Republic Act No. 9491

AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF NAGA IN THE PROVINCE OF CEBU INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF NAGA

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

ARTICLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the - Charter of the City of Naga.

Section 2. The City of Naga. - The Municipality of Naga shall be converted into a component city to be known as the City of Naga, hereinafter referred to as the City, which shall comprise the present territory of the Municipality of Naga, Province of Cebu. The territorial jurisdiction of the City shall be within the present metes and bounds of the Municipality of Naga.

The foregoing provision shall be without prejudice to the resolution by the appropriate agency or forum of existing boundary disputes or cases involving questions of territorial jurisdiction between the City of Naga and the adjoining local government units: Provided, That the territorial jurisdiction of the disputed area or areas shall remain with the local government unit which has existing administrative supervision over said area or areas until the final resolution of the case.

Section 3. Corporate Powers of the City. - The City constitutes a political body corporate and, as such, is endowed with the attributes of perpetual succession and possessed of the powers which pertain to a municipal corporation to be exercised in conformity with the provision of this Charter. The City shall have the following corporate powers:

(a) To have a continuous succession in its corporate name;

(b) To sue and be sued;

(c) To have and use a corporate seal;

(d) To acquire, hold and convey real or personal property;

(e) To enter into any contract and/or agreement; and

(f) To exercise such other powers, prerogatives or authority subject to the limitations provided in this Act or laws.

Section 4. General Powers of the City. - The City shall have a common seal and may altar the same at pleasure. It shall exercise the powers to levy taxes; to close and open roads, streets, alleys, parks or squares; to take, purchase, receive, hold, lease, convey and dispose of real and personal property for the general interests of the City; to expropriate or condemn private property for public use; to contract and be contracted with; to sue and be sued; to prosecute and defend to final judgment and execution suits wherein the City is involved or interested in and to exercise all the powers as are granted to corporations or as hereinafter conferred.

Section 5. Liability for Damages. - The City and its officials shall not be exempt from liability for death or injury to persons or damage to property.

Section 6. Jurisdiction of the City. - The jurisdiction of the City of Naga, for police purposes only, shall be coextensive with its territorial jurisdiction and for the purpose of protecting and ensuring the purity of the water supply of the City, such police jurisdiction shall also extend over all the territory within the drainage area of such water supply, or within one hundred meters (100 m.) of any reservoir, conduit, canal, aqueduct or pumping station used in connection with the city water service.

The city court of the City of Naga shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the city or municipal court of the adjoining municipalities or cities, to try crimes and misdemeanors committed within the said drainage area, or within said spaces of one hundred meters (100 m.) . The court first taking cognizance of such an offense shall have jurisdiction to try said cases to the exclusion of the other. The police force of the several municipalities and cities concerned shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the police of the City for the maintenance of good order and the enforcement of ordinances throughout said zone, area or spaces. But any license that may be issued within said zone, area or spaces shall be granted by the proper authorities of the city or municipality concerned, and the fees arising therefrom shall accrue to the treasury of the said city or municipality concerned and not to the City.

ARTICLE II CITY OFFICIALS IN GENERAL

Section 7. The Officials of the City of Naga. -

(a) There shall be in the City of Naga: a city mayor, a city vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer and an assistant city treasurer, a city assessor and an assistant 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 social welfare and development officer a city veterinarian and a city general services officer.

(b) In addition thereto, the city mayor may appoint a city environment and natural resources officer, a city architect, a city information officer, a city cooperatives officer, a city population officer and a city agriculturist.

(c) There shall be established in the City a city fire station to be headed by a city fire marshal, a city jail to be headed by a city jail warden, a city schools division to be headed by a city schools division superintendent and a. city prosecution service to be headed by a city prosecutor.

(d) The City of Naga may:

(1) Maintain existing offices not mentioned in subsections (a) , (b) and (c) hereof;

(2) Create such other offices as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the City; or

(3) Consolidate the functions of any office with those of another in the interest of efficiency and economy.

(e) 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 members of the sangguniang panlungsod, subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. The sangguniang panlungsod shall act on the appointment within fifteen (15) days from the day of its submission, otherwise the same shall be deemed confirmed.

ARTICLE III THE CITY MAYOR AND THE CITY VICE MAYOR

Section 8. The City Mayor. -

(a) The city mayor shall be the chief executive of the City. He shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the City. No person shall be eligible for the position of the city mayor, unless at the time of the election, he is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, an actual resident of the City for at least one year prior to his election and a qualified voter therein. He shall hold office for three years, unless sooner removed, and shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade Thirty (30) as prescribed under Republic Act No. 6758, otherwise known as the Salary Standardization Law, and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto.

