barangay a Sangguniang Kabataan composed of a chairman, seven (7) members, a secretary and a treasurer. 3 The chairman and the seven members are elected by the Katipunan ng Kabataan, which is composed of citizens of the Philippines residing in the barangay for at least six (6) months, who are between the ages of 15 and 21 and who are registered as members. The chairman of the SK is an ex officio member of the Sangguniang Baranggay with the same powers duties, functions and privileges as the regular members of the Sangguniang Barangay. 5 The President of the Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, which is imposed of the SK chairmen of the sangguniang kabataan of the barangays in the province, city, or municipality, is an ex officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, and Sangguniang Bayan. Hence, as the Solicitor General points out, the election for members of the SK may properly be considered a "local election" within the meaning of Art. VII, sec 3 of the CBA and the day on which it is held to be a holiday, thereby entitling petitioners members at the AMS Farming Corp. to the payment of holiday on such day. || Second. The Voluntary Arbitrator held, however, that the election for members of the SK cannot be considered a local election as the election for Governors , Vice Governors, Mayors and Vice Mayors and the various local legislative assemblies (sanggunians) because the SK election is participated in only by the youth who are between the ages of 15 and 21 and for this reason the day is not a nonworking holiday. To begin with, it is not true that December 4, 1992 was not a nonworking holiday. It was a nonworking holiday and this was announced in the media. 7 In Proclamation No. 118 dated December 2, 1992 President Ramos declared the day as "a special day through the country on the occasion of the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections" and enjoined all "local government units through their respective Chief Local Executives [to] extend all possible assistance and support to ensure the smooth conduct of the general elections." || A "special day" is a "special day", as provided by the Administrative Code of 1987. 8 On the other hand, the term "general elections" means, in the context of SK elections, the regular elections for members of the SK, as distinguished from the special elections for such officers. || Moreover, the fact that only those between 15 and 21 take part in the election for members of the SK does not make such election any less a regular local election. The Constitution provides, for example, for the sectoral representatives in the House of Representatives of, among others, women and youth. 10 Only voters belonging to the relevant sectors can take part in the election of their representatives. Yet it cannot be denied that such election is a regular national election and the day set for its holding, a holiday. Third. Indeed, the CBA provision in question merely reiterates the provision on paid holidays. Whether in the context of the CBA or the Labor Code, December 4, 1992 was a holiday for which holiday pay should be paid by respondent employer. Miguel v. CA. The authority given to the Oversight Committee was to adopt the appropriate rules and regulations necessary for the efficient and effective administration of any and all provisions of the Code need for orderly transfer of power and function. Marquez v. COMELEC. Any contest relating to the election of SK members (including the Chairman) whether pertaining to their eligibility or the manner of their election is cognizable by the MTCs, MCTCs and MeTCs. Before proclamation, cases concerning eligibility of SK officers and members are cognizable by the Election Officer as provided in Sec. 6 of COMELEC Resolution No. 2824. After election and proclamation, the same cases become quo warranto cases cognizable by MTCs, MCTCs and MeTCs. Garvida v. Sales. A closer look at the LGC will reveal a distinction between the maximum age of a member in the Katipunan ng Kabataan and the maximum age of an elective SK official. Section 424 of the Code sets a member's maximum age at 21 years only. There is no further provision as to when the member shall have turned 21 years of age. On the other hand, Section 428 provides that the maximum age of an elective SK official is 21 years old "on the day of his election." The addition of the phrase "on the day of his election" is an additional qualification. The member may be more than 21 years of age on election day or on the day he registers as member of the Katipunan ng Kabataan. The elective official, however, must not be more than 21 years old on the day of election. The distinction is understandable considering that the Code itself provides more qualifications for an elective SK official than for a member of the Katipunan ng Kabataan. Dissimilum dissimilis est ratio. The courts may distinguish when there are facts and circumstances showing that the legislature intended a distinction or qualification. || The qualification that a voter in the SK elections must not be more than 21 years of age on the day of the election is not provided in Section 424 of the LGC. In fact the term "qualified voter" appears only in COMELEC Resolution No. 2824. Since a "qualified voter" is not necessarily an elective official, then it may be assumed that a "qualified voter" is a "member of the Katipunan ng Kabataan." Section 424 of the Code does not provide that the maximum age of a member of the Katipunan ng Kabataan is determined on the day of the election. Section 3 [b] of COMELEC Resolution No. 2824 is therefore ultra vires insofar as it sets the age limit of a voter for the SK elections at exactly 21 years on the day of the election. Zarate v. COMELEC. The COMELEC en banc acted without jurisdiction without first referring the case to any of its division. The petition for annulling the COMELECs decision was granted and was set aside. The Commission was ordered to assign the case to a division. The re course of respondent Lallave transgressed Section 3 Article IX of the Constitution which provides that election cases shall be heard and decided in division, provided that motions for reconsideration of decisions shall be decided by the Commission en banc Baytan v. COMELEC. It is well- settled that the finding of probable cause in the prosecution of election offenses rests in the sound discretion of the COMELEC. Generally, the Court will not interfere with such finding of the COMELEC, absent a clear showing of grave abuse of discretion. This principle emanates from the exclusive power of the COMELEC to conduct preliminary investigation of all election investigation of all election offenses and to prosecute the same. || Under Sec. 2, Art. IX-C of the Constitution, the COMELEC exercises both administrative and quasi-judicial powers. The administrative powers are found in Sec 2. (1), (3) to (9) of Art IX-C. The Constitution does not provide on whether these administrative powers shall be exercised by the COMELEC en banc or in division. The COMELEC en banc therefore can act on administrative matters, and this had been the practice under the 1973 and 1987 Constitutions. The prosecution by the COMELEC of violations of election laws is an administrative power. || The exercise by the COMELEC of its quasi-judicial powers is subject to Sec.3, Art.IX-C which expressly requires that all election cases, including pre-proclamation controversies, shall be decided by the COMELEC in division, and the motion for reconsideration shall be decided by the COMELEC en banc. Montesclaros v. COMELEC. Congress exercises the power to prescribe the qualifications for SK membership. One who is no longer qualified because of an amendment in the law cannot complain of being deprived of a proprietary right to SK membership. Only those who qualify as SK members can contest, based on a statutory right, any act disqualifying them from SK membership or from voting in the SK elections. SK membership is not a property right protected by the Constitution because it is a mere statutory right conferred by law. Congress may amend at any time the law to change or even withdraw the statutory right. A public office is not a property right. As the Constitution expressly states, a [P]ublic office is a public trust. No one has a vested right to any public office, much less a vested right to an expectancy of holding a public office. || Petitioners, who apparently desire to hold public office, should realize from the very start that no one has a proprietary right to public office. While the law makes an SK officer an ex-officio member of a local government legislative council, the law does not confer on petitioners a proprietary right or even a proprietary expectancy to sit in local legislative councils. The constitutional principle of a public office as a public trust precludes any proprietary claim to public office. Even the State policy directing equal access to opportunities for public service cannot bestow on petitioners a proprietary right to SK membership or a proprietary expectancy to ex-officio public offices. Moreover, while the State policy is to encourage the youths involvement in public affairs, this policy refers to those who belong to the class of people defined as the youth. Congress has the power to define who are the youth qualified to join the SK, which itself is a creation of Congress. Those who do not qualify because they are past the age group defined as the youth cannot insist on being part of the youth. In government service, once an employee reaches mandatory retirement age, he cannot invoke any property right to cling to his office. In the same manner, since petitioners are now past the maximum age for membership in the SK, they cannot invoke any property right to cling to their SK membership. Sambarani v. COMELEC. Neither the candidates nor the voters of the affected barangays caused the failure of the special elections. The COMELECs ow n acting election officer, EO Maulay, readily admitted that there were no special elections in these barangays. The COMELEC also found that the Provincial Election Supervisor of Lanao del Sur and the Regional Election Director of Region XII did not contest the fact that there were no special elections in these barangays. || In fixing the date for special elections the COMELEC should see to it that: 1.] it should not be later than thirty (30) days after the cessation of the cause of the postponement or suspension of the election or the failure to elect; and, 2.] it should be reasonably close to the date of the election not held, suspended or which resulted in the failure to elect. The first involves a question of fact. The second must be determined in the light of the peculiar circumstances of a case. Thus, the holding of elections within the next few months from the cessation of the cause of the postponement, suspension or failure to elect may still be considered reasonably close to the date of the election not held.
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See COMELEC Resolution 00-0046, Jan. 19, 2000. the COMELEC relied on its Resolution No. 00-0046 dated January 19, 2000, which states, citing Laodenio v. COMELEC, that the COMELEC en banc may directly assume jurisdiction over petitions to declare illegal the composition or proceedings of the board of canvassers The Municipality LGC, 440. Role of the Municipality. - The municipality, consisting of a group of barangays, serves primarily as a general purpose government for the coordination and delivery of basic, regular and direct services and effective governance of the inhabitants within its territorial jurisdiction. LGC, 441. Manner of Creation. - A municipality may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered only by an Act of Congress and subject to the approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be conducted by the COMELEC in the local government unit or units directly affected. Except as may otherwise be provided in the said Act, the plebiscite shall be held within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of its effectivity. LGC, 442. Requisites for Creation. (a) A municipality may be created if it has an average annual income, as certified by the provincial treasurer, of at least Two million five hundred thousand pesos (P2,500,000.00) for the last two (2) consecutive years based on the 1991 constant prices; a population of at least twenty-five thousand (25,000) inhabitants as certified by the National Statistics Office; and a contiguous territory of at least fifty (50) square kilometers as certified by the Lands Management Bureau: Provided, That the creation thereof shall not reduce the land area, population or income of the original municipality or municipalities at the time of said creation to less than the minimum requirements prescribed herein. (b) The territorial jurisdiction of a newly-created municipality shall be properly identified by metes and bounds. The requirement on land area shall not apply where the municipality proposed to be created is composed of one (1) or more islands. The territory need not be contiguous if it comprises two (2) or more islands. (c) The average annual income shall include the income accruing to the general fund of the municipality concerned, exclusive of special funds, transfers and non-recurring income. (d) Municipalities existing as of the date of the effectivity of this Code shall continue to exist and operate as such. Existing municipal districts organized pursuant to presidential issuances or executive orders and which have their respective set of elective municipal officials holding office at the time of the effectivity of this Code shall henceforth be considered as regular municipalities. CHAPTER II: Municipal Officials in General LGC, 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. (a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the sangguniang bayan, a municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a municipal budget officer, a municipal planning and development coordinator, a municipal engineer/building official, a municipal health officer and a municipal civil registrar. (b) In addition thereto, the mayor may appoint a municipal administrator, a municipal legal officer, a municipal agriculturist, a municipal environment and natural resources officer, a municipal social welfare and development officer, a municipal architect, and a municipal information officer. (c) The sangguniang bayan may: (1) Maintain existing offices not mentioned in subsections (a) and (b) hereof; (2) Create such other offices as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the municipal government; or (3) Consolidate the functions of any office with those of another in the interest of efficiency and economy. (d) Unless otherwise provided herein, heads of departments and offices shall be appointed by the municipal mayor with the concurrence of the majority of all the sangguniang bayan members, subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. The sangguniang bayan shall act on the appointment within fifteen (15) days from the date of its submission; otherwise, the same shall be deemed confirmed. (e) Elective and appointive municipal officials shall receive such compensation, allowances and other emoluments as may be determined by law or ordinance, subject to the budgetary limitations on personal services as prescribed in Title Five, Book Two of this Code: Provided, That no increase in compensation of the mayor, vice-mayor, and sangguniang bayan members shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of all the elective local officials approving such increase. CHAPTER III: Officials and Offices Common to All Municipalities ARTICLE I: The Municipal Mayor LGC, 444. The Chief Executive: Powers, Duties, Functions and Compensation. (a) The municipal mayor, as the chief executive of the municipal government, shall exercise such powers and performs such duties and functions as provided by this Code and other laws. (b) For efficient, effective and economical governance the purpose of which is the general welfare of the municipality and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code, the municipal mayor shall: (1) Exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the municipal government, and in this connection, shall: i. Determine the guidelines of municipal policies and be responsible to the sangguniang bayan for the program of government; ii. Direct the formulation of the municipal development plan, with the assistance of the municipal development council, and upon approval thereof by the sangguniang bayan, implement the same; iii. At the opening of the regular session of the sangguniang bayan for every calendar year and, as may be deemed necessary, present the program of government and propose policies and projects for the consideration of the sangguniang bayan as the general welfare of the inhabitants and the needs of the municipal government may require; iv. Initiate and propose legislative measures to the sangguniang bayan and, from time to time as the situation may require, provide such information and data needed or requested by said sanggunian in the performance of its legislative functions; v. Appoint all officials and employees whose salaries and wages are wholly or mainly paid out of municipal funds and whose appointments are not otherwise provided for in this Code, as well as those he may be authorized by law to appoint; vi. Upon authorization by the sangguniang bayan, represent the municipality in all its business transactions and sign on its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents made pursuant to law or ordinance; vii. Carry out such emergency measures as may be necessary during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities; viii. Determine, according to law or ordinance, the time, manner and place of payment of salaries or wages of the officials and employees of the municipality; ix. Allocate and assign office space to municipal and other officials and employees who, by law or ordinance, are entitled to such space in the municipal hall and other buildings owned or leased by the municipal government; x. Ensure that all executive officials and employees of the municipality faithfully discharge their duties and functions as provided by law and this Code, and cause to be instituted administrative or judicial proceedings against any official or employee of the municipality who may have committed as offense in the performance of his official duties; xi. Examine the books, records and other documents of all offices, officials, agents or employees of the municipality and in aid of his executive powers and authority, require all national officials and employees stationed in or assigned to the municipality to make available to him such books, records, and other documents in their custody, except those classified by law as confidential; xii. Furnish copies of executive orders issued by him to the provincial governor within seventy-two (72) hours after their issuance: Provided, That municipalities of Metropolitan Manila Area and that of any metropolitan political subdivision shall furnish copies of said executive orders to the metropolitan authority council chairman and to the Office of the President; xiii. Visit component barangays of the municipality at least once every six (6) months to deepen his understanding of problems and conditions therein, listen and give appropriate counsel to local officials and inhabitants, inform the component barangay officials and inhabitants of general laws and ordinances which especially concern them, and otherwise conduct visits and inspections to the end that the governance of the municipality will improve the quality of life of the inhabitants; xiv. Act on leave applications of officials and employees appointed by him and the commutation of the monetary value of leave credits according to law;
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xv. xvi.
Authorize official trips outside of the municipality of municipal officials and employees for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days; Call upon any national official or employee stationed in or assigned to the municipality to advise him on matters affecting the municipality and to make recommendations thereon, or to coordinate in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects, and when appropriate, initiate an administrative or judicial action against a national government official or employee who may have committed an offense in the performance of his official duties while stationed in or assigned to the local government unit concerned; xvii. Subject to availability of funds, authorize payment of medical care, necessary transportation, subsistence, hospital or medical fees of municipal officials and employees who are injured while in the performance of their official duties and functions; xviii. Solemnize marriages, any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding; xix. Conduct a palarong bayan, in coordination with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, as an annual activity which shall feature traditional sports and disciplines included in national and international games; and xx. Submit to the provincial governor the following reports: an annual report containing a summary of all matters pertaining to the management, administration and development of the municipality and all information and data relative to its political, social and economic conditions; and supplemental reports when unexpected events and situations arise at any time during the year, particularly when man-made or natural disasters or calamities affect the general welfare of the municipality, province, region or country. mayors of municipalities of the Metropolitan Manila Area and other metropolitan political subdivisions shall submit said reports to their respective metropolitan council chairmen and to the Office of the President; (2) Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the municipality and the exercise of its corporate powers provided for under Section 22 of this Code implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the municipality and, in addition to the foregoing, shall: i. Ensure that the acts of the municipality's component barangays and of its officials and employees are within the scope of their prescribed powers, functions, duties and responsibilities; ii. Call conventions, conferences, seminars or meetings of any elective and appointive officials of the municipality, including provincial officials and national officials and employees stationed in or assigned to the municipality at such time and place and on such subject as he may deem important for the promotion of the general welfare of the local government unit and its inhabitants; iii. Issue such executive orders as are necessary for the proper enforcement and execution of laws and ordinances; iv. Be entitled to carry the necessary firearm within his territorial jurisdiction; v. Act as the deputized representative of the National Police Commission, formulate the peace and order plan of the municipality and upon its approval implement the same and exercise general and operational control and supervision over the local police in the municipality in accordance with R.A. No 6975; vi. Call upon the appropriate law enforcement agencies to suppress disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition or to apprehend violators of the law when public interest so requires and the municipal police forces are inadequate to cope with the situation or the violators; (3) Initiate and maximize the generation of resources and revenues, and apply the same to the implementation of development plans, program objectives and priorities as provided for under Section 18 of this Code, particularly those resources and revenues programmed for groindustrial development and country-wide growth and progress, and relative thereto, shall: i. Require each head of an office or department to prepare and submit an estimate of appropriations for the ensuing calendar year, in accordance with the budget preparation process under Title Five, Book II of this Code; ii. Prepare and submit to the sanggunian for approval the executive and supplemental budgets of the municipality for the ensuing calendar year in the manner provided for under Title Five, Book II of this Code; iii. Ensure that all taxes and other revenues of the municipality are collected and that municipal funds are applied in accordance with law or ordinance to the payment of expenses and settlement of obligations of the municipality; iv. Issue licenses and permits and suspend or revoke the same for any violation of the conditions upon which said licenses or permits had been issued, pursuant to law or ordinance; v. Issue permits, without need of approval therefor from any national agency, for the holding of activities for any charitable or welfare purpose, excluding prohibited games of chance or shows contrary to law, public policy and public morals; vi. Require owners of illegally constructed houses, buildings or other structures to obtain the necessary permit, subject to such fines and penalties as may be imposed by law or ordinance, or to make necessary changes in the construction of the same when said construction violates any law or ordinance, or to order the demolition or removal of said house, building or structure within the period prescribed by law or ordinance; vii. Adopt adequate measures to safeguard and conserve land, mineral, marine, forest, and other resources of the municipality; provide efficient and effective property and supply management in the municipality; and protect the funds, credits, rights and other properties of the municipality; and viii. Institute or cause to be instituted administrative or judicial proceedings for violation of ordinances in the collection of taxes, fees or charges, and for the recovery of funds and property; and cause the municipality to be defended against all suits to ensure that its interests, resources and rights shall be adequately protected; (4) Ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17 of this Code and, in addition thereto, shall: i. Ensure that the construction and repair of roads and highways funded by the national government shall be, as far as practicable, carried out in a spatially contiguous manner and in coordination with the construction and repair of the roads and bridges of the municipality and the province; and ii. Coordinate the implementation of technical services rendered by national and provincial offices, including public works and infrastructure programs in the municipality; and (5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (c) During his incumbency, the municipal mayor shall hold office in the municipal hall. (d) The municipal mayor shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty-seven (27) as prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto. ARTICLE II: The Vice Mayor LGC, 445. Powers, Duties and Compensation. (a) The vice-mayor shall: (1) Be the presiding officer of the sangguniang bayan and sign all warrants drawn on the municipal treasury for all expenditures appropriated for the operation of the sangguniang bayan; (2) Subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, appoint all officials and employees of the sangguniang bayan, except those whose manner of appointment is specifically provided in this Code; (3) Assume the office of the municipal mayor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy as provided for in Section 44, Book I of this Code; (4) Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the municipal mayor in cases of temporary vacancy as provided for in Section 46, Book I of this Code; and (5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (b) The vice-mayor shall receive a monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty five (25) as prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto. ARTICLE III: The Sangguniang Bayan Section 446. Composition.
