LOCAL GOVERNMENT | MUNICIPAL/CITY — MAYOR

Who may be elected mayor, vice mayor of independent component cities, component cities, or municipalities?

• A citizen of the Philippines
• At least 21 years old on election day
• A registered voter and a resident for at least one year immediately preceding the election in the municipality or city where he or she is running
• Able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect

Who may be elected mayor or vice mayor of highly urbanized cities?

• A citizen of the Philippines
• At least 23 years old on election day
• A registered voter and a resident for at least one year immediately preceding the election in the city where he or she is running
• Able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect

Who may be elected member of the sangguniang panglungsod or sangguniang bayan?

• A citizen of the Philippines
• At least 18 years old on election day
• A registered voter and a resident for at least one year immediately preceding the election in the city where he/she is running
• Able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect

What happens if a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the mayor?

• The vice mayor becomes the mayor.
• If a permanent vacancy occurs in the offices of the mayor and vice mayor, the highest ranking sanggunian member or, in case of his or her permanent disability, the second highest ranking sanggunian member, will become the mayor or vice mayor.
• A tie between or among the highest ranking sanggunian members will be resolved by the drawing of lots.
• Subsequent vacancies shall be filled automatically by other sanggunian members according to their ranking.
• The successor will serve only the unexpired term of his or her predecessors.

What a mayor can do

• Call upon any employee in his or her town for advice on matters affecting the municipality
• Ask national officials stationed in his or her municipality to attend a meeting regarding the general welfare of the residents
• Initiate administrative or judicial action against any national government official or employee who has committed an offense while stationed or assigned in the municipality
• Exercise the power of eminent domain for public use or welfare of the poor and the landless, upon payment of just compensation
• Upon execution of a resolution by the Sanggunian, to direct the municipal legal officer to file expropriation proceedings against a private property needed for public use; and to take possession of said private property upon making a deposit with the proper court of at least 15 percent of the fair market value of the property, based on its current value
• Upon authorization of the Sangguniang Bayan, to enter into contracts needed to implement municipal development plans
• Upon authorization of the Sangguniang Bayan, to negotiate and secure financial grants or donations in kind to support the implementation of municipal development plans
• Exercise supervisory authority over component barangays
• Upon the concurrence of the Sanggunian, provide financial and other forms of assistance to POs, NGOs or the private sector for economic, socially oriented, environmental, or cultural projects to be implemented in the municipality
• Choose the chief of police from a list of five eligibles recommended by the provincial director of the Philippine National Police (Other powers of the municipal mayor over the PNP forces in the municipality are defined in Section 51b, Chapter III of Republic Act no. 6975)
• Oversee the implementation of the municipal public safety plan
• Accept the resignation of officials of component barangays
• Approve the leaves of absence of the vice mayor and barangay chairpersons of the municipality
• Veto any 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
• Appoint the mandatory and optional appointive municipal officials, subject to the concurrence of a majority of all the members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and consistent with civil service laws, rules and regulations
• Impose preventive suspension on an elective official of a component barangay 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 evidence

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