The city mayor, as the chief executive of the city government, shall exercise such powers and perform such duties and functions as provided herein.

(b) For efficient, effective and economical governance, the purpose of which is the general welfare of the City and its inhabitants, the city mayor shall:

(1) Exercise those powers expressly granted to him by law, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate or incidental for the efficient and effective governance of the City, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare:

(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 appointments are not otherwise provided for in this Act, as well as those he may be authorized by law to appoint;

(vi) Represent the City in all its business transactions and sign on its behalf all bonds, contracts and obligations, and such other documents upon the 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 or calamities;

(viii) Determine the time, manner and place of payments 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 the 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 for by law and this Act 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 Office of the President and the Office of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government within seventy-two (72) hours after their issuance;

(xiii) Visit component barangays of the City at least once every six months to deepen his understanding of the problems and conditions, listen and give appropriate counsel to local 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: Provided, That the trips abroad or for a longer period may be authorized in accordance with the Local Government Code of 1991;

(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 officials and employees in the formulation and the 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 payments for medical care, necessary transportation, subsistence and hospital or medical fees of city officials and employees who are injured while in the performance of their official duties and functions, subject to the availability of funds;

(xviii) Solemnize marriages, 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 (DepEd) ; and

(xx) Submit to the provincial governor 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 and natural disasters or calamities affect the general welfare of the City;

(2) Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the City and in the exercise of its appropriate corporate powers, as well as implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the City and, in addition, shall:

(i) Ensure that the acts of the City’s component barangays and ants officials and employees are within the scope of their prescribed powers, duties and functions;

(ii) Call conventions, conferences, seminars or meetings of elective or appointive officials of the City, including 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 firearms 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 the general and operational control and supervision over the police forces in the City in accordance with Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as the Philippine National Police Law; and

(vi) Call upon the appropriate law enforcement agencies to suppress disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition, or apprehend violators of the law when public interest so requires and the city 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 the development plans, program objectives and priorities, particularly those resources and revenues programmed for agro-industrial development and countryside growth and progress, and 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 and in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991;

(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 the Local Government Code of 1991;

(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 the 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 therefore 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 the said house, building or structure within the period prescribed by law or ordinance;

(vii) Adopt adequate measures to safeguard and conserve land, mineral, forest and other resources of the City;

(viii) Provide efficient and effective property and supply management in the City and protect the funds, credits, rights and other properties of the City; and

(ix) 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 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 all 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

(ii) Coordinate the implementation of technical services, including public works and infrastructure programs, rendered by national offices; and

(5) Perform such other duties and functions and exercise such other powers as provided for under the Local Government Code of 1991, and those that are prescribed by law or ordinance.

(c) During his incumbency, the city mayor shall hold office in the city hall.

Section 9. The City Vice Mayor. -

(a) There shall be a city vice mayor who shall be elected in the same manner as the city mayor and shall, at the time of his election, possess the Same qualifications as the city mayor. He shall hold office for three years, unless sooner removed, and shall receive a monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade Twenty-six (26) as prescribed under the Salary Standardization Law, and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto.

(b) The city vice mayor shall:

(1) Be the presiding officer of the sangguniang panlungsod and sign all warrants drawn on the city treasury for any 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 for under existing laws;

(3) Assume the office of the city mayor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy;

(4) Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the city mayor in case of temporary vacancy; and

(5) Perform such other duties and functions and exercise such other powers as provided for under the Local Government Code of 1991, and those that are prescribed by law or ordinance.

ARTICLE IV THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD

Section 10. Composition. -

(a) The sangguniang panlungsod, the legislative body of the City, shall be composed of the city vice mayor as the 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 he three sectoral representatives: one from the women; and, as shall be determined by the sangguniang panlungsod within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of the local elections, one from the agricultural or industrial workers; and one from the other sectors, including the urban poor 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.