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(a) The sangguniang bayan, the legislative body of the municipality, shall be composed of the municipal vice mayor as the presiding officer, the regular sanggunian members, the president of the municipal chapter of the liga ng mga barangay, the president of the pambayang pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan, and the sectoral representatives, as members. (b) In addition thereto, there shall be three (3) sectoral representatives: one (1) from the women; and as shall be determined by the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of local elections, one (1) from the agricultural or industrial workers, and one (1) from other sectors, including the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, or disabled persons. (c) The regular members of the sangguniang bayan and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in the manner as may be provided for by law. LGC, 447. Powers, Duties, Functions and Compensation. (a) The sangguniang bayan, as the legislative body of the municipality, shall enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the municipality and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code and in the proper exercise of the corporate powers of the municipality as provided for under Section 22 of this Code, and shall: (1) Approve ordinances and pass resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective municipal government, and in this connection shall: i. Review all ordinances approved by the sangguniang barangay and executive orders issued by the punong barangay to determine whether these are within the scope of the prescribed powers of the sanggunian and of the punong barangay; ii. Maintain peace and order by enacting measures to prevent and suppress lawlessness, disorder, riot, violence, rebellion or sedition and impose penalties for the violation of said ordinances; iii. Approve ordinances imposing a fine not exceeding Two thousand five hundred pesos (P2,500.00) or an imprisonment for a period not exceeding six (6) months, or both in the discretion of the court, for the violation of a municipal ordinance; iv. Adopt measures to protect the inhabitants of the municipality from the harmful effects of man-made or natural disasters and calamities and to provide relief services and assistance for victims during and in the aftermath of said disasters or calamities and their return to productive livelihood following said events; v. Enact ordinances intended to prevent, suppress and impose appropriate penalties for habitual drunkenness in public places, vagrancy, mendicancy, prostitution, establishment and maintenance of houses of ill repute, gambling and other prohibited games of chance, fraudulent devices and ways to obtain money or property, drug addiction, maintenance of drug dens, drug pushing, juvenile delinquency, the printing, distribution or exhibition of obscene or pornographic materials or publications, and such other activities inimical to the welfare and morals of the inhabitants of the municipality; vi. Protect the environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the environment, such as dynamite fishing and other forms of destructive fishing, illegal logging and smuggling of logs, smuggling of natural resources products and of endangered species of flora and fauna, slash and burn farming, and such other activities which result in pollution, acceleration of eutrophication of rivers and lakes, or of ecological imbalance; vii. Subject to the provisions of this Code and pertinent laws, determine the powers and duties of officials and employees of the municipality; viii. Determine the positions and salaries, wages, allowances and other emoluments and benefits of officials and employees paid wholly or mainly from municipal funds and provide for expenditures necessary for the proper conduct of programs. projects, services, and activities of the municipal government; ix. Authorize the payment of compensation to a qualified person not in the government service who fills up a temporary vacancy or grant honorarium to any qualified official or employee designated to fill a temporary vacancy in a concurrent capacity, at the rate authorized by law; x. Provide a mechanism and the appropriate funds therefor, to ensure the safety and protection of all municipal government property, public documents, or records such as those relating to property inventory, land ownership, records of births, marriages, deaths, assessments, taxation, accounts, business permits, and such other records and documents of public interest in the offices and departments of the municipal government; xi. When the finances of the municipal government allow, provide for additional allowances and other benefits to judges, prosecutors, public elementary and high school teachers, and other national government officials stationed in or assigned to the municipality; xii. Provide for legal assistance to barangay officials who, in the performance of their official duties or on the occasion thereof, have to initiate judicial proceedings or defend themselves against legal action; and xiii. Provide for group insurance or additional insurance coverage for barangay officials, including members of barangay tanod brigades and other service units, with public or private insurance companies, when the finances of the municipal government allow said coverage. (2) Generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the development plans, program objectives and priorities of the municipality as provided for under Section 18 of this Code with particular attention to agro-industrial development and countryside growth and progress, and relative thereto, shall: i. Approve the annual and supplemental budgets of the municipal government and appropriate funds for specific programs, projects, services and activities of the municipality, or for other purposes not contrary to law, in order to promote the general welfare of the municipality and its inhabitants; ii. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and applicable laws and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang bayan, enact ordinances levying taxes, fees and charges, prescribing the rates thereof for general and specific purposes, and granting tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs; iii. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang bayan, authorize the municipal mayor to negotiate and contract loans and other forms of indebtedness; iv. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and applicable laws and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang bayan, enact ordinances authorizing the floating of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness, for the purpose of raising funds to finance development projects; v. Appropriate funds for the construction and maintenance or the rental of buildings for the use of the municipality and, upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang bayan, authorize the municipal mayor to lease to private parties such public buildings held in a proprietary capacity, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations; vi. Prescribe reasonable limits and restraints on the use of property within the jurisdiction of the municipality: vii. Adopt a comprehensive land use plan for the municipality: Provided, That the formulation, adoption, or modification of said plan shall be in coordination with the approved provincial comprehensive land use plan; viii. Reclassify land within the jurisdiction of the municipality, subject to the pertinent provisions of this Code; ix. Enact integrated zoning ordinances in consonance with the approved comprehensive land use plan, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations; established fire limits or zones, particularly in populous centers; and regulate the construction, repair or modification of buildings within said fire limits or zones in accordance with the provisions of this Code; x. Subject to national law, process and approve subdivision plans for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes and other development purposes, and collect processing fees and other charges the proceeds of which shall accrue entirely to the municipality: Provided, however, That, where approval by a national agency or office is required, said approval shall not be withheld for more than thirty (30) days from receipt of the application. Failure to act on the application within the period stated above shall be deemed as approval thereof; xi. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code, grant the exclusive privilege of constructing fish corrals or fish pens, or the taking or catching of bangus fry, prawn fry or kawag-kawag of fry of any species or fish within the municipal waters; xii. With the concurrence of at least two-thirds (2/3) of all the members of the sangguniang bayan, grant tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs to entities engaged in community growth-inducing industries, subject to the provisions of Chapter 5, Title I, Book II of this Code.
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xiii.
Grant loans or provide grants to other local government units or to national, provincial and municipal charitable, benevolent or educational institutions: Provided, That said institutions are operated and maintained within the municipality; xiv. Regulate the numbering of residential, commercial and other buildings; and xv. Regulate the inspection, weighing and measuring of articles of commerce. (3) Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code, grant franchises, enact ordinances authorizing the issuance of permits or licenses, or enact ordinances levying taxes, fees and charges upon such conditions and for such purposes intended to promote the general welfare of the inhabitants of the municipality, and pursuant to this legislative authority shall: i. Fix and impose reasonable fees and charges for all services rendered by the municipal government to private persons or entities; ii. Regulate any business, occupation, or practice of profession or calling which does not require government examination within the municipality and the conditions under which the license for said business or practice of profession may be issued or revoked; iii. Prescribe the terms and conditions under which public utilities owned by the municipality shall be operated by the municipal government or leased to private persons or entities, preferably cooperatives; iv. Regulate the display of and fix the license fees for signs, signboards, or billboards at the place or places where the profession or business advertised thereby is, in whole or in part, conducted; v. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, authorize and license the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cockpits, and regulate cockfighting and commercial breeding of gamecocks: Provided, That existing rights should not be prejudiced; vi. Subject to the guidelines prescribed by the Department of Transportation and Communications, regulate the operation of tricycles and grant franchises for the operation thereof within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality; vii. Upon approval by a majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang bayan, grant a franchise to any person, partnership, corporation, or cooperative to establish, construct, operate and maintain ferries, wharves, markets or slaughterhouses, or such other similar activities within the municipality as may be allowed by applicable laws: Provided, That, cooperatives shall be given preference in the grant of such a franchise. (4) Regulate activities relative to the use of land, buildings and structures within the municipality in order to promote the general welfare and for said purpose shall: i. Declare, prevent or abate any nuisance; ii. Require that buildings and the premises thereof and any land within the municipality be kept and maintained in a sanitary condition; impose penalties for any violation thereof, or upon failure to comply with said requirement, have the work done and require the owner, administrator or tenant concerned to pay the expenses of the same; or require the filling up of any land or premises to a grade necessary for proper sanitation; iii. Regulate the disposal of clinical and other wastes from hospitals, clinics and other similar establishments; iv. Regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of cafes, restaurants, beerhouses, hotels, motels, inns, pension houses, lodging houses, and other similar establishments, including tourist guides and transports; v. Regulate the sale, giving away or dispensing of any intoxicating malt, vino, mixed or fermented liquors at any retail outlet; vi. Regulate the establishment and provide for the inspection of steam boilers or any heating device in buildings and the storage of inflammable and highly combustible materials within the municipality; vii. Regulate the establishment, operation, and maintenance of entertainment or amusement facilities, including theatrical performances, circuses, billiards pools, public dancing schools, public dance halls, sauna baths, massage parlors, and other places of entertainment or amusement; regulate such other events or activities for amusement or entertainment, particularly those which tend to disturb the community or annoy the inhabitants, or require the suspension or suppression of the same; or, prohibit certain forms of amusement or entertainment in order to protect the social and moral welfare of the community; viii. Provide for the impounding of stray animals; regulate the keeping of animals in homes or as part of a business, and the slaughter, sale or disposition of the same; and adopt measures to prevent and penalize cruelty to animals; and ix. Regulate the establishment, operation, and maintenance of funeral parlors and the burial or cremation of the dead, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. (5) Approve ordinances which shall ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the basic services and facilities as provided for under Section 17 of this Code, and in addition to said services and facilities, shall: i. Provide for the establishment, maintenance, protection, and conservation of communal forests and watersheds, tree parks, greenbelts, mangroves, and other similar forest development projects; ii. Establish markets, slaughterhouses or animal corrals and authorize the operation thereof, and regulate the construction and operation of private markets, talipapas or other similar buildings and structures; iii. Authorize the establishment, maintenance and operation of ferries, wharves, and other structures, and marine and seashore or offshore activities intended to accelerate productivity; iv. Regulate the preparation and sale of meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, fresh dairy products, and other foodstuffs for public consumption; v. Regulate the use of streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, parks and other public places and approve the construction, improvement, repair and maintenance of the same; establish bus and vehicle stops and terminals or regulate the use of the same by privately-owned vehicles which serve the public; regulate garages and the operation of conveyances for hire; designate stands to be occupied by public vehicles when not in use; regulate the putting up of signs, signposts, awnings and awning posts on the streets; provide for the lighting, cleaning and sprinkling of streets and public places; vi. Regulate traffic on all streets and bridges, prohibit the putting up of encroachments or obstacles thereon, and, when necessary in the interest of public welfare, authorize the removal of encroachments and illegal constructions in public places; vii. Subject to existing laws, provide for the establishment, operation, maintenance, and repair of an efficient waterworks system to supply water for the inhabitants; regulate the construction, maintenance, repair and use of hydrants, pumps, cisterns and reservoirs; protect the purity and quantity of the water supply of the municipality and, for this purpose, extend the coverage of appropriate ordinances over all territory within the drainage area of said water supply and within one hundred (100) meters of the reservoir, conduit, canal, aqueduct, pumping station, or watershed used in connection with the water service; and regulate the consumption, use or wastage of water; viii. Regulate the drilling and excavation of the ground for laying of water, gas, sewer, and other pipes and the construction, repair and maintenance of public drains, sewers, cesspools, tunnels and similar structures; regulate the placing of poles and the use of crosswalks, curbs, and gutters; adopt measures to ensure public safety against open canals, manholes, live wires and other similar hazards to life and property; and regulate the construction and use of private water closets, privies and other similar structures in buildings and homes; ix. Regulate the placing, stringing, attaching, installing, repair and construction of all gas mains, electric, telegraph and telephone wires, conduits, meters and other apparatus; and, provide for the correction, condemnation or removal of the same when found to be dangerous, defective or otherwise hazardous to the welfare of the inhabitants; x. Subject to the availability of funds and to existing laws, rules and regulations, establish and provide for the operation of vocational and technical schools and similar post-secondary institutions and, with the approval of the Department of Education. Culture and Sports, fix and collect reasonable fees and other school charges on said institutions, subject to existing laws on tuition fees; xi. Establish a scholarship fund for poor but deserving students residing within the municipality in schools located within its jurisdiction; xii. Approve measures and adopt quarantine regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases; xiii. Provide for an efficient and effective system of solid waste and garbage collection disposal and prohibit littering and the placing or throwing of garbage, refuse and other filth and wastes;
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xiv.
Provide for the care of paupers, the aged, the sick, persons of unsound mind, disabled persons, abandoned minors, juvenile delinquents, drug dependents, abused children and other needy and disadvantaged persons, particularly children and youth below eighteen (18) years of age and, subject to availability of funds, establish and provide for the operation of centers and facilities for said needy and disadvantaged persons; xv. Establish and provide for the maintenance and improvement of jails and detention centers, institute sound jail management programs, and appropriate funds for the subsistence of detainees and convicted prisoners in the municipality; xvi. Establish a municipal council whose purpose is the promotion of culture and the arts, coordinate with government agencies and non-governmental organizations and, subject to the availability of funds, appropriate funds for the support and development of the same; and xvii. Establish a municipal council for the orderly which shall formulate policies and adopt measures mutually beneficial to the elderly and to the community; provide incentives for non-governmental agencies and entities and, subject to the availability of funds, appropriate funds to support programs and projects for the benefit of the elderly; and (6) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (b) The members of the sangguniang bayan shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty-four (24) as prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto: Provided, That, in municipalities in Metropolitan Manila Area and other metropolitan political subdivisions, members of the sangguniang bayan shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary grade twenty-five (25). Olivarez v. Sandiganbayan. The mere fact that the order to file the information against petitioner was contained in a marginal note is not sufficient to impute arbitrariness or caprice on the part of respondent special prosecutors, absent a clear showing that they gravely abused their discretion in disapproving the recommendation of the investigating prosecutors to dismiss or withdraw the case against petitioner. Neither are these marginal notes tainted with or indicative of vindictiveness or arbitrariness as imputed by petitioner. Public respondents disapproved the recommendation of the investigating prosecutors because they sincerely believed that there is sufficient evidence to indict the accused United BF Homeowners Assoc v. City Mayor. LGC, 443, supra. LGC, 481, supra. Ramos v. CA. That ruling constitutes a grave abuse of discretion because it is manifestly a transgression of section 1683 of the Revised Administrative Code which provides that "the provincial fiscal shall represent the province and any municipality or municipal district thereof in any court, except in cases whereof original jurisdiction is vested in the Supreme Court or in cases where the municipality or municipal district in question is a party adverse to the provincial government or to some other municipality or municipal district in the same province. When the interests of a provincial government and of any political division thereof are opposed, the provincial fiscal shall act on behalf of the province. When the provincial fiscal is disqualified to serve any municipality or other political subdivision of a province, a special attorney may be employed by its council. Pililia v. CA. Under the above provision, complemented by Section 3, Republic Act No. 2264, the Local Autonomy Law, only the provincial fiscal and the municipal attorney can represent a province or municipality in their lawsuits. The provision is mandatory. The municipality's authority to employ a private lawyer is expressly limited only to situations where the provincial fiscal is disqualified to represent it. For the aforementioned exception to apply, the fact that the provincial fiscal was disqualified to handle the municipality's case must appear on record. In the instant case, there is nothing in the records to show that the provincial fiscal is disqualified to act as counsel for the Municipality of Pililla on appeal, hence the appearance of herein private counsel is without authority of law. Ramos v. IAC. The foregoing provisions of law and jurisprudence show that only the provincial fiscal, provincial attorney, and municipal attorney should represent a municipality in its lawsuits. Only in exceptional instances may a private attorney be hired by a municipality to represent it in lawsuits. [Pililia doctrine applies Alinsug v. RTC. It appears that the law allows a private counsel to be hired by a municipality only when the municipality is an adverse party in a case involving the provincial government or another municipality or city within the province. This provision has its apparent origin in the ruling in De Guia v. The Auditor General where the Court held that the municipality's authority to employ a private attorney is expressly limited only to situations where the provincial fiscal would be disqualified to serve and represent it. With Sec. 1683 of the old Administrative Code as legal basis, the Court therein cited Enriquez, Sr. v. Gimenez which enumerated instances when the provincial fiscal is disqualified to represent in court a particular municipality; if and when original jurisdiction of case involving the municipality is vested in the Supreme Court, when the municipality is a party adverse to the provincial government or to some other municipality in the same province, and when, in a case involving the municipality, he, or his wife, or child, is pecuniarily involved, as heir legatee, creditor or otherwise. || Thereafter, in Ramos v. Court of Appeals, the Court ruled that a municipality may not be represented by a private law firm which had volunteered its services gratis, in collaboration with the municipal attorney and the fiscal, as such representation was violative Sec. 1683 of the old Admi nistrative Code. This strict coherence to the letter of the law appears to have been dictated by the fact that "the municipality should not be burdened with expenses of hiring a private lawyer" and that "the interests of the municipality would be best protected if a government lawyer handles its litigations." || But would these proscriptions include public officials? Not necessarily. It can happen that a government official, ostensibly acting in his official capacity and sued in that capacity, is later held to have exceeded his authority. On the one hand, his defense would have then been underwritten by the people's money which ordinarily should have been his personal expense. On the other hand, personal liability can attach to him without, however, his having had the benefit of assistance of a counsel of his own choice. In Correa v. CFI of Bulacan, 10 the Court held that in the discharge of governmental functions, "municipal corporations are responsible for the acts of its officers, except if and when, the only to the extent that, they have acted by authority of the law, and in conformity with the requirements thereof." || The key then to resolving the issue of whether a local government official may secure the services of private counsel, in an action filed against him in his official capacity, lies on the nature of the action and the relief that is sought. Mancenido v. CA. The SC held that in resolving whether a local government official may secure the services of private counsel in an action filed against him in his official capacity, the nature of the action and the relief sought are to be considered. In view of the damages sought in the case at bar which, if granted, could result in personal liability, respondents could not be deemed to be improperly represented by private counsel. Natividad v. Felix. Now we cannot accept petitioner's specious argument that the alleged offense was committed in performance of the mayor's responsibility to maintain peace and order on the pretext that the victim, a robbery and NPA suspect, was under investigation at the time when he was allegedly killed at the police station. By no stretch of the imagination or logic, can we construe that the alleged act falls under any of the functions of the municipal mayor as enumerated under Sec. 444 of the Local Government Code of 1991 or implied therefrom. Thus, petitioner cannot disregard the authority of the provincial prosecutor in conducting a preliminary investigation of his alleged criminal acts. Republic v. Rambuyong. The City LGC, 448. Role of the City. - The city, consisting of more urbanized and developed barangays. serves as a general purpose government for the coordination and delivery of basic, regular, and direct services and effective governance of the inhabitants within its territorial jurisdiction. LGC, 449. Manner of Creation. - A city may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered, only by an Act of Congress, and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be conducted by the COMELEC in the local government unit or units directly affected. Except as may otherwise be provided in such Act. the plebiscite shall be held within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of its effectivity. LGC, 450. Requisites for Creation. (a) A municipality or a cluster of barangays may be converted into a component city if it has an average annual income, as certified by the Department of Finance, of at least Twenty million (P20,000,000.00) for the last two (2) consecutive years based on 1991 constant prices, and if it has either of the following requisites: i. a contiguous territory of at least one hundred (100) square kilometers, as certified by the Lands Management Bureau; or ii. a population of not less than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) inhabitants, as certified by the National Statistics Office:
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Provided, That, the creation thereof shall not reduce the land area, population, and income of the original unit or units at the time of said creation to less than the minimum requirements prescribed herein. (b) The territorial jurisdiction of a newly-created city shall be properly identified by metes and bounds. The requirement on land area shall not apply where the city proposed to be created is composed of one (1) or more islands. The territory need not be contiguous if it comprises two (2) or more islands. (c) The average annual income shall include the income accruing to the general fund, exclusive of specific funds, transfers, and non-recurring income. LGC, 451. Cities, Classified. - A city may either be component or highly urbanized: Provided, however, That the criteria established in this Code shall not affect the classification and corporate status of existing cities. Component cities whose charters prohibit their voters from voting for provincial elective officials. Independent component cities shall be independent of the province. Independent component cities are those LGC, 452. Highly Urbanized Cities. (a) Cities with a minimum population of two hundred thousand (200,000) inhabitants as certified by the National Statistics Office, and within the latest annual income of at least Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) based on 1991 constant prices, as certified by the city treasurer, shall be classified as highly urbanized cities. (b) Cities which do not meet above requirements shall be considered component cities of the province in which they are geographically located. If a component city is located within the boundaries of two (2) or more provinces, such city shall be considered a component of the province of which it used to be a municipality. (c) Qualified voters of highly urbanized cities shall remain excluded from voting for elective provincial officials. Unless otherwise provided in the Constitution or this Code, qualified voters of independent component cities shall be governed by their respective charters, as amended, on the participation of voters in provincial elections. Qualified voters of cities who acquired the right to vote for elective provincial officials prior to the classification of said cities as highlyurbanized after the ratification of the Constitution and before the effectivity of this Code, shall continue to exercise such right. LGC, 453. Duty to Declare Highly Urbanized Status. - It shall be the duty of the President to declare a city as highly urbanized within thirty (30) days after it shall have met the minimum requirements prescribed in the immediately preceding section, upon proper application therefor and ratification in a plebiscite by the qualified voters therein. CHAPTER II: City Officials in General LGC, 454. Officials of the City Government. (a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a city accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and development coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer, a city civil registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a city veterinarian, a city social welfare and development officer, and a city general services officer. (b) In addition thereto, the city mayor may appoint a city architect, a city information officer, a city agriculturist, a city population officer, a city environment and natural resources officer, and a city cooperatives officer. The appointment of a city population officer shall be optional in the city: Provided, however, That cities which have existing population offices shall continue to maintain such offices for a period of five (5) years from the date of the effectivity of this Code, after which said offices shall become optional. (c) The sangguniang panlungsod may: (1) Maintain existing offices not mentioned in subsections (a) and (b) hereof; (2) Create such other offices as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the city government; or (3) Consolidate the functions of any office with those of another in the interest of efficiency and economy. (d) Unless otherwise provided herein, heads of departments and offices shall be appointed by the city mayor with the concurrence of the majority of all the sangguniang panlungsod members, subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. The sangguniang panlungsod shall act on the appointment within fifteen (15) days from the date of its submission, otherwise the same shall be deemed confirmed. (e) Elective and appointive city officials shall receive such compensation, allowances, and other emoluments as may be determined by law or ordinance, subject to the budgetary limitations on personal services prescribed under Title Five, Book II of this Code: Provided, That, no increase in compensation of the mayor, vice-mayor and sangguniang panlungsod members shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of the said local officials approving such increase. CHAPTER III: Officials and Offices Common to All Cities ARTICLE I: The City Mayor LGC, 455. Chief Executive; Powers, Duties and Compensation. (a) The city mayor, as chief executive of the city government, shall exercise such powers and perform such duties and functions as provided by this Code and other laws. (b) For efficient, effective and economical governance the purpose of which is the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code, the city mayor shall: (1) Exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the city government. and in this connection, shall: i. Determine the guidelines of city policies and be responsible to the sangguniang panlungsod for the program of government; ii. Direct the formulation of the city development plan, with the assistance of the city development council, and upon approval thereof by the sangguniang panlungsod, implement the same; iii. Present the program of government and propose policies and projects for the consideration of the sangguniang panlungsod at the opening of the regular session of the sangguniang panlungsod every calendar year and as often as may be deemed necessary as the general welfare of the inhabitants and the needs of the city government may require; iv. Initiate and propose legislative measures to the sangguniang panlungsod and as often as may be deemed necessary, provide such information and data needed or requested by said sanggunian in the performance of its legislative functions; v. Appoint all officials and employees whose salaries and wages are wholly or mainly paid out of city funds and whose appointments are not otherwise provided for in this Code, as well as those he may be authorized by law to appoint; vi. Represent the city in all its business transactions and sign in its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents upon authority of the sangguniang panlungsod or pursuant to law or ordinance; vii. Carry out such emergency measures as may be necessary during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities; viii. Determine the time, manner and place of payment of salaries or wages of the officials and employees of the city, in accordance with law or ordinance; ix. Allocate and assign office space to city and other officials and employees who, by law or ordinance, are entitled to such space in the city hall and other buildings owned or leased by the city government; x. Ensure that all executive officials and employees of the city faithfully discharge their duties and functions as provided by law and this Code, and cause to be instituted administrative or judicial proceedings against any official or employee of the city who may have committed an offense in the performance of his official duties; xi. Examine the books, records and other documents of all offices, officials, agents or employees of the city and, in aid of his executive powers and authority, require all national officials and employees stationed in or assigned to the city to make available to him such books, records, and other documents in their custody, except those classified by law as confidential; xii. Furnish copies of executive orders issued by him, to the provincial governor in the case of component city mayors, to the Office of the President in the case of highly-urbanized city mayors and to their respective metropolitan council chairmen in the case of mayors of cities in the Metropolitan Manila Area and other metropolitan political subdivisions, within seventy-two (72) hours after their issuances;
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xiii.
Visit component barangays of the city at least once every six (6) months to deepen his understanding of problems and conditions, listen and give appropriate counsel to, local officials and inhabitants, inform the component barangay officials and inhabitants of general laws and ordinances which especially concern them, and otherwise conduct visits and inspections to ensure that the governance of the city will improve the quality of life of the inhabitants; xiv. Act on leave applications of officials and employees appointed by him and the commutation of the monetary value of their leave credits in accordance with law; xv. Authorize official trips of city officials and employees outside of the city for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days; xvi. Call upon any national official or employee stationed in or assigned to the city to advise him on matters affecting the city and to make recommendations thereon; coordinate with said official or employee in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects; and, when appropriate, initiate an administrative or judicial action against a national government official or employee who may have committed an offense in the performance of his official duties while stationed in or assigned to the city; xvii. Authorize payment for medical care, necessary transportation, subsistence, hospital or medical fees of city officials and employees who are injured while in the performance of their duties and functions, subject to availability of funds; xviii. Solemnize marriage, any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding; xix. Conduct an annual palarong panlungsod, which shall feature traditional sports and disciplines included in national and international games, in coordination with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; and xx. Submit to the provincial governor, in case of component cities; to the Office of the President, in the case of highly-urbanized cities; to their respective metropolitan authority council chairmen and to the Office of the President, in case of cities of the Metropolitan Manila Area and other metropolitan political subdivisions, the following reports: an annual report containing a summary of all matters pertinent to the management, administration and development of the city and all information and data relative to its political, social and economic conditions; and supplemental reports when unexpected events and situations arise at any time during the year, particularly when man-made or natural disasters or calamities affect the general welfare of the city, province, region or country; (2) Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the city and in the exercise of the appropriate corporate powers provided for under Section 22 of this Code, implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the city and, in addition to the foregoing, shall: i. Ensure that the acts of the city's component barangays and of its officials and employees are within the scope of their prescribed powers, duties and functions; ii. Call conventions, conferences, seminars, or meetings of any elective and appointive officials of the city, including provincial officials and national officials and employees stationed in or assigned to the city, at such time and place and on such subject as he may deem important for the promotion of the general welfare of the local government unit and its inhabitants; iii. Issue such executive orders for the faithful and appropriate enforcement and execution of laws and ordinances; iv. Be entitled to carry the necessary firearm within his territorial jurisdiction; v. Act as the deputized representative of the National Police Commission, formulate the peace and order plan of the city and upon its approval, implement the same; and as such exercise general and operational control and supervision over the local police forces in the city, in accordance with R.A. No. 6975; vi. Call upon the appropriate law enforcement agencies to suppress disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition, or to apprehend violators of the law when public interest so requires and the city police forces are inadequate to cope with the situations or the violators; (3) Initiate and maximize the generation of resources and revenues, and apply the same to the implementation of development plans, program objectives and priorities as provided for under Section 18 of this Code, particularly those resources and revenues programmed for agroindustrial development and countryside growth and progress and, relative thereto, shall: i. Require each head of an office or department to prepare and submit an estimate of appropriations for the ensuing calendar year, in accordance with the budget preparations process under Title Five, Book II of this Code; ii. Prepare and submit to the sanggunian for approval the executive and supplemental budgets of the city for the ensuing calendar year in the manner provided for under Title Five, Book II of this Code; iii. Ensure that all taxes and other revenues of the city are collected, and that city funds are applied to the payment of expenses and settlement of obligations of the city, in accordance with law or ordinance; iv. Issue licenses and permits and suspend or revoke the same for any violation of the conditions upon which said licenses or permits had been issued, pursuant to law or ordinance; v. Issue permits, without need of approval therefor from any national agency, for the holding of activities for any charitable or welfare purpose, excluding prohibited games of chance or shows contrary to law, public policy and public morals; vi. Require owners of illegally constructed houses, buildings or other structures to obtain the necessary permit, subject to such fines and penalties as may be imposed by law or ordinance, or to make necessary changes in the construction of the same when said construction violates any law or ordinance, or to order the demolition or removal of said house, building or structure within the period prescribed by law or ordinance; vii. Adopt adequate measures to safeguard and conserve land, mineral, marine, forest, and other resources of the city; provide efficient and effective property and supply management in the city; and protect the funds, credits, rights and other properties of the city; and viii. Institute or cause to be instituted administrative or judicial proceedings for violation of ordinances in the collection of taxes, fees or charges, and for the recovery of funds and property; and cause the city to be defended against all suits to ensure that its interests, resources and rights shall be adequately protected; (4) Ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17 of this Code and, in addition thereto, shall: i. Ensure that the construction and repair of roads and highways funded by the national government shall be, as far as practicable, carried out in a spatially contiguous manner and in coordination with the construction and repair of the roads and bridges of the city, and in the case of component cities, of the city and of the province; and ii. Coordinate the implementation of technical services, including public works and infrastructure programs, rendered by national offices in the case of highly urbanized and independent component cities, and by national and provincial offices in the case of component cities; and (5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (c) During his incumbency, the city mayor shall hold office in the city hall. (d) The city mayor shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade Thirty (30) as prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto. ARTICLE II: The City Vice-Mayor LGC, 456. Powers, Duties and Compensation. (a) The city vice-mayor shall: (1) Be the presiding officer of the sangguniang panlungsod and sign all warrants drawn on the city treasury for all expenditures appropriated for the operation of the sangguniang panlungsod; (2) Subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, appoint all officials and employees of the sangguniang panlungsod, except those whose manner of appointment is specifically provided in this Code; (3) Assume the office of the city mayor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy as provided for in Section 44, Book I of this Code; (4) Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the city mayor in cases of temporary vacancy as provided for in Section 46, Book I of this Code; and