Section 11. Powers, Duties, Functions and Compensation. -

(a) The sangguniang panlungsod, as the legislative body of the City, shall enact ordinances, approved resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the City and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of the Local Government Code and in the proper exercise of the corporate powers of the City as provided for under Section 22 of the Local Government 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 sangguniang barangay 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 ordinance;

(iii) Approve ordinances imposing a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or an imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both, at the discretion of the court, for 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 in 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, the 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. To this end, it may set aside at least ten percent (10%) of its development funds for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing the ecological balance of the City, It may also impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the environment, such as dynamite fishing and other forms of destructive fishing, illegal logging, 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 m pollution, acceleration of eutrophication of rivers and lakes or of ecological imbalance;

(vii) Subject to the provisions of the Local Government Code and the 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 in a temporary vacancy in a concurrent capacity at the rate authorized by law;

(x) Provide a mechanism and the appropriate funds therefore to ensure the safety and the protection of all city government property, public documents or records such as those relating to property inventory, land ownership, record 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 actions; 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, with particular attention to agro-industrial development and citywide growth and progress, and 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 the Local Government Code and the 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 exemption, incentive or relief;

(iii) Subject to the provisions of Book II of the Local Government 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 the Local Government Code and the 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 the 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 and that the formulation, adoption or modification of said plan shall be in coordination within the approved provincial comprehensive land-use plan;

(viii) Reclassify lands within the jurisdiction of the City, subject to the pertinent provisions of the Local Government 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) 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 the Local Government Code;

(xii) 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;

(xiii) Regulates the numbering of residential, commercial and other buildings; and

(xiv) Regulate the inspection, weighing and measuring of articles of commerce;

(3) Subject to the provisions of Book II Of the Local Government 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; and

(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 franchise;

(4) Regulate activities relative to the use of land, buildings and structures within the City in order to promote the general we1fare and, for the said purpose, shall:

(i) Declare, prevent or abate any nuisance;

(ii) With the concurrence of a majority of the members of the sangguniang panlungsod, a quorum being present, deny the entry of legalized gambling by ordinance into any part of the City or regulate its location in the City;

(iii) 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 the 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;

(iv) Regulate the disposal of clinical and other wastes from hospitals, clinics and other similar establishments;

(v) 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;

(vi) Regulate the sale, giving away of dispensing of any intoxicating malt, vino, mixed or fermented liquors at any retail outlets;

(vii) 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;

(viii) Regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of any entertainment or amusement facilities, including the theatrical performances, circuses, billiard pools, public dancing schools, public dance halls, sauna baths, massage parlors and other places for entertainment and 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;

(ix) 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

(x) Regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of funeral parlors and 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 basic services and facilities as provided for under the Local Government Code and, in addition to said services and facilities, shall:

(i) Provide for the establishment, maintenance, protection and conservation of tree parks and greenbelts;

(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/or other structures intended to accelerate productivity related to marine life in the preservation thereof;

(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 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 of 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 meters (100 m.) of the reservoir, canal, conduit, 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 to the welfare of the inhabitants;

(x) Subject to the availability of funds and the 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 DepEd, and subject to existing laws on tuition fees, fix and collect reasonable tuition fees and other school charges in educational institutions supported by the city government;

(xi) 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 and prohibit littering and the placing and 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 youth below eighteen (18) years of age and, subject to the availability of funds, establish and provide for the operation of centers and facilities for the 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 and senior citizens which shall formulate policies and adopt measures mutually beneficial to the elderly and to the community; provide incentives for nongovernmental 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) Perform such other duties and functions and exercise such other powers as provided for under the Local Government Code of 1991, and those that are prescribed by law or ordinance.

(b) The members of the sangguniang panlungsod of the City of Naga shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade Twenty-five (25) as prescribed under the Salary Standardization Law and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto.

ARTICLE V PROCESS OF LEGISLATION

Section 12. Internal Rules of Procedure. -

(a) On the first regular session following the election of its members and within ninety (90) days thereafter, the sangguniang panlungsod shall adopt or update its existing rules of procedure.

(b) The rules of procedure shall provide 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, revenues, engineering and public works, education and health, women and family, human rights, youth and sports development, environmental protection, peace and order and traffic, 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 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 the member convicted by final judgment to imprisonment of at least one year for any crime involving moral turpitude shall be automatically expelled from the sanggunian; and

(6) Such other rules as the sanggunian may adopt.

Section 13. Full Disclosure of Financial and Business Interests of Sangguniang Panlungsod Members. -

(a) Every sangguniang panlungsod member shall, upon assumption to office, make a full disclosure of his business and financial interests, He shall also disclose any business, financial, professional relationship or any relation by affinity or consanguinity within the fourth civil degree, which he may have with any person, firm or entity affected by any ordinance or resolution under consideration by the sanggunian of which he is a member, which relationship may result in conflict of interests. Such relationship shall include:

(1) Ownership of stock or capital, or-investment in the entity or firm to which the ordinance or resolution may apply; and