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(5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (b) The city vice-mayor shall receive a monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty eight (28) for a highly urbanized city and Salary Grade twenty-six (26) for a component city, as prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto. ARTICLE III: The Sangguniang Panlungsod LGC, 457. Composition (a) The sangguniang panlungsod, the legislative body of the city, shall be composed of the city vice-mayor as presiding officer, the 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. (b) In addition thereto, there shall be three (3) sectoral representatives: one (1) from the women; and as shall be determined by the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of the local elections, one (1) from agricultural or industrial workers; and one (1) from the other sectors, including the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, or disabled persons. (c) The regular members of the sangguniang panlungsod and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in the manner as may be provided for by law. LGC, 458. Powers, Duties, Functions and Compensation. (a) The sangguniang panlungsod, as the legislative body of the city, shall enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code and in the proper exercise of the corporate powers of the city as provided for under Section 22 of this Code, and shall: (1) Approve ordinances and pass resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective city government, and in this connection, shall: i. Review all ordinances approved by the sangguniang barangay and executive orders issued by the punong barangay to determine whether these are within the scope of the prescribed powers of the sanggunian and of the punong barangay; ii. Maintain peace and order by enacting measures to prevent and suppress lawlessness, disorder, riot, violence, rebellion or sedition and impose penalties for violation of said ordinances; iii. Approve ordinances imposing a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or an imprisonment for a period not exceeding one (1) year, or both in the discretion of the court, for the violation of a city ordinance; iv. Adopt measures to protect the inhabitants of the city from the harmful effects of man-made or natural disasters and calamities, and to provide relief services and assistance for victims during and in the aftermath of said disasters or calamities and their return to productive livelihood following said events; v. Enact ordinances intended to prevent, suppress and impose appropriate penalties for habitual drunkenness in public places, vagrancy, mendicancy, prostitution, establishment and maintenance of houses of ill repute, gambling and other prohibited games of chance, fraudulent devices and ways to obtain money or property, drug addiction, maintenance of drug dens, drug pushing, juvenile delinquency, the printing, distribution or exhibition of obscene or pornographic materials or publications, and such other activities inimical to the welfare and morals of the inhabitants of the city. vi. Protect the environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the environment, such as dynamite fishing and other forms of destructive fishing, illegal logging and smuggling of logs, smuggling of natural resources products and of endangered species of flora and fauna, slash and burn farming, and such other activities which result in pollution, acceleration of eutrophication of rivers and lakes, or of ecological imbalance; vii. Subject to the provisions of this Code and pertinent laws, determine the powers and duties of officials and employees of the city; viii. Determine the positions and the salaries, wages, allowances and other emoluments and benefits of officials and employees paid wholly or mainly from city funds and provide for expenditures necessary for the proper conduct of programs, projects, services, and activities of the city government; ix. Authorize the payment of compensation to a qualified person not in the government service who fills up a temporary vacancy or grant honorarium to any qualified official or employee designated to fill a temporary vacancy in a concurrent capacity, at the rate authorized by law; x. Provide a mechanism and the appropriate funds therefor, to ensure the safety and protection of all city government property, public documents, or records such as those relating to property inventory, land ownership, records of births, marriages, deaths, assessments, taxation, accounts, business permits, and such other records and documents of public interest in the offices and departments of the city government; xi. When the finances of the city government allow, provide for additional allowances and other benefits to judges, prosecutors, public elementary and high school teachers, and other national government officials stationed in or assigned to the city; xii. Provide legal assistance to barangay officials who, in the performance of their official duties or on the occasion thereof, have to initiate judicial proceedings or defend themselves against legal action; and xiii. Provide for group insurance or additional insurance coverage for all barangay officials, including members of barangay tanod brigades and other service units, with public or private insurance companies, when the finances of the city government allow said coverage; (2) Generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the development plans, program objectives and priorities of the city as provided for under Section 18 of this Code, with particular attention to agro-industrial development and city-wide growth and progress, and relative thereto, shall: i. Approve the annual and supplemental budgets of the city government and appropriate funds for specific programs, projects, services and activities of the city, or for other purposes not contrary to law, in order to promote the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants; ii. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and applicable laws and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlungsod, enact ordinances levying taxes, fees and charges, prescribing the rates thereof for general and specific purposes, and granting tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs; iii. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlungsod, authorize the city mayor to negotiate and contract loans and other forms of indebtedness; iv. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and applicable laws and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlungsod, enact ordinances authorizing the floating of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness, for the purpose of raising funds to finance development projects; v. Appropriate funds for the construction and maintenance or the rental of buildings for the use of the city; and, upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlungsod, authorize the city mayor to lease to private parties such public buildings held in a proprietary capacity, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations; vi. Prescribe reasonable limits and restraints on the use of property within the jurisdiction of the city; vii. Adopt a comprehensive land use plan for the city: Provided, That in the case of component cities, the formulation, adoption or modification of said plan shall be in coordination with the approved provincial comprehensive land use plan; viii. Reclassify land within the jurisdiction of the city, subject to the pertinent provisions of this Code; ix. Enact integrated zoning ordinances in consonance with the approved comprehensive land use plan, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations; establish fire limits or zones, particularly in populous centers; and regulate the construction, repair or modification of buildings within said fire limits or zones in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Code; x. Subject to national law, process and approve subdivision plans for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes and other development purposes, and to collect processing fees and other charges, the proceeds of which shall accrue entirely to the city: Provided, however, That where approval of a national agency or office is required, said approval shall not be withheld for more than thirty (30) days from receipt of the application. Failure to act on the application within the period stated above shall be deemed as approval thereof; xi. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code, grant the exclusive privilege of constructing fish corrals or fish pens, or the taking or catching of bangus fry, prawn fry or kawag-kawag, or fry of any species or fish within the city waters;
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With the concurrence of at least two-thirds (2/3) of all the members of the sangguniang panlungsod, grant tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs to entities engaged in community growth-inducing industries, subject to the provisions of Chapter 5, Title I, Book II of this Code; xiii. Grant loans or provide grants to other local government units or to national, provincial, and city charitable, benevolent or educational institutions: Provided, That, said institutions are operated and maintained within the city; xiv. Regulate the numbering of residential, commercial and other buildings; and xv. Regulate the inspection, weighing and measuring of articles of commerce. (3) Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code, enact ordinances granting franchises and authorizing the issuance of permits or licenses, upon such conditions and for such purposes intended to promote the general welfare of the inhabitants of the city and pursuant to this legislative authority shall: i. Fix and impose reasonable fees and charges for all services rendered by the city government to private persons or entities; ii. Regulate or fix license fees for any business or practice of profession within the city and the conditions under which the license for said business or practice of profession may be revoked and enact ordinances levying taxes thereon; iii. Provide for and set the terms and conditions under which public utilities owned by the city shall be operated by the city government, and prescribe the conditions under which the same may be leased to private persons or entities, preferably cooperatives; iv. Regulate the display of and fix the license fees for signs, signboards, or billboards at the place or places where the profession or business advertised thereby is, in whole or in part, conducted; v. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, authorize and license the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cockpits, and regulate cockfighting and commercial breeding of gamecocks: Provided, That existing rights should not be prejudiced; vi. Subject to the guidelines prescribed by the Department of Transportation and Communications, regulate the operation of tricycles and grant franchises for the operation thereof within the territorial jurisdiction of the city; vii. Upon approval by a majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlungsod: grant a franchise to any person, partnership, corporation, or cooperative to do business within the city; establish, construct, operate and maintain ferries, wharves, markets or slaughterhouses; or undertake such other activities within the city as may be allowed by existing laws: Provided, That, cooperatives shall be given preference in the grant of such a franchise. (4) Regulate activities relative to the use of land, buildings and structures within the city in order to promote the general welfare and for said purpose shall: i. Declare, prevent or abate any nuisance; ii. Require that buildings and the premises thereof and any land within the city be kept and maintained in a sanitary condition; impose penalties for any violation thereof; or, upon failure to comply with said requirement, have the work done at the expense of the owner, administrator or tenant concerned; or require the filling up of any land or premises to a grade necessary for proper sanitation; iii. Regulate the disposal of clinical and other wastes from hospitals, clinics and other similar establishments; iv. Regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of cafes, restaurants, beerhouses, hotels, motels, inns, pension houses, lodging houses, and other similar establishments, including tourist guides and transports; v. Regulate the sale, giving away or dispensing of any intoxicating malt, vino, mixed or fermented liquors at any retail outlet; vi. Regulate the establishment and provide for the inspection of steam boilers or any heating device in buildings and the storage of inflammable and highly combustible materials within the city; vii. Regulate the establishment, operation, and maintenance of any entertainment or amusement facilities, including theatrical performances, circuses, billiard pools, public dancing schools, public dance halls, sauna baths, massage parlors, and other places for entertainment or amusement; regulate such other events or activities for amusement or entertainment, particularly those which tend to disturb the community or annoy the inhabitants, or require the suspension or suppression of the same; or, prohibit certain forms of amusement or entertainment in order to protect the social and moral welfare of the community; viii. Provide for the impounding of stray animals; regulate the keeping of animals in homes or as part of a business, and the slaughter, sale or disposition of the same; and adopt measures to prevent and penalize cruelty to animals; and ix. Regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of funeral parlors and the burial or cremation of the dead, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. (5) Approve ordinances which shall ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the basic services and facilities as provided for under Section 17 of this Code, and in addition to said services and facilities, shall: i. Provide for the establishment, maintenance, protection, and conservation of communal forests and watersheds, tree parks, greenbelts, mangroves, and other similar forest development projects; ii. Establish markets, slaughterhouses or animal corrals and authorize the operation thereof by the city government; and regulate the construction and operation of private markets, talipapas or other similar buildings and structures; iii. Authorize the establishment, maintenance and operation by the city government of ferries, wharves, and other structures intended to accelerate productivity related to marine and seashore or offshore activities; iv. Regulate the preparation and sale of meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, fresh dairy products, and other foodstuffs for public consumption; v. Regulate the use of streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, parks and other public places and approve the construction, improvement repair and maintenance of the same; establish bus and vehicle stops and terminals or regulate the use of the same by privately-owned vehicles which serve the public; regulate garages and the operation of conveyances for hire; designate stands to be occupied by public vehicles when not in use; regulate the putting up of signs, signposts, awnings and awning posts on the streets; and provide for the lighting, cleaning and sprinkling of streets; and public places; vi. Regulate traffic on all streets and bridges; prohibit encroachments or obstacles thereon, and when necessary in the interest of public welfare, authorize the removal or encroachments and illegal constructions in public places; vii. Subject to existing laws, establish and provide for the maintenance, repair and operation of an efficient waterworks system to supply water for the inhabitants and to purify the source of the water supply; regulate the construction, maintenance, repair and use of hydrants, pumps, cisterns and reservoirs; protect the purity and quantity of the water supply of the city and, for this purpose, extend the coverage of appropriate ordinances over all territory within the drainage area of said water supply and within one hundred (100) meters of the reservoir, conduit, canal, aqueduct, pumping station, or watershed used in connection with the water service; and regulate the consumption, use or wastage of water and fix and collect charges therefor; viii. Regulate the drilling and excavation of the ground for the laying of water, gas, sewer, and other pipes and the construction, repair and maintenance of public drains, sewers, cesspools, tunnels and similar structures; regulate the placing of poles and the use of crosswalks, curbs, and gutters; adopt measures to ensure public safety against open canals, manholes. live wires and other similar hazards to life and property; and regulate the construction and use of private water closets, privies and other similar structures in buildings and homes; ix. Regulate the placing, stringing, attaching, installing, repair and construction of all gas mains, electric, telegraph and telephone wires, conduits, meters and other apparatus; and provide for the correction, condemnation or removal of the same when found to be dangerous, defective, or otherwise hazardous to the welfare of the inhabitants; x. Subject to the availability of funds and to existing laws, rules and regulations, establish and provide for the operation of vocational and technical schools and similar post-secondary institutions and, with the approval of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports and subject to existing law on tuition fees, fix and collect reasonable tuition fees and other school charges in educational institutions supported by the city government;
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Establish a scholarship fund for the poor but deserving students in schools located within its jurisdiction or for students residing within the city; xii. Approve measures and adopt quarantine regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases; xiii. Provide for an efficient and effective system of solid waste and garbage collection and disposal; prohibit littering and the placing or throwing of garbage, refuse and other filth and wastes; xiv. Provide for the care of disabled persons, paupers, the aged, the sick, persons of unsound mind, abandoned minors, juvenile delinquents, drug dependents, abused children and other needy and disadvantaged persons, particularly children and youth below eighteen (18) years of age; and subject to availability of funds, establish and provide for the operation of centers and facilities for said needy and disadvantaged persons; xv. Establish and provide for the maintenance and improvement of jails and detention centers, institute a sound jail management program, and appropriate funds for the subsistence of detainees and convicted prisoners in the city; xvi. Establish a city council whose purpose is the promotion of culture and the arts, coordinate with government agencies and nongovernmental organizations and, subject to the availability of funds, appropriate funds for the support and development of the same; and xvii. Establish a city council for the elderly which shall formulate policies and adopt measures mutually beneficial to the elderly and to the community; provide incentives for non-governmental agencies and entities and, subject to the availability of funds, appropriate funds to support programs and projects for the benefit of the elderly; and (6) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (b) The members of the sangguniang panlungsod of component cities shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty-five (25) and members of the sangguniang panlungsod of highly-urbanized cities shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty-seven (27), as prescribed under R.A. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto. RA 9009 (2001). AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 450 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, BY INCREASING THE AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME REQUIREMENT FOR A MUNICIPALITY OR CLUSTER OF BARANGAYS TO BE CONVERTED INTO A COMPONENT CITY. INVALIDATED Canet v. Decena. Only the Sanggunian, not the mayor of the city, has the power to allow cockpits, stadiums, etc. Without an ordinance, he cannot compel mayor to issue him a business license. Aguirre v. de Castro. Chief Legal Officer has no authority to discipline Chief of Legal Affairs of City Sch. Of Manila. Authority to discipline rests with Reg. Dir. Of DECS. || DCs position is not among the City of Manilas power of appointment || CLO failed to show provision devolving po wer from DECS to Mayor. || Salary coming from Manila funds = irrele; control test prevails. Gordon v. Veridiano II. A permit issued by the mayor to a drugstore not previously cleared with and licensed by the FDA will be a nullity. However, the issuance of a mayors permit is not mandatory once it is shown that the FDA has licensed the operation of the applicant. The city mayor may only revoke the permits issued for violation of the local requirements imposed, not with the requirements of general laws and implementing administrative rules. Acebedo Optical Company v. CA. Distinction must be made between the grant of a license or permit to do business and the issuance of a license to engage in the practice of a particular profession. A business permit cannot, by the imposition of conditions, be used to regulate the practice of a profession. License/permit to do business License to engage in a profession Granted by the local authorities Board or Commission tasked to regulate the particular profession Authorizes the person to engage in business or some form of commercial Authorizes a natural person to engage in the practice or exercise of his or her activity profession The power to issue licenses and permits necessarily includes the power to revoke, withdraw or restrict through the imposition of certain conditions. However, the conditions must be reasonable and cannot amount to an arbitrary interference with the business. Lim v. CA. It is clear that mayors power to grant/issue includes power to revoke/suspend, but such should be premised on the violati on of the conditions of these licenses || In CAB, Lim had no power to order a police raid in the guise of inspection/investigation. The proper official to order that is the Helath Officer or the City Treasurer. Mathay Jr v. Felt Foods. The primary issue therefore is the validity of the closure order of November 27, 1997 and the principal right asserted by the respondent is the right to do business under the license issued by the petitioner. Accordingly, when respondents business license expired on December 31, 1997 respondent ceased to have a legal right to do business which may be the proper subject of judicial relief and when the writ of preliminary mandatory injunction was issued by the trial court on February 23, 1998 there was no more legal right in favor of the respondent for the courts protect. Whether the closure order was issued with or without just cause has been mooted by the expiration of the respondents business license from which respondent derived its cause of action. Negros Or. II Electric Coop v. SP of Dumaguete . SP has no authority to issue a subpoena and punish non-members for legislative contempt. Contempt power is sui generis and local legislative bodies cannot correctly claim to possess it for the same reason that the national legislature does. Power attaches no to dischartge of legislative function per se but to the character of the legislative as one of the 3 branches. Local Legislative bodies are mere creatures of law. Dadole v. COA. DBM cannot control amount a city wants to give its judges as allowance, as long as city has money to do so. City of Caloocan v. CA. Mayor does have the authority to file cases in behalf of the city (LGC, 455 + Caloocan Charter) SJS v. Atienza. Mandamus will not issue to enforce a right, or to compel compliance with a duty, which is questionable or over which a substantial doubt exists. Unless the right to the relief sought is unclouded, mandamus will not issue. When a mandamus proceeding concerns a public right and its object is to compel a public duty, the people who are interested in the execution of the laws are regarded as the real parties in inter est and they need not show any specific interest. Petitioners are citizens of manila and thus have a direct interest in the ordinances. On the other hand, the Local Government Code imposes upon respondent the duty, as city mayor, to "enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the city. "One of these is Ordinance No. 8027. As the chief executive of the city, he has the duty to enforce Ordinance No. 8027 as long as it has not been repealed by the Sanggunian or annulled by the courts. He has no other choice. It is his ministerial duty to do so. These officers cannot refuse to perform their duty on the ground of an alleged invalidity of the statute imposing the duty. The reason for this is obvious. It might seriously hinder the transaction of public business if these officers were to be permitted in all cases to question the constitutionality of statutes and ordinances imposing duties upon them and which have not judicially been declared unconstitutional. Officers of the government from the highest to the lowest are creatures of the law and are bound to obey it. The Province LGC, 459. Role of the Province. - The province, composed of cluster of municipalities, or municipalities and component cities, and as a political and corporate unit of government, serves as dynamic mechanism for developmental processes and effective governance of local government units within its territorial jurisdiction. LGC, 460. Manner of Creation. - A province may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered, only by an Act of Congress and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be conducted by the COMELEC in the local government unit or units directly affected. The plebiscite shall be held within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of effectivity of said Act, unless otherwise provided therein. LGC, 461. Requisites for Creation. (a) A province may be created if it has an average annual income, as certified by the Department of Finance, of not less than Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) based on 1991 constant prices and either of the following requisites: i. a contiguous territory of at least two thousand (2,000) square kilometers, as certified by the Lands Management Bureau; or ii. a population of not less than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) inhabitants as certified by the National Statistics Office: Provided, That, the creation thereof shall not reduce the land area, population, and income of the original unit or units at the time of said creation to less than the minimum requirements prescribed herein. (b) The territory need not be contiguous if it comprise two (2) or more islands or is separated by a chartered city or cities which do not contribute to the income of the province.
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(c)
The average annual income shall include the income accruing to the general fund, exclusive of special funds, trust funds, transfers and nonrecurring income. LGC, 462. Existing Sub-Provinces. - Existing sub-provinces are hereby converted into regular provinces upon approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be held in the said subprovinces and the original provinces directly affected. The plebiscite shall be conducted by the COMELEC simultaneously with the national elections following the effectivity of this Code. The new legislative districts created as a result of such conversion shall continue to be represented in Congress by the duly-elected representatives of the original districts out of which said new provinces or districts were created until their own representatives shall have been elected in the next regular congressional elections and qualified. The incumbent elected officials of the said subprovinces converted into regular provinces shall continue to hold office until June 30, 1992. Any vacancy occurring in the offices occupied by said incumbent elected officials, or resulting from expiration of their terms of office in case of a negative vote in the plebiscite results, shall be filled by appointment by the President. The appointees shall hold office until their successors shall have been elected in the regular local elections following the plebiscite mentioned herein and qualified. After effectivity of such conversion, the President shall fill up the position of governor of the newly-created province through appointment if none has yet been appointed to the same as hereinbefore provided, and shall also appoint a vice-governor and the other members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, all of whom shall likewise hold office until their successors shall have been elected in the next regular local elections and qualified. All qualified appointive officials and employees in the career service of the said subprovinces at the time of their conversion into regular provinces shall continue in office in accordance with civil service law, rules and regulations. CHAPTER II: Provincial Officials in General LGC, 463. Officials of the Provincial Government. (a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, a secretary to the sangguniang panlalawigan, a provincial treasurer, a provincial assessor, a provincial accountant, a provincial engineer, a provincial budget officer, a provincial planning and development coordinator, a provincial legal officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial health officer, a provincial social welfare and development officer, a provincial general services officer, a provincial agriculturist, and a provincial veterinarian. (b) In addition thereto, the governor may appoint a provincial population officer, a provincial natural resources and environment officer, a provincial cooperative officer, a provincial architect, and a provincial information officer. The appointment of a provincial population officer shall be optional in the province: Provided, however, That provinces which have existing population offices shall continue to maintain such offices for a period of five (5) years from the date of the effectivity of this Code, after which said offices shall become optional. (c) The sangguniang panlalawigan may: (1) Maintain existing offices not mentioned in subsections (a) and (b) hereof; (2) Create such other offices as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the provincial government; or (3) Consolidate the functions of any office with those of another in the interest of efficiency and economy; (d) Unless otherwise provided herein, heads of departments and offices shall be appointed by the governor with the concurrence of the majority of all the sangguniang panlalawigan members, subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. The sangguniang panlalawigan shall act on the appointment within fifteen (15) days from the date of its submission; otherwise the same shall be deemed confirmed; (e) Elective and appointive provincial officials shall receive such compensation, allowances, and other emoluments as may be determined by law or ordinance, subject to the budgetary limitations on personal services prescribed under Title Five, Book II of this Code: Provided, That, no increase in compensation shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of all the elective officials approving such increase. LGC, 464. Residence and Office. - During the incumbency of the governor, he shall have his official residence in the capital of the province. All elective and appointive provincial officials shall hold office in the provincial capital: Provided, That, upon resolution of the sangguniang panlalawigan, elective and appointive provincial officials may hold office in any component city or municipality within the province for a period of not more than seven (7) days for any given month. CHAPTER III: Officials and Offices Common to All Provinces ARTICLE I: The Provincial Governor LGC, 465. The Chief Executive: Powers, Duties, Functions, and Compensation. (a) The provincial governor, as the chief executive of the provincial government, shall exercise such powers and perform such duties and functions as provided by this Code and other laws. (b) For efficient, effective and economical governance the purpose of which is the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code, the provincial governor shall: (1) Exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the provincial government, and in this connection, shall: i. Determine the guidelines of provincial policies and be responsible to the sangguniang panlalawigan for the program of government; ii. Direct the formulation of the provincial development plan, with the assistance of the provincial development council, and upon approval thereof by the sangguniang panlalawigan, implement the same; iii. Present the program of government and propose policies and projects for the consideration of the sangguniang panlalawigan at the opening of the regular session of the sangguniang panlalawigan every calendar year and as after as may be deemed necessary as the general welfare of the inhabitants and the needs of the provincial government may require; iv. Initiate and propose legislative measures to the sangguniang panlalawigan and as often as may be deemed necessary, provide such information and data needed or requested by said sanggunian in the performance of its legislative functions; v. Appoint all officials and employees whose salaries and wages are wholly or mainly paid out of provincial funds and whose appointments are not otherwise provided for in this Code, as well as those he may be authorized by law to appoint; vi. Represent the province in all its business transactions and sign in its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents upon authority of the sangguniang panlalawigan or pursuant to law or ordinance; vii. Carry out such emergency measures as may be necessary during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities; viii. Determine the time, manner and place of payment of salaries or wages of the officials and employees of the province, in accordance with law or ordinance; ix. Allocate and assign office space to provincial and other officials and employees who, by law or ordinance, are entitled to such space in the provincial capitol and other buildings owned or leased by the provincial government; x. Ensure that all executive officials and employees of the province faithfully discharge their duties and functions as provided by law and this Code, and cause to be instituted administrative or judicial proceedings against any official or employee of the province who may have committed an offense in the performance of his official duties; xi. Examine the books, records and other documents of all offices, officials, agents or employees of the province and, in aid of his executive powers and authority, require all national officials and employees stationed in the province to make available to him such books, records, and other documents in their custody, except those classified by law as confidential; xii. Furnish copies of executive orders issued by him to the Office of the President within seventy-two (72) hours after their issuance; xiii. Visit component cities and municipalities of the province at least once every six (6) months to deepen his understanding of problems and conditions, listen and give appropriate counsel to local officials and inhabitants, inform the officials and inhabitants of component cities and municipalities of general laws and ordinances which especially concern them, and otherwise conduct visits and inspections to ensure that the governance of the province will improve the quality of life of the inhabitants; xiv. Act on leave applications of officials and employees appointed by him and the commutation of the monetary value of leave credits in accordance with law; xv. Authorize official trips of provincial officials and employees outside of the province for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days;
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xvi.
Call upon any national official or employee stationed in or assigned to the province to advise him on matters affecting the province and to make recommendations thereon; coordinate with said official or employee in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects; and when appropriate, initiate an administrative or judicial action against a national government official or employee who may have committed an offense in the performance of his official duties while stationed in or assigned to the province; xvii. Authorize payment for medical care, necessary transportation, subsistence, hospital or medical fees of provincial officials and employees who are injured while in the performance of their official duties and functions, subject to availability of funds; xviii. Represent the province in inter-provincial or regional sports councils or committees, and coordinate the efforts of component cities or municipalities in the regional or national palaro or sports development activities; xix. Conduct an annual palarong panlalawigan, which shall feature traditional sports and disciplines included in national and international games in coordination with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; and xx. Submit to the Office of the President the following reports: an annual report containing a summary of all matters pertinent to the management, administration and development of the province and all information and data relative to its political, social and economic conditions; and supplemental reports when unexpected events and situations arise at any time during the year, particularly when man-made or natural disasters or calamities affect the general welfare of the province, region or country; (2) Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the province and the exercise of the appropriate corporate powers provided for under Section 22 of this Code, implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the province and, in addition to the foregoing, shall: i. Ensure that the acts of the component cities and municipalities of the province and of its officials and employees are within the scope of their prescribed powers, duties and functions; ii. Call conventions, conferences, seminars, or meetings of any elective and appointive officials of the province and its component cities and municipalities, including national officials and employees stationed in or assigned to the province, at such time and place and on such subject as he may deem important for the promotion of the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants; iii. Issue such executive orders for the faithful and appropriate enforcement and execution of laws and ordinances; iv. Be entitled to carry the necessary firearm within his territorial jurisdiction; v. In coordination with the mayors of component cities and municipalities and the National Police Commission, formulate the peace and order plan of the province and upon its approval, implement the same in accordance with R.A. No. 6975; vi. Call upon the appropriate national law enforcement agencies to suppress disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition or to apprehend violators of the law when public interest so requires and the police forces of the component city or municipality where the disorder or violation is happening are inadequate to cope with the situation or the violators; (3) Initiate and maximize the generation of resources and revenues, and apply the same to the implementation of development plans, program objectives and priorities as provided for under Section 18 of this Code, particularly those resources and revenues programmed for agroindustrial development and country-wide growth and progress and, relative thereto, shall: i. Require each head of an office or department to prepare and submit an estimate of appropriations for the ensuing calendar year, in accordance with the budget preparation process under Title Five, Book II of this Code; ii. Prepare and submit to the sanggunian for approval the executive and supplemental budgets of the province for the ensuing calendar year in the manner provided for under Title Five, Book II of this Code; iii. Ensure that all taxes and other revenues of the province are collected, and that provincial funds are applied to the payment of expenses and settlement of obligations of the province, in accordance with law or ordinance; iv. Issue licenses and permits and suspend or revoke the same for any violation of the conditions upon which said licenses or permits had been issued, pursuant to law or ordinance; v. Adopt adequate measures to safeguard and conserve land, mineral, marine, forest and other resources of the province, in coordination with the mayors of component cities and municipalities; provide efficient and effective property and supply management in the province; and protect the funds, credits, rights, and other properties of the province; and vi. Institute or cause to be instituted administrative or judicial proceedings for violation of ordinances in the collection of taxes, fees or charges, and for the recovery of funds and property, and cause the province to be defended against all suits to ensure that its interests, resources and rights shall be adequately protected. (4) Ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17 of this Code, and in addition thereto, shall: i. Ensure that the construction and repair of roads and highways funded by the national government shall be, as far as practicable, carried out in a spatially contiguous manner and in coordination with the construction and repair of the roads and bridges of the province and of its component cities and municipalities; and ii. Coordinate the implementation of technical services by national offices for the province and its component cities and municipalities, including public works and infrastructure programs of the provincial government and its component cities and municipalities; (5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (c) The provincial governor shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade thirty (30) prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto. ARTICLE II: The Provincial Vice-Governor LGC, 466. Powers, Duties, and Compensation. (a) The vice-governor shall: (1) Be the presiding officer of the sangguniang panlalawigan and sign all warrants drawn on the provincial treasury for all expenditures appropriated for the operation of the sangguniang panlalawigan; (2) Subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, appoint all officials and employees of the sangguniang panlalawigan, except those whose manner of appointment is specially provided in this Code; (3) Assume the office of the governor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy as provided for in Section 44, Book I of this Code; (4) Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the governor in cases of temporary vacancy as provided for in Section 46, Book I of this Code; and (5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (b) The vice-governor shall receive a monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty-eight (28) as prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto. ARTICLE III: The Sangguniang Panlalawigan LGC, 467. Composition. (a) The sangguniang panlalawigan, the legislative body of the province, shall be composed of the provincial vice-governor as presiding officer, the regular sanggunian members, the president of the provincial chapter of the liga ng mga barangay, the president of the panlalawigang pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan, the president of the provincial federation of sanggunian members of municipalities and component cities and the sectoral representatives, as members. (b) In addition thereto, there shall be three (3) sectoral representatives: one (1) from the women; and as shall be determined by the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of the local elections, one (1) from the agricultural or industrial workers; and one (1) from other sectors including the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, or disabled persons. (c) The regular members of the sangguniang panlalawigan and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in the manner as may be provided for by law. LGC, 468. Powers, Duties, Functions and Compensation.
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(a) The sangguniang panlalawigan, as the legislative body of the province, shall enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code in the proper exercise of the corporate powers of the province as provided for under Section 22 of this Code, and shall: (1) Approve ordinances and pass resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective provincial government and, in this connection, shall: i. Review all ordinances approved by the sangguniang of component cities and municipalities and executive orders issued by the mayors of said component units to determine whether these are within the scope of the prescribed powers of the sanggunian and of the mayor; ii. Maintain peace and order by enacting measures to prevent and suppress lawlessness, disorder, riot, violence, rebellion or sedition and impose penalties for the violation of said ordinances; iii. Approve ordinances imposing a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year, or both in the discretion of the court, for the violation of a provincial ordinance; iv. Adopt measures to protect the inhabitants of the province from harmful effects of man-made or natural disasters and calamities, and to provide relief services and assistance for victims during and in the aftermath of said disasters and calamities and their return to productive livelihood following said events; v. Enact ordinances intended to prevent, suppress and impose appropriate penalties for habitual drunkenness in public places, vagrancy, mendicancy, prostitution, establishment and maintenance of houses of ill repute, gambling and other prohibited games of chance, fraudulent devices and ways to obtain money or property, drug addiction, maintenance of drug dens, drug pushing, juvenile delinquency, the printing, distribution or exhibition of obscene or pornographic materials or publications, and other activities inimical to the welfare and morals of the inhabitants of the province; vi. Protect the environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the environment, such as dynamite fishing and other forms of destructive fishing, illegal logging and smuggling of logs, smuggling of natural resources products and of endangered species of flora and fauna, slash and burn farming, and such other activities which result in pollution acceleration of eutrophication of rivers and lakes, or of ecological imbalance; vii. Subject to the provisions of this Code and pertinent laws, determine the powers and duties of officials and employees of the province; viii. Determine the positions and the salaries, wages, allowances and other emoluments and benefits of officials and employees paid wholly or mainly from provincial funds and provide for expenditures necessary for the proper conduct of programs, projects, services, and activities of the provincial government; ix. Authorize the payment of compensation to a qualified person not in the government service who fills up a temporary vacancy, or grant honorarium to any qualified official or employee designated to fill a temporary vacancy in a concurrent capacity, at the rate authorized by law; x. Provide a mechanism and the appropriate funds therefor, to ensure the safety and protection of all provincial government property, public documents, or records such as those relating to property inventory, land ownership, records of births, marriages, deaths, assessments, taxation, accounts, business permits, and such other records and documents of public interest in the offices and departments of the provincial government; and xi. When the finances of the provincial government allow, provide for additional allowances and other benefits to judges, prosecutors, public elementary and high school teachers, and other national government officials stationed or assigned to the province. (2) Generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the development plans, program objectives and priorities of the province as provided for under Section 18 of this Code, with particular attention to agro-industrial development and country-wide growth and progress and relative thereto, shall: i. Enact the annual and supplemental appropriations of the provincial government and appropriate funds for specific programs, projects, services and activities of the province, or for other purposes not contrary to law, in order to promote the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants; ii. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and applicable laws and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, enact ordinances levying taxes, fees and charges, prescribing the rates thereof for general and specific purposes, and granting tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs; iii. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and applicable laws and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, authorize the provincial governor to negotiate and contract loans and other forms of indebtedness; iv. Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code and applicable laws and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, enact ordinances authorizing the floating of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness, for the purpose of raising funds to finance development projects; v. Appropriate funds for the construction and maintenance or the rental of buildings for the use of the province; and upon the majority vote of all the members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, authorize the provincial governor to lease to private parties such public buildings held in a proprietary capacity, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations; vi. Prescribe reasonable limits and restraints on the use of property within the jurisdiction of the province; vii. Review the comprehensive land use plans and zoning ordinances of component cities and municipalities and adopt a comprehensive provincial land use plan, subject to existing laws; and viii. Adopt measures to enhance the full implementation of the national agrarian reform program in coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform; (3) Subject to the provisions of Book II of this Code, grant franchises, approve the issuance of permits or licenses, or enact ordinances levying taxes, fees and charges upon such conditions and for such purposes intended to promote the general welfare of the inhabitants of the province, and pursuant to this legislative authority, shall: i. Fix and impose reasonable fees and charges for all services rendered by the provincial government to private persons or entities; and ii. Regulate and fix the license fees for such activities as provided for under this Code. (4) Approve ordinances which shall ensure the efficient and effective delivery of basic services and facilities as provided for under Section 17 of this Code, and, in addition to said services and facilities, shall: i. Adopt measures and safeguards against pollution and for the preservation of the natural ecosystem in the province, in consonance with approved standards on human settlements and environmental sanitation; ii. Subject to applicable laws, facilitate or provide for the establishment and maintenance of waterworks system or district waterworks for supplying water to inhabitants of component cities and municipalities; iii. Subject to the availability of funds and to existing laws, rules and regulations, provide for the establishment and operation of vocational and technical schools and similar post-secondary institutions; and, with the approval of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports and subject to existing laws on tuition fees, fix reasonable tuition fees and other school charges in educational institutions supported by the provincial government; iv. Establish a scholarship fund for the poor but deserving students in schools located within its jurisdiction or for students residing within the province; v. Approve measures and adopt quarantine regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases within its territorial jurisdiction; vi. Provide for the care of paupers, the aged, the sick, persons of unsound mind, abandoned minors, abused children, disabled persons, juvenile delinquents, drug dependents, and other needy and disadvantaged persons, particularly children and youth below eighteen (18) years of age; subject to availability of funds, establish and support the operation of centers and facilities for said needy and disadvantaged persons; and facilitate efforts to promote the welfare of families below the poverty threshold, the disadvantaged, and the exploited;
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vii.
Establish and provide the maintenance and improvement of jails and detention centers, institute a sound jail management program, and appropriate funds for the subsistence of detainees and convicted prisoners in the province; viii. Establish a provincial council whose purpose is the promotion of culture and the arts, coordinate with government agencies and non-governmental organizations and, subject to the availability of funds, appropriate funds for the support and development of the same; ix. Establish a provincial council for the elderly which shall formulate policies and adopt measures mutually beneficial to the elderly and to the province; and subject to the availability of funds, appropriate funds to support programs and projects for the elderly; and provide incentives for non-governmental agencies and entities to support the programs and projects of the elderly; and (5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (b) The members of the sangguniang panlalawigan shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade twenty-seven (27) as prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto. Caram v. COMELEC, supra. Negros Occidental v. Zayco. From a close reading of the provisions of AO 103, petitioner did not violate the rule of prior approval from the President since Section 2 states that the prohibition applies only to " government offices/agencies, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations, as well as their respective governing boards." Nowhere is it indicated in Section 2 that the prohibition also applies to LGUs. The requirement then of prior approval from the President under AO 103 is applicable only to departments, bureaus, offices and government-owned and controlled corporations under the Executive branch. Appointive Local Officials Common to all Municipalities, Cities and Provinces LGC, 469-490. supra. Rapisora v. CSC. When necessary, education, experience or training may be used interchangeably to offset deficiencies (in fact, the CSC issued Memorandum Circular No. 23 series of 1991 expressly allowing the offsetting of deficiencies except the required eligibility). The necessity exists if the appointee's training or experience is of such a level that the same would more than supplement the deficiency in education considering the demands of the position in question. The converse holds true if the appointee's deficiency is in the required training or experience. The decision as to when the conditions give rise to a necessity to interchange education with experience and vice-versa rests upon the sound discretion of the appointing authority. This is not to be viewed as an unbridled license given to the appointing authority to appoint whomsoever he desires. This is rather a recognition of the fact that the appointing authority is in the best position to determine the needs of his department or agency and how to satisfy those needs. Moreover, it is precisely the province of the QS to provide the gauge by which the appointing authority shall exercise his discretion. DBM v. Leonides. On the relevance of the GAAs, the Court of Appeals correctly pointed out that they find no application to a local government official like respondent whose compensation and allowances are funded by local appropriation laws passed by the Sangguniang Bayan of Bacnotan. It is the municipal ordinances of Bacnotan, providing for the annual budget for its operation, which govern respondents receipt of RAT A. Although the records do not contain copies of the relevant Bacnotan budget ordinances, we find significant Fontanillas referral to the DBM of respondents April 2002 letter requesting RATA payment. Evidently, Bacnotans annual budgetary appropriations for 1996 to 2005 contained no provision similar to the provisions in th e GAAs the DBM now cites; otherwise, Fontanilla would have readily invoked them to deny respondents request. Leagues of LGUs and Elective officials LGC, 491. Purpose of Organization. - There shall be an organization of all barangays to be known as the liga ng mga barangay for the primary purpose of determining the representation of the Liga in the sanggunians, and for ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues affecting barangay government administration and securing, through proper and legal means, solutions thereto. LGC, 492. Representation, Chapters, National Liga. - Every barangay shall be represented in said liga by the punong barangay, or in his absence or incapacity, by a sanggunian member duly elected for the purpose among its members, who shall attend all meetings or deliberations called by the different chapters of the liga. The liga shall have chapters at the municipal, city, provincial and metropolitan political subdivision levels. The municipal and city chapters of the liga shall be composed of the barangay representatives of municipal and city barangays respectively. The duly elected presidents of component municipal and city chapters shall constitute the provincial chapter or the metropolitan political subdivision chapter. The duly elected presidents of highly-urbanized cities, provincial chapters, the Metropolitan Manila chapter and metropolitan political subdivision chapters shall constitute the National Liga ng mga Barangay. LGC, 493. Organization. - The liga at the municipal, city, provincial, metropolitan political subdivision, and national levels directly elect a president, a vicepresident, and five (5) members of the board of directors. The board shall appoint its secretary and treasurer and create such other positions as it may deem necessary for the management of the chapter. A secretary-general shall be elected from among the members of the national liga and shall be charged with the overall operation of the liga on national level. The board shall coordinate the activities of the chapters of the liga. LGC, 494. Ex-Officio Membership in Sanggunians. - The duly elected presidents of the liga at the municipal, city and provincial levels, including the component cities and municipalities of Metropolitan Manila, shall serve as ex-officio members of the sangguniang bayan, sangguniang panlungsod, sangguniang panlalawigan, respectively. They shall serve as such only during their term of office as presidents of the liga chapters, which in no case shall be beyond the term of office of the sanggunian concerned. LGC, 495. Powers, Functions and Duties of the Liga. - The liga shall: (a) Give priority to programs designed for the total development of the barangays and in consonance with the policies, programs and projects of the national government; (b) Assist in the education of barangay residents for people's participation in local government administration in order to promote united and concerted action to achieve country-wide development goals; (c) Supplement the efforts of government in creating gainful employment within the barangay; (d) Adopt measures to promote the welfare of barangay officials; (e) Serve as a forum of the barangays in order to forge linkages with government and non-governmental organizations and thereby promote the social, economic and political well-being of the barangays; and (f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions which will bring about stronger ties between barangays and promote the welfare of the barangay inhabitants. ARTICLE II: League of Municipalities LGC, 496. Purpose of Organization. - There shall be an organization of all municipalities to be known as league of municipalities for the primary purpose of ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues affecting municipal government administration, and securing, through proper and legal means, solutions thereto. The league shall form provincial chapters composed of the league presidents for all component municipalities of the province. LGC, 497. Representation. - Every municipality shall be represented in the league by the municipal mayor of in his absence, by the vice-mayor or a sanggunian member duly elected for the purpose by the members, who shall attend all meetings and participate in the deliberations of the league. LGC, 498. Powers, Functions and Duties of the League of Municipalities. - The league of municipalities shall: (a) Assist the national government in the formulation and implementation of the policies, programs and projects affecting municipalities as a whole; (b) Promote local autonomy at the municipal level; (c) Adopt measures for the promotion of the welfare of all municipalities and its officials and employees; (d) Encourage people's participation in local government administration in order to promote united and concerted action for the attainment of country-wide development goals; (e) Supplement the efforts of the national government in creating opportunities for gainful employment within the municipalities; (f) Give priority to programs designed for the total development of the municipalities in consonance with the policies, programs and projects of the national government; (g) Serve as a forum for crystallizing and expressing ideas, seeking the necessary assistance of the national government, and providing the private sector avenues for cooperation in the promotion of the welfare of the municipalities; and
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(h) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as the league may prescribe for the welfare of the municipalities. ARTICLE III: League of Cities LGC, 499. Purpose of Organization. - There shall be an organization of all cities to be known as the League of Cities for the primary purpose of ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues affecting city government administration, and securing, through proper and legal means, solutions thereto. The league may form chapters at the provincial level for the component cities of a province. Highly-urbanized cities may also form a chapter of the League. The National League shall be composed of the presidents of the league of highly-urbanized cities and the presidents of the provincial chapters of the league of component cities. LGC, 500. Representation. - Every city shall be represented in the league by the city mayor or in his absence, by the city vice-mayor or a sanggunian member duly elected for the purpose by the members, who shall attend all meetings and participate in the deliberations of the league. LGC, 501. Powers, Functions and Duties of the League of City. - The league of cities shall: (a) Assist the national government in the formulation and implementation of the policies, programs and projects affecting cities as a whole; (b) Promote local autonomy at the city level; (c) Adopt measures for the promotion of the welfare of all cities and its officials and employees; (d) Encourage people's participation in local government administration in order to promote united and concerted action for the attainment of country-wide development goals; (e) Supplement the efforts of the national government in creating opportunities for gainful employment the cities; (f) Give priority to programs designed for the total development of cities in consonance with the policies, programs and projects of the national government; (g) Serve as a forum for crystallizing and expressing ideas, seeking the necessary assistance of the national government and providing the private sector avenues for cooperation in the promotion of the welfare of the cities; and (h) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as the league may prescribe for the welfare of the cities. ARTICLE IV: League of Provinces LGC, 502. Purpose of Organization. - There shall be an organization of all provinces to be known as the League of Provinces for the primary purpose of ventilating, articulating and crystallizing issues affecting provincial and metropolitan political subdivision government administration, and securing, through proper and legal means, solutions thereto. For this purpose, the Metropolitan Manila Area and any metropolitan political subdivision shall be considered as separate provincial units of the league. LGC, 503. Representation. - Every province shall be represented in the league by the provincial governor or in his absence, by the provincial vice-governor or a sanggunian member duly elected for the purpose by the members, who shall attend all meetings and participate in the deliberations of the league. LGC, 504. Powers, Functions and Duties of the League of Provinces. - The league of provinces shall: (a) Assist the national government in the formulation and implementation of the policies, programs and projects affecting provinces as a whole; (b) Promote local autonomy at the provincial level; (c) Adopt measures for the promotion of the welfare of all provinces and its officials and employees; (d) Encourage people's participation in local government administration in order to promote united and concerted action for the attainment of countrywide employment within the province; (e) Supplement the efforts of the national government in creating opportunities for gainful employment within the province; (f) Give priority to programs designed for the total development of the provinces in consonance with the policies, programs and projects of the national government; (g) Serve as a forum for crystallizing and expressing ideas, seeking the necessary assistance of the national government and providing the private sector avenues for cooperation in the promotion of the welfare of the provinces; and (h) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as the league may prescribe for the welfare of the provinces and metropolitan political subdivisions. ARTICLE V: Provisions Common to All Leagues LGC, 505. Funding. (a) All leagues shall derive its funds from contributions of member local government units and from fund-raising projects and activities without the necessity of securing permits therefor: Provided, That the proceeds from said fund-raising projects and activities shall be used primarily to fund the projects for which the said proceeds have been raised, subject to the pertinent provision of this Code and the pertinent provisions of the Omnibus Election Code. (b) All funds of leagues shall be deposited as trust funds with its treasurer and shall be disbursed in accordance with the board of director's resolutions, subject to pertinent accounting and auditing rules and regulations: Provided, That the treasurer shall be bonded in an amount to be determined by the board of directors. The funds of a chapter shall be deposited as chapter funds and funds of the national league shall be deposited as national funds. LGC, 506. Organizational Structure. - To ensure the effective and efficient administration, the leagues for municipalities, cities and provinces shall elect chapter-level and national-level boards of directors and a set of officers headed by the president. A secretary-general shall be chosen from among the national league members to manage the day to day operation and activities of the national league. The board of directors on the chapter or national level may create such other positions as may be deemed necessary for the management of the chapters and of the national league. The national board of directors of the leagues for municipalities, cities or provinces shall coordinate programs, projects and activities of chapter and the national-level league. LGC, 507. Constitution and By-laws of the Liga and the Leagues. - All other matters not herein otherwise provided for affecting the internal organization of the leagues of local government units shall be governed by their respective constitution and by-laws which are hereby made suppletory to the provision of this Chapter: Provided, That said Constitution and By-laws shall always conform to the provisions of the Constitution and existing laws. CHAPTER II: Leagues and Federation of Local Elective Officials LGC, 508. Organization. (a) Vice-governors, vice-mayors, sanggunian members of barangays, municipalities, component cities, highly-urbanized cities and provinces, and other elective local officials of local government units, including those of the Metropolitan Manila Area and any metropolitan political subdivisions, may form their respective leagues or federation, subject to applicable provisions of this Title and pertinent provisions of this Code; (b) Sanggunian members of component cities and municipalities shall form a provincial federation and elect a board of directors and a set of officers headed by the president. The duly elected president of the provincial federation of sanggunian members of component cities and municipalities shall be an ex-officio member of the sangguniang panlalawigan concerned and shall serve as such only during his term of office as president of the provincial federation of sanggunian members of component cities and municipalities, which in no case shall be beyond the term of office of the sanggunian panlalawigan concerned. LGC, 509. Constitution and By-laws. - The leagues or federations shall adopt a Constitution and by-laws which shall govern their internal organization and operation: Provided, That said Constitution and by-laws shall always conform to the provision of the Constitution and existing laws. LGC, 510. Funding. - The leagues and federations may derive funds from contributions of individual league or federation members or from fund-raising projects or activities. The local government unit concerned may appropriate funds to support the leagues or federation organized pursuant to this Section, subject to the availability of funds. Galarosa v. Valencia, skipped. Miguel v. CA, skipped. Viola v. Alunan III, skipped. Bito-Onon v. Fernandez, skipped. Liga ng mga Barangay National v. City Mayor of Manila, skipped. National Liga ng mga Barangay v. Paredes, skipped. Part IV. Miscellaneous and Final Provisions Provisions for Implementation
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LGC, 511. Posting and Publication of Ordinances with Penal Sanctions. (a) Ordinances with penal sanctions shall be posted at prominent places in the provincial capitol, city, municipal or barangay hall, as the case may be, for a minimum period of three (3) consecutive weeks. Such ordinances shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation, where available, within the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit concerned, except in the case of barangay ordinances. Unless otherwise provided therein, said ordinances shall take effect on the day following its publication, or at the end of the period of posting, whichever occurs later. (b) Any public officer or employee who violates an ordinance may be meted administrative disciplinary action, without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate civil or criminal action. (c) The secretary to the sanggunian concerned shall transmit official copies of such ordinances to the chief executive officer of the Office Gazette within seven (7) days following the approval of the said ordinance for publication purposes. The Official Gazette may publish ordinances with penal sanctions for archival and reference purposes. LGC, 512. Withholding of Benefits Accorded to Barangay Officials. - Willful and malicious withholding of any of the benefits accorded to barangay officials under Section 393 hereof shall be punished with suspension or dismissal from office of the official or employee responsible therefor. LGC, 513. Failure to Post and Publish the Itemized Monthly Collections and Disbursements. - Failure by the local treasurer of the local chief accountant to post the itemized monthly collections and disbursements of the local government unit concerned within ten (10) days following the end of every month and for at least two (2) consecutive weeks at prominent places in the main office building of the local government unit concerned, its plaza and main street, and to publish said itemization in a newspaper of general circulation, where available, in the territorial jurisdiction of such unit, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Five hundred pesos (P500.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding one (1) month, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. LGC, 514. Engaging in Prohibited Business Transactions or Possessing Illegal Pecuniary Interest. - Any local official and any person or persons dealing with him who violate the prohibitions provided in Section 89 of Book I hereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for six months and one day to six years, or a fine of not less than Three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) nor more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00), or both such imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court. LGC, 515. Refusal or Failure of Any Party or Witness to Appear before the Lupon or Pangkat. - Refusal or willful failure of any party or witness to appear before the lupon or pangkat in compliance with a summons issued pursuant to the provisions on the Katarungang Pambarangay under Chapter 7, Title III of this Code may be punished by the city or municipal court as for indirect contempt of court upon application filed therewith by the lupon chairman, the pangkat chairman, or by any of the contending parties. Such refusal or willful failure to appear shall be reflected in the records of the lupon secretary or in the minutes of the pangkat secretary and shall bar the complainant who fails to appear, from seeking judicial recourse for the same cause of action, and the respondent who refuses to appear, from filing any counterclaim arising out of, or necessarily connected with the complaint. A pangkat member who serves as such shall be entitled to an honorarium, the amount of which is to be determined by the sanggunian concerned subject to the provisions in this Code cited above. LGC, 516. Penalties for Violation of Tax Ordinances. - The sanggunian of a local government unit is authorized to prescribe fines or other penalties for violation of tax ordinances but in no case shall such fines be less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), nor shall imprisonment be less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months. Such fine or other penalty, or both, shall be imposed at the discretion of the court. The sangguniang barangay may prescribe a fine of not less than One hundred pesos (P100.00) nor more than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00). LGC, 517. Omission of Property from Assessment or Tax Rolls by Officers and Other Acts. - Any officer charged with the duty of assessing real property who willfully fails to assess, or who intentionally omits from the assessment or tax roll any real property which he knows to be taxable, or who willfully or negligently under assesses any real property, or who intentionally violates or fails to perform any duty imposed upon him by law relating to the assessment of taxable real property shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. The same penalty shall be imposed upon any officer charged with the duty of collecting the tax due on real property who willfully or negligently fails to collect the tax and institute the necessary proceedings for the collection of the same. Any other officer required by this Code to perform acts relating to the administration of the real property tax or to assist the assessor or treasurer in such administration, who willfully fails to discharge such duties shall, upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. LGC, 518. Government Agents Delaying Assessment of Real Property and Assessment Appeals. - Any government official who intentionally and deliberately delays the assessment of real property or the filing of any appeal against its assessment shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. LGC, 519. Failure to Dispose of Delinquent Real Property at Public Auction. - The local treasurer concerned who fails to dispose of delinquent real property at public auction in compliance with the pertinent provisions of this Code, and any other local government official whose acts hinder the prompt disposition of delinquent real property at public auction shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. LGC, 520. Prohibited Acts Related to the Award of Contracts Under the Provisions on Credit Financing. - It shall be unlawful for any public official or employee in the provincial, city, or municipal government, or their relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, to enter into or have any pecuniary interest in any contract for the construction, acquisition, operation or maintenance of any project awarded pursuant to the provisions of Title Four in Book II hereof, or for the procurement of any supplies, materials, or equipment of any kind to be used in the said project. Any person convicted for violation of the provisions of said Title shall be removed from office and shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month, nor more than two (2) years, at the discretion of the court, without prejudice to prosecution under other laws. TITLE II: PROVISIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION LGC, 521. Mandatory Review Every Five Years. - Congress shall undertake a mandatory review of this Code at least once every five (5) years and as often as it may deem necessary, with the primary objective of providing a more responsive and accountable local government structure. LGC, 522. Insurance Coverage. - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) shall establish and administer an appropriate system under which the punong barangay, the members of the sangguniang barangay, the barangay secretary, the barangay treasurer, and the members of the barangay tanod shall enjoy insurance coverage as provided in this Code and other pertinent laws. For this purpose, the GSIS is hereby directed to undertake an actuarial study, issue rules and regulations, determine the premiums payable, and recommend to Congress the amount of appropriations needed to support the system. The amount needed for the implementation of the said insurance shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. LGC, 523. Personnel Retirement and/or Benefits. - An official or employee of the national government or local government unit separated from the service as a result of reorganization effected under this Code shall, if entitled under the laws then in force, receive the retirement and other benefits accruing thereunder: Provided, however, That such benefits shall be given funding priority by the Department of Budget and Management in the case of national officials and employees, and the local government unit concerned in the case of local officials and employees. Where the employee concerned is not eligible for retirement, he shall be entitled to a gratuity from the national government or the local government unit concerned, as the case may be, equivalent to an amount not lower than one (1) month salary for every year of service over and above the monetary value of the leave credits said employee is entitled to receive pursuant to existing laws. LGC, 524. Inventory of Infrastructure and Other Community Facilities. (a) Each local government unit shall conduct a periodic inventory of infrastructure and other community facilities and undertake the maintenance, repair, improvement, or reconstruction of these facilities through a closer cooperation among the various agencies of the national government operating within the province, city, or municipality concerned. (b) No infrastructure or community project within the territorial jurisdiction of any local government unit shall be undertaken without informing the local chief executive and the sanggunian concerned. LGC, 525. Records and Properties. - All records, equipment, buildings, facilities, and other properties of any office or body of a local government unit abolished or reorganized under this Code shall be transferred to the office or body to which its powers, functions, and responsibilities are substantially devolved.
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Transitory Provisions LGC, 526. Application of this Code to Local Government Units in the Autonomous Regions. - This Code shall apply to all provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the autonomous regions until such time as the regional government concerned shall have enacted its own local government code. LGC, 527. Prior Approval or Clearance on Regular and Recurring Transactions. - Six (6) months after effectivity of this Code, prior approval of or clearance from national agencies or offices shall no longer be required for regular and recurring transactions and activities of local government units. LGC, 528. Deconcentration of Requisite Authority and Power. - The national government shall, six (6) months after the effectivity of this Code, effect the deconcentration of requisite authority and power to the appropriate regional offices or field offices of national agencies or offices whose major functions are not devolved to local government units. LGC, 529. Tax Ordinances or Revenue Measures. - All existing tax ordinances or revenue measures of local government units shall continue to be in force and effect after the effectivity of this Code unless amended by the sanggunian concerned, or inconsistent with, or in violation of, the provisions of this Code. LGC, 530. Local Water Districts. - All powers, functions, and attributes granted by Presidential Decree Numbered One hundred ninety-eight (P.D. No. 198), otherwise known as "The Provincial Water Utility Act of 1973," to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) may be devolved in toto to the existing local water districts should they opt or choose to exercise, in writing, such powers, functions and attributes: Provided, That all obligations of the local government unit concerned to the LWUA shall first be settled prior to said devolution. LGC, 531. Debt Relief for Local Government Units. (a) Unremitted national collections and statutory contributions. - All debts owed by local government units to the national government in unremitted contributions to the Integrated National Police Fund, the Special Education Fund, and other statutory contributions as well as in unremitted national government shares of taxes, charges, and fees collected by the local government units, are hereby written off in full. (b) Program loans. (1) Program loans secured by local government units which were relent to private persons, natural or juridical, shall likewise be written off from the books of the local government units concerned: Provided, however, That the national government agency tasked with the implementation of these programs shall continue to collect from the debtors belonging to the private sector concerned. (2) Program loans granted to local government units by national government agencies and which were utilized by the local units for community development, livelihood, and other small-scale projects are hereby written off in full. (c) Settlement of debts due to government financing institutions (GFIs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and private utilities. The national government shall assume all debts incurred or contracted by local government units from GFIs, GOCCs, and private utilities that are outstanding as of December 31, 1988, in accordance with the following schemes: (1) Debts due GFIs. - The national government may buy outstanding obligations incurred by local government units from government financing institutions at a discounted rate. (2) Debts due GOCCs. - The national government may settle such obligations at discounted rate through offsetting, only to the extent of the obligations of local governments against the outstanding advances made by the National Treasury in behalf of the government-owned and controlled corporations concerned. (3) Debts Due Private Utilities. - The national government may settle these obligations at a discounted rate by offsetting against the outstanding obligations of such private utilities to government-owned corporation. GOCCs may in turn offset these obligations against the outstanding advances made by the National Treasury in their behalf. In the case of obligation owed by local government units to private utilities which are not indebted to any GOCC or national government agency, the national government may instead buy the obligations of the local government units from the private utilities at a discounted rate, upon concurrence by the private utilities concerned. (d) Limitations. - Obligations to the Home Development and Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig), Medicare, and those pertaining to premium contributions and amortization payments of salary and policy loans to the Government Service Insurance System are excluded from the coverage of this Section. (e) Recovery schemes for the national government. - Local government units shall pay back the national government whatever amounts were advanced or offset by the national government to settle their obligations to GFIs, GOCCs, and private utilities. The national government shall not charge interest or penalties on the outstanding balance owed by the local government units. These outstanding obligations shall be restructured and an amortization schedule prepared, based on the capability of the local government unit to pay, taking into consideration the amount owed to the national government. The national government is hereby authorized to deduct from the quarterly share of each local government unit in the internal revenue collections an amount to be determined on the basis of the amortization schedule of the local unit concerned: Provided, That such amount shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the monthly internal revenue allotment of the local government unit concerned. As incentive to debtor-local government units to increase the efficiency of their fiscal administration, the national government shall write off the debt of the local government unit concerned at the rate of five percent (5%) for every one percent (1%) increase in revenues generated by such local government unit over that of the preceding year. For this purpose, the annual increase in local revenue collection shall be computed starting from the year 1988. (f) Appropriations. - Such amount as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Section shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. LGC, 532. Elections for the Sangguniang Kabataan. (a) The first elections for the sangguniang kabataan to be conducted under this Code shall be held thirty (30) days after the next local elections: Provided, That, the regular elections for the sangguniang kabataan shall be held one hundred twenty (120) days after the barangay elections thereafter. (b) The amount pertaining to the ten percent (10%) allocation for the kabataang barangay as provided for in Section 103 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 337 is hereby reappropriated for the purpose of funding the first elections mentioned above. The balance of said funds, if there by any after the said elections, shall be administered by the Presidential Council for Youth Affairs for the purpose of training the newly elected sangguniang kabataan officials in the discharge of their functions. (c) For the regular elections of the sangguniang kabataan, funds shall be taken from the ten percent (10%) of the barangay funds reserved for the sangguniang kabataan, as provided for in Section 328 of this Code. (d) All seats reserved for the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan in the different sanggunians shall be deemed vacant until such time that the sangguniang kabataan chairmen shall have been elected and the respective pederasyon presidents have been selected: Provided, That, elections for the kabataang barangay conducted under Batas Pambansa Blg. 337 at any time between January 1, 1988 and January 1, 1992 shall be considered as the first elections provided for in this Code. The term of office of the kabataang barangay officials elected within the said period shall be extended correspondingly to coincide with the term of office of those elected under this Code. LGC, 533. Formulation of Implementing Rules and Regulations. (a) Within one (1) month after the approval of this Code, the President shall convene the Oversight shall formulate and issue the appropriate rules and regulations necessary for the efficient and effective implementation of any and all provisions of this Code, thereby ensuring compliance with the principles of local autonomy as defined under the Constitution. (b) The Committee shall be composed of the following: (1) The Executive Secretary, who shall be the Chairman; (2) Three (3) members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate, to include the Chairman of the Committee on Local Government; (3) Three (3) members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker, to include the Chairman of the Committee on Local Government; (4) The Cabinet, represented by the following: i. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; ii. Secretary of Finance; iii. Secretary of Budget and Management; and (5) One (1) representative from each of the following:
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i. The League of Provinces; ii. The League of Cities; iii. The League of Municipalities; and iv. The Liga ng mga Barangay. (c) The Committee shall submit its report and recommendation to the President within two (2) months after its organization. If the President fails to act within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof, the recommendation of the Oversight Committee shall be deemed approved. Thereafter, the Committee shall supervise the transfer of such powers and functions mandated under this Code to the local government units, together with the corresponding personnel, properties, assets and liabilities of the offices or agencies concerned, with the least possible disruptions to existing programs and projects. The Committee shall likewise recommend the corresponding appropriations necessary to effect the said transfer. For this purpose, the services of a technical staff shall be enlisted from among the qualified employees of Congress, the government offices, and the leagues constituting the Committee. (d) The funding requirements and the secretariat of the Committee shall be provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary. (e) The sum of Five million pesos (P5,000,000), which shall be charged against the Contingent Fund, is hereby allotted to the Committee to fund the undertaking of an information campaign on this Code. The Committee shall formulate the guidelines governing the conduct of said campaign, and shall determine the national agencies or offices to be involved for this purpose. Applications of the Code to LGUs in the Autonomous Regions LGC, 526, supra. The ARMM 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 1 . The territorial and political subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines are the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. There shall be autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras as hereinafter provided. 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec.15 . There shall be created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the Cordilleras consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures, and other relevant characteristics within the framework of this Constitution and the national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines. 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 16 . The President shall exercise general supervision over autonomous regions to ensure that laws are faithfully executed. 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 18 . The Congress shall enact an organic act for each autonomous region with the assistance and participation of the regional consultative commission composed of representatives appointed by the President from a list of nominees from multi-sectoral bodies. The organic act shall define the basic structure of government for the region consisting of the executive department and legislative assembly, both of which shall be elective and representative of the constituent political units. The organic acts shall likewise provide for special courts with personal, family, and property law jurisdiction consistent with the provisions of this Constitution and national laws. The creation of the autonomous region shall be effective when approved by majority of the votes cast by the constituent units in a plebiscite called for the purpose, provided that only provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in such plebiscite shall be included in the autonomous region. 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 20 . Within its territorial jurisdiction and subject to the provisions of this Constitution and national laws, the organic act of autonomous regions shall provide for legislative powers over: (1) Administrative organization; (2) Creation of sources of revenues; (3) Ancestral domain and natural resources; (4) Personal, family, and property relations; (5) Regional urban and rural planning development; (6) Economic, social, and tourism development; (7) Educational policies; (8) Preservation and development of the cultural heritage; and (9) Such other matters as may be authorized by law for the promotion of the general welfare of the people of the region. 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 21 . The preservation of peace and order within the regions shall be the responsibility of the local police agencies which shall be organized, maintained, supervised, and utilized in accordance with applicable laws. The defense and security of the regions shall be the responsibility of the National Government. RA 6734 (1989). AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN ORGANIC ACT FOR THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO RA 8746 (1999). AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DATE OF THE REGULAR ELECTIONS OF REGIONAL GOVERNOR, VICE-GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM) FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7647 ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DATE OF REGULAR ELECTIONS FOR REGIONAL GOVERNOR, REGIONAL VICEGOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES", AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Sec. 1. Amendment to Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7647.- Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7647, as amended, is hereby further amended by fixing the term of office for officials elected on September 9, 1996, to read as follows: "Sec. 1. The regular elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, shall be held on the second Monday of March, 1993 and every three (3) years thereafter. Their terms of office shall commence at noon of the thirty-first of March next following their election and shall expire at noon of the thirty-first of March three (3) years thereafter pursuant to Republic Act Numbered Six thousand seven hundred thirty-four, otherwise known as the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. However, for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-six, the elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly shall be held on September 9, 1996. The regional governor, regional vice-governor and the members of the Regional Legislative Assembly elected in nineteen hundred and ninety-six shall assume office at twelve oclock noon on the thirtieth day of September next following their election and shall end at twelve oclock noon on the thirtieth day of September 1999: Provided , That effective 1999, the regular elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), shall be held on the second Monday of September and every three (3) years thereafter pursuant to Republic Act No. 6734, otherwise known as the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Provided, however, That the incumbent regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly elected in September 1996 shall continue in office until September 30, 1999." Sec. 2. Declaration of Nullity of List of Voters. - Upon approval of this Act, the existing certified list of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao shall cease to be effective and operative. Sec. 3. Registration of Voters. -There shall be a general registration of voters on May 8 and 9, 1999 and a special registration of voters on such dates as may be determined by the Commission on Elections. Both registrations shall be under the direct administrative control of the Commission. Sec. 4. Voter s Photograph and Identification Card. - All copies of the application for registration shall contain the applicants photograph, to be taken at the time of the filing of the application for registration and at the expense of the Commission. E ach voter shall be issued a voters identification card as may be determined by the Commission. Sec. 5. Authority of the Commission to Determine the Appropriate System Design. - The Commission is authorized to determine the appropriate system design and the particular areas where the computerization of electoral process shall be implemented. The decision shall be based on the following factors: appropriateness of technology, available physical infrastructure, technical capability of election officials, costs and other objective considerations. Sec. 6. Authority of the President to Release Funds for Registration of Voters. - The President of the Philippines is hereby authorized to set aside and release the amount of One hundred fifty million pesos (PhP 150,000,000) from the Presidents contingent fund to defray the expenses for the registration of voters. Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and binding.
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Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. RA 9012 (2000). AN ACT RESETTING THE REGULAR ELECTIONS FOR ELECTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO TO THE SECOND MONDAY OF SEPTEMBER 2001, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8953 RA 9054 (2001). AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE ORGANIC ACT FOR THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6734, ENTITLED AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO , AS AMENDED Abbas v. COMELEC. In support of his argument, petitioner cites Article II, section 1(1) of R.A. No. 6734 which declares that "[t]here is hereby created the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to be composed of provinces and cities voting favorably in the plebiscite called for the purpose, in accordance with Section 18, Article X of the Constitution." Petitioner contends that the tenor of the above provision makes the creation of an autonomous region absolute, such that even if only two provinces vote in favor of autonomy, an autonomous region would still be created composed of the two provinces where the favorable votes were obtained. Petitioner's argument is not tenable. The Constitution lays down the standards by which Congress shall determine which areas should constitute the autonomous region. Guided by these constitutional criteria, the ascertainment by Congress of the areas that share common attributes is within the exclusive realm of the legislature's discretion. Any review of this ascertainment would have to go into the wisdom of the law. This the Court cannot do without doing violence to the separation of governmental powers . || It must be pointed out that what is referred to in R.A. No. 6734 is the merger of administrative regions, i.e. Regions I to XII and the National Capital Region, which are mere groupings of contiguous provinces for administrative purposes [Integrated Reorganization Plan (1972), which was made as part of the law of the land by Pres. dec. No. 1, Pres. Dec. No. 742]. Administrative regions are not territorial and political subdivisions like provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays [see Art. X, sec. 1 of the Constitution]. While the power to merge administrative regions is not expressly provided for in the Constitution, it is a power which has traditionally been lodged with the President to facilitate the exercise of the power of general supervision over local governments [see Art. X, sec. 4 of the Constitution]. There is no conflict between the power of the President to merge administrative regions with the constitutional provision requiring a plebiscite in the merger of local government units because the requirement of a plebiscite in a merger expressly applies only to provinces, cities, municipalities or barangays, not to administrative regions. Limbona v. Mangelin. The autonomous governments of Mindanao involved in this case were created by PD 1618, even before the 1987 Const. They were never meant to exercise the kind of autonomy wherein the central government commits an act of self-immolation. In fact, PD 1618 mandates that the President shall have the power of general supervision and control over Autonomous Regions. Pandi v. CA. The passage of the LGC in 1991 did not amend the ARMM Organic Act of 1989 since the former is a general law and cannot prevail over a special law like the Organic Act. Thus, the devolved powers and functions under the 1991 LGC could not have applied to the ARMM. This is bolstered by Sec. 526 of the LGC, which limits the application of the LGC to autonomous regions created after its effectivity. However, through the passage of the Organic Act of 2001 (RA 9054), the devolved powers and functions under the LGC could now be applied to the ARMM. This means that the powers and functions of a Provincial Governor under the LGC are now enjoyed, as a minimum, by a Provincial Governor in the ARMM Disomangcop v. DPWH Sec. DO119 is violative of the provisions of EO426 (issued pursuant to RA6734). The 1987 Constitution mandates regional autonomy to give a bold and unequivocal answer to the cry for a meaningful, effective and forceful autonomy. Autonomy, as a national policy, recognizes the wholeness of the Philippine society in its ethnolinguistic, cultural and even religious diversities. It strives to free Philippine society of the strain and wastage caused by the assimilationist approach. Policies emanating from the legislature are invariably assimilationist in character despite channels being open for minority representation. A necessary prerequisite of autonomy is decentralization. Decentralization is a decision by the central government authorizing its subordinates, whether geographically or functionally defined, to exercise authority in certain areas. It involves decision-making by subnational units. It is typically a delegated power, wherein a larger government chooses to delegate certain authority to more local governments. Federalism implies some measure of decentralization, but unitary systems may also decentralize. Decentralization differs intrinsically from federalism in that the subunits that have been authorized to act (by delegation) do not possess any claim of right against the central government. || Decentralization comes in two forms deconcentration and devolution. Deconcentration (administrative decentralization) is administrative in nature; it involves the transfer of functions or the delegation of authority and responsibility from the national office to the regional and local offices. Devolution, on the other hand, connotes political decentralization, or the transfer of powers, responsibilities, and resources for the performance of certain functions from the central government to local government units. By regional autonomy, the framers intended it to mean "meaningful and authentic regional autonomy (that is, a kind of local self-government which allows the people of the region or area the power to determine what is best for their growth and development without undue interference or dictation from the central government). To this end, Section 16, Article X limits the power of the President over autonomous regions. In essence, the provision also curtails the power of Congress over autonomous regions. Consequently, Congress will have to re-examine national laws and make sure that they reflect the Constitution's adherence to local autonomy. And in case of conflicts, the underlying spirit which should guide its resolution is the Constitution's desire for genuine local autonomy. || E.O. 426 officially devolved the powers and functions of the DPWH in ARMM to the Autonomous Regional Government (ARG). More importantly, Congress itself through R.A. 9054 transferred and devolved the administrative and fiscal management of public works and funds for public works to the ARG. The aim of the Constitution is to extend to the autonomous peoples, the people of Muslim Mindanao in this case, the right to self-determination a right to choose their own path of development; the right to determine the political, cultural and economic content of their development path within the framework of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippine Republic. Selfdetermination refers to the need for a political structure that will respect the autonomous peoples' uniqueness and grant them sufficient room for selfexpression and self-construction. With R.A. 8999, however, this freedom is taken away, and the National Government takes control again. The hands, once more, of the autonomous peoples are reined in and tied up. The challenged law creates an office with functions and powers which, by virtue of E.O. 426, have been previously devolved to the DPWH-ARMM, First Engineering District in Lanao del Sur. Cordillera Administrative Region EO 220, see Ordillo and CBC v. COA Cases See RA 6766, RA 8438. Ordillo v. COMELEC. Congress never intended that a single province may constitute the autonomous region. Otherwise, we would be faced with the absurd situation of having two sets of officials, a set of provincial officials and another set of regional officials exercising their executive and legislative powers over exactly the same small area CBC v. COA. constitutionality of Executive Order No. 220, dated July 15, 1987, which created the (Cordillera Administrative Region, is assailed on the primary ground that it pre-empts the enactment of an organic act by the Congress and the creation of' the autonomous region in the Cordilleras conditional on the approval of the act through a plebiscite Firstly, the CAR is not a public corporation or a territorial and political subdivision. It does not have a separate juridical personality, unlike provinces, cities and municipalities. Neither is it vested with the powers that are normally granted to public corporations, e.g. the power to sue and be sued, the power to own and dispose of property, the power to create its own sources of revenue, etc. As stated earlier, the CAR was created primarily to coordinate the planning and implementation of programs and services in the covered areas. The creation of administrative regions for the purpose of expediting the delivery of services is nothing new. The Integrated Reorganization Plan of 1972, which was made as part of the law of the land by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1, established eleven (11) regions, later increased to twelve (12), with definite regional centers and required departments and agencies of the Executive Branch of the National Government to set up field offices therein. The functions of the regional offices to be established pursuant to the Reorganization Plan are: (1) to implement laws, policies, plans, programs, rules and regulations of the department or agency in the regional areas; (2) to provide economical, efficient and effective service to the people in the area; (3) to coordinate with regional offices of other departments, bureaus and agencies in the area; (4) to coordinate with local government units in the area; and (5) to perform such other functions as may be provided by law. [See Part II, chap. III, art. 1, of the Reorganization Plan]. || We can readily see that the CAR is in the same genre as the administrative regions created under the Reorganization Plan, albeit under E.O. No. 220 the operation of the CAR requires the participation not only of the line departments and agencies of the National Government but also the local governments, ethno-linguistic groups and non-governmental organizations in bringing about the desired objectives and the appropriation of funds solely for that purpose. Badua v. Cordillera Bodong Assoc. An amicable settlement, compromise, and arbitration award rendered by a pangkat, if not seasonably repudiated, has the force and effect of a final judgment of a court (Sec. 11, P.D. 1508), but it can be enforced only through the local city or municipal court to which the secretary of the Lupon transmits the compromise settlement or arbitration award upon expiration of the period to annul or repudiate it (Sec. 14, P.D. 1508). Similarly, the decisions of a tribal court based on compromise or arbitration, as provided in P.D. 1508, may be enforced or set aside, in and through the regular courts today.
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|| the Cordillera Bodong Administration created under Sec 13 of E.O.220, the indigenous and special courts for the indigenous cultural communities of the Cordillera region (Sec. 1, Art. VII, RA 6766), and the CPLA, as a regional police force or a regional command of the AFP (Secs. 2 and 4, Article XVIII of R.A. 6766), do not legally exist. || Since the CAR did not come into legal existence, the Maeng Tribal Court was not constituted into an indigenous or special court under R.A. No. 6766. Hence, the Maeng Tribal Court is an ordinary tribal court existing under the customs and traditions of an indigenous cultural community. Such tribal courts are not a part of the Philippine judicial system which consists of the Supreme Court and the lower courts which have been established by law. They do not possess judicial power. Like the pangkats or conciliation panels created by P.D. No. 1508 in the barangays, they are advisory and conciliatory bodies whose principal objective is to bring together the parties to a dispute and persuade them to make peace, settle, and compromise. Atitiw v. Zamora. In relation to article VI section 25(2) and section 26 the court said that xxx an appropriations bill covers a broader range of subject matter and therefore includes more details compared to an ordinary bill. The title of an appropriations bill cannot be any broader as it is since it is not feasible to come out with a title that embraces all the details included in an appropriations bill xxx. The assailed paragraph 1 of the RA8760 does not constitute a rider; it follows the standard that a provision in an appropriations bill must relate specifically to some particular appropriations. On the other hand, the contention that Congress cannot amend or repeal E.O 220 is rejected, there is no such thing as an irrepealable law. And nothing could prevent the Congress from amending or repealing the E.O. 220 because it is no different from any other law. The last issue, the court ruled that, the concept of separations of powers presupposes mutual respect. Therefore, the implementation of E.O. 220 is an executive prerogative while the sourcing of funds is within the powers of the legislature. In the absence of any grave abuse of discretion, the court cannot correct the acts of either the Executive or the Legislative in respect to policies concerning CAR. The MMDA 1987 Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 11 . The Congress may, by law, create special metropolitan political subdivisions, subject to a plebiscite as set forth in Section 10 hereof. The component cities and municipalities shall retain their basic autonomy and shall be entitled to their own local executive and legislative assemblies. The jurisdiction of the metropolitan authority that will thereby be created shall be limited to basic services requiring coordination. 1987 Constitution, Art. XVIII, Sec. 8 . Until otherwise provided by the Congress, the President may constitute the Metropolitan Manila Authority to be composed of the heads of all local government units comprising the Metropolitan Manila area. RA 7924 (1995). AN ACT CREATING THE METROPOLITAN MANILA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Sec. 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to treat Metropolitan Manila as a special development and administrative region and certain basic services affecting or involving Metro Manila as metro-wide services more efficiently and effectively planned, supervised and coordinated by a development authority as created herein, without prejudice to the autonomy of the affected local government units. Pursuant to this policy, Metropolitan Manila, as a public corporation created under Presidential Decree No. 824, embracing the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon, and Muntinlupa, and the municipalities of Las Pias, Malabon, Marikina, Navotas, Paraaque, Pateros, San Juan, Tagig, and Valenzuela, is hereby constituted into a special development and administrative region subject to direct supervision of the President of the Philippines.chan robles virtual law library Sec. 2. Creation of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. The affairs of Metropolitan Manila's shall be administered by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the MMDA, to replace the Metro Manila Authority (MMA) organized under Executive Order No. 392 series of 1990. The MMDA shall perform planning, monitoring and coordinative functions, and in the process exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the delivery of metro-wide services within Metro Manila without diminution of the autonomy of the local government units concerning purely local matters. Sec. 3. Scope of MMDA Services. Metro-wide services under the jurisdiction of the MMDA are those services which have metro-wide impact and transcend local political boundaries or entail huge expenditures such that it would not be viable for said services to be provided by the individual local government units (LGUs) comprising Metropolitan Manila. These services shall include: (a) Development planning which includes the preparation of medium and long-term development plans; the development, evaluation and packaging of projects; investments programming; and coordination and monitoring of plan, program and project implementation. (b) Transport and traffic management which include the formulation, coordination, and monitoring of policies, standards, programs and projects to rationalize the existing transport operations, infrastructure requirements, the use of thoroughfares, and promotion of safe and convenient movement of persons and goods; provision for the mass transport system and the institution of a system to regulate road users; administration and implementation of all traffic enforcement operations, traffic engineering services and traffic education programs, including the institution of a single ticketing system in Metropolitan Manila. (c) Solid waste disposal and management which include formulation and implementation of policies, standards, programs and projects for proper and sanitary waste disposal. It shall likewise include the establishment and operation of sanitary land fill and related facilities and the implementation of other alternative programs intended to reduce, reuse and recycle solid waste. (d) Flood control and sewerage management which include the formulation and implementation of policies, standards, programs and projects for an integrated flood control, drainage and sewerage system. (e) Urban renewal, zoning, and land use planning, and shelter services which include the formulation, adoption and implementation of policies, standards, rules and regulations, programs and projects to rationalize and optimize urban land use and provide direction to urban growth and expansion, the rehabilitation and development of slum and blighted areas, the development of shelter and housing facilities and the provision of necessary social services thereof. (f) Health and sanitation, urban protection and pollution control which include the formulation and implementation of policies, rules and regulations, standards, programs and projects for the promotion and safeguarding of the health and sanitation of the region and for the enhancement of ecological balance and the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution. (g) Public safety which includes the formulation and implementation of programs and policies and procedures to achieve public safety, especially preparedness for preventive or rescue operations during times of calamities and disasters such as conflagrations, earthquakes, flood and tidal waves, and coordination and mobilization of resources and the implementation of contingency plans for the rehabilitation and relief operations in coordination with national agencies concerned. Sec. 4. Metro Manila Council. The governing board and policy making body of the MMDA shall be the Metro Manila Council, composed of the mayors of the eight (8) cities and nine (9) municipalities enumerated in Section 1 hereof, the president of the Metro Manila Vice Mayors League and the president of the Metro Manila Councilors League. The heads of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Committee (HUDCC), and Philippine National Police (PNP) or their duly authorized representatives, shall attend meetings of the council as non-voting members. The Council shall be headed by a chairman, who shall be appointed by the President and who shall continue to hold office at the discretion of the appointing authority. He shall be vested with the rank, rights, privileges, disqualifications, and prohibitions of a cabinet member. The chairman shall be assisted by a general manager, an assistant general manager for finance and administration, an assistant general manager for planning and assistant general manager for operation, all of whom shall be appointed by the President with the consent and concurrence of the majority of the Council, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations. They shall enjoy security of tenure and may be removed for cause in accordance with law. The assistant general manager for planning must have not less than five (5) years extensive experience in development and planning or must hold a master's degree in urban planning or similar disciplines. The chairman and members of the Council shall be entitled to allowance and per diems in accordance with existing policies, rules and regulations on the matter. Sec. 5. Functions and Powers of the Metro Manila Development Authority. The MMDA shall: (a) Formulate, coordinate and regulate the implementation of medium and long-term plans and programs for the delivery of metro-wide services, land use and physical development within Metropolitan Manila, consistent with national development objectives and priorities;
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(b) Prepare, coordinate and regulate the implementation of medium-term programs for metro-wide services which shall indicate sources and uses of funds for priority programs and projects, and which shall include the packaging of projects and presentation to funding institutions; (c) Undertake and manage on its own metro-wide programs and projects for the delivery of specific services under its jurisdiction, subject to the approval of the Council. For this purpose, MMDA can create appropriate project management offices; (d) Coordinate and monitor the implementation of such plans, programs and projects in Metro Manila; identify bottlenecks and adopt solutions to problems of implementation; (e) The MMDA shall set the policies concerning traffic in Metro Manila, and shall coordinate and regulate the implementation of all programs and projects concerning traffic management, specifically pertaining to enforcement, engineering and education.Upon request, it shall be extended assistance and cooperation, including but not limited to, assignment of personnel, by all other government agencies and offices concerned; (f) Install and administer a single ticketing system, fix, impose and collect fines and penalties for all kinds of violations of traffic rules and regulations, whether moving or non-moving in nature, and confiscate and suspend or revoke drivers' licenses in the enforcement of such traffic laws and regulations, the provisions of R. A. 4136 and P. D. 1605 to the contrary notwithstanding. For this purpose, the Authority shall enforce all traffic laws and regulations in Metro Manila, through its traffic operation center, and may deputize members of the PNP, traffic enforcers of local government units, duly licensed security guards, or members of non-governmental organizations to whom may be delegated certain authority, subject to such conditions and requirements as the Authority may impose; and (g) Perform other related functions required to achieve the objectives of the MMDA, including the undertaking of delivery of basic services to the local government units, when deemed necessary subject to prior coordination with and consent of the local government unit concerned. Sec. 6. Functions of the Metro Manila Council. (a) The Council shall be the policy-making body of the MMDA. (b) It shall approve metro-wide plans, programs and projects and issue rules and regulations and resolutions deemed necessary by the MMDA to carry out the purposes of this Act. (c) It may increase the rate of the allowances and per diems of the members of the Council to be effective during the term of the succeeding Council. It shall fix the compensation of the officers and personnel of the MMDA, and approve the annual budget thereof for submission to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). (d) It shall promulgate rules and regulations and set policies and standards for metro-wide application governing the delivery of basic services, prescribe and collect service and regulatory fees, and impose and collect fines and penalties. Sec. 7. Functions of the Chairman. The chairman shall: (a) Appoint, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations, all subordinate officers and employees, who shall enjoy security of tenure and may be removed only for cause in accordance with law. The chairman is hereby authorized to engage the services of experts/consultants either on full time or part-time basis, as may be required in the performance of his functions and duties as may be determined by him; (b) Execute the policies and measures approved by the Metro Manila Council and be responsible for the efficient and effective day-to-day management of the operations of the MMDA; (c) Prepare the annual budget for the operations of the MMDA for submission to the Council; (d) Submit for consideration of the Council such other policies and measures as he may deem necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act; (e) Subject to the guidelines and policies set by the Council, prepare the staffing pattern and fix the number of subordinate officials and employees of the MMDA; and exercise the power to discipline subordinate officials and employees under the provisions of law; (f) Prepare an annual report on the accomplishments of the MMDA at the close of each calendar year for submission to the Council and to the President of the Philippines; and (g) Perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the President or by the Council. Sec. 8. Functions of the General Manager. The general manager shall: (a) Assist the chairman in the administration of the MMDA and supervision of subordinate personnel; (b) Assist the chairman in the supervision of the operation of the various operating centers and units of the MMDA; (c) Assist the chairman in the review of plans and programs for the MMDA and for Metro Manila in the preparation of the annual report of activities and accomplishments of the MMDA; and (d) Perform such other duties and functions as may be lawfully delegated or assigned by the chairman from time to time. Sec. 9. Institutional Linkages of the MMDA. The MMDA shall, in carrying out its functions, consult, coordinate and work closely with the LGUs, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and other national government agencies mentioned in Section 4 hereof, and accredited people's organizations (POs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector operating in Metro Manila. The MMDA chairman or his authorized representative from among the Council members, shall be ex officio member of the boards of government corporations and committees of the department and offices of government whose activities are relevant to the objectives and responsibilities of the MMDA which shall include but not be limited to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), DOTC, DPWH, HUDCC and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The MMDA shall have a master plan that shall serve as the framework for the local development plans of the component LGUs. The MMDA shall submit its development plans and investment programs to the NEDA for integration into the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) and public investment program.chan robles virtual law library The implementation of the MMDA's plans, programs, and projects shall be undertaken by the LGUs, the concerned national government agencies, the POs, NGOs and the private sector and the MMDA itself where appropriate. For this purpose, the MMDA may enter into contracts, memoranda of agreement and other cooperative arrangements with these bodies for the delivery of the required services within Metropolitan Manila. The MMDA shall, in coordination with the NEDA and the Department of Finance, interface with the foreign assistance agencies for purposes of obtaining financing support, grants and donations in support of its programs and projects. Sec. 10. Sources of Funds and the Operating Budget Of MMDA: (a) To carry out the purposes of this Act, the Amount of One billion pesos (P1,000,000,000) is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the initial operation of the MMDA. Thereafter, the annual expenditures including capital outlays of the MMDA shall be provided in the General Appropriations Act. (b) The MMDA shall continue to receive the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) currently allocated to the present MMA. (c) The MMDA is likewise empowered to levy fines, and impose fees and charges for various services rendered. (d) Five percent (5%) of the total annual gross revenue of the preceding year, net of the internal revenue allotment, or each local government unit mentioned in Section 2 hereof, shall accrue and become payable monthly to the MMDA by each city or municipality.In case of failure to remit the said fixed contribution, the DBM shall cause the disbursement of the same to the MMDA chargeable against the IRA allotment of the city or municipality concerned, the provisions of Section 286 of R. A. 7160 to the contrary notwithstanding. Sec. 11. Transitory Provisions. To prevent disruption in the delivery of the basic urban services pending the full implementation of the MMDA's organizational structure and staffing pattern, all officials and employees of the interim MMA shall continue to exercise their duties and functions and receive their salaries and allowances until they shall have been given notice of change of duties and functions, and of being transferred to another office or position. All assets and properties presently in use or under the accountability of the interim MMA and all its obligations, indebtedness, or liabilities shall be transferred to and assumed by the MMDA created under this Act, subject to the conditions that may be established by the Department of Budget and Management, Office of the President, and Commission on Audit. The civil service laws, rules and regulations pertinent to the displacement of personnel affected by this Act shall be strictly enforced. The national government shall provide such amounts as may be necessary to pay the benefits accruing to displaced employees at the rate of one and one-fourth (1 1/4) month's salary for every year of service: Provided, That, if qualified for retirement under existing retirement laws, said employees may opt to receive the benefits thereunder. Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. Executive Order No. 392 dated January 9, 1990 is hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 13. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in full force and effect.chan robles virtual law library Sec. 14. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. MMDA v. Garin. Metropolitan or Metro Manila is a body composed of several local government units. With the passage of Rep. Act No. 7924 in 1995, Metropolitan Manila was declared as a "special development and administrative region" and the administration of "metro-wide" basic services affecting the region placed under "a development authority" referred to as the MMDA. Thus, The powers of the MMDA are limited to the following acts: formulation, coordination, regulation, implementation, preparation, management, monitoring, setting of policies, installation of a system and administration. It is an agency created for the purpose of laying down policies and coordinating with the various national government agencies, people's organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector for the efficient and expeditious delivery of basic services in the vast metropolitan area. All its functions are administrative in nature. MMDA v. Bel-Air Village Assoc. The Court held that the MMDA does not have the capacity to exercise police power. Police power is primarily lodged in the National Legislature. However, police power may be delegated to government units. Petitioner herein is a development authority and not a political government unit. Therefore, the MMDA cannot exercise police power because it cannot be delegated to them. It is not a legislative unit of the government. Republic Act No. 7924 does not empower the MMDA to enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the inhabitants of Manila. There is no syllable in the said act that grants MMDA police power. It is an agency created for the purpose of laying down policies and coordinating with various national government agencies, peoples organizations, non -governmental organizations and the private sector for the efficient and expeditious delivery of basic services in the vast metropolitan area. MMDA v. Trackworks Rail Transit Advertising . It is futile for MMDA to simply invoke its legal mandate to justify the dismantling of Trackworks' billboards, signages and other advertising media. MMDA simply had no power on its own to dismantle, remove, or destroy the billboards, signages and other advertising media installed on the MRT3 structure by Trackworks. In Metropolitan Manila Development Authority v. Bel-Air Village Association, Inc.,Metropolitan Manila Development Authority v. Viron Transportation Co., Inc., and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority v. Garin, the Court had the occasion to rule that MMDA's powers were limited to the formulation, coordination, regulation, implementation, preparation, management, monitoring, setting of policies, installing a system, and administration. Nothing in Republic Act No. 7924 granted MMDA police power, let alone legislative power.|| ...The MMDA is, as termed in the charter itself, a "development authority". It is an agency created for the purpose of laying down p olicies and coordinating with the various national government agencies, people's organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector for the efficient and expeditious delivery of basic services in the vast metropolitan area. All its functions are administrative in nature and these are actually summed up in the charter itself. Francisco v. Fernando. On the Flag Schemes alleged lack of legal basis, we note that all the cities and municipalities within the MMDAs jurisdicti on,[7] except Valenzuela City, have each enacted anti-jaywalking ordinances or traffic management codes with provisions for pedestrian regulation. Such fact serves as sufficient basis for respondents implementation of schemes, or ways and means, to enforce t he anti-jaywalking ordinances and similar regulations. After all, the MMDA is an administrative agency tasked with the implementation of rules and regulations enacted by proper authorities. The absence of an antijaywalking ordinance in Valenzuela City does not detract from this conclusion absent any proof that respondents implemented the Flag Scheme in that city. MMDA v. Viron Transportation Co. EO 179 is null and void. MMDA has no police power, let alone legislative power. In light of the administrative nature of its powers and functions, the MMDA is devoid of authority to implement the Project as envisioned by the EO; hence it could not have been validly designated by the President to undertake the Project. It follows that the MMDA cannot validly order the elimination of the respondents terminals. || Police power rests primarily with the legislature, such power may be delegated, as it is in fact increasingly being delegated. By virtue of a valid delegation, the power may be exercised by the President and administrative boards as well as by the lawmaking bodies of municipal corporations or local government under an express delegation by the LGC of 1991. || Measures calculated to promote the safety and convenience of the people using the thoroughfares by the regulation of vehicular traffic present a proper subject for the exercise of police power. MMDA v. Concerned Residents of Manila Bay. The cleaning and rehabilitation of Manila Bay can be compelled by Mandamus. Petitioners claimed that it is not their ministerial duty to clean up the bay because for them it is a discretionary duty which cannot be compelled by mandamus. According to the Supreme Court, the obligations to perform the duties (as defined by law) of the petitioners and on how they carry out such duties are two distinct concepts. The former pertains to the discretionary duties of the petitioners while the latter is their ministerial duty. As for this case, it is the discretion of the petitioners to choose not to perform or to perform their duties as defined by law. And when they have chosen to perform their duties, the way they carry out those duties are called ministerial acts. It is very clear in their charters that aside from performing their main function as an agency, they are also mandated to perform certain functions relating directly or indirectly to the cleanup, rehabilitation, protection, and preservation of the Manila Bay.

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