Revised Charter of the City of Baguio

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 11689 (Revised Charter of the City of Baguio)

Objectives and Core Values (Section 2)
- Outlines the objectives and aspirations of Baguio City, including being a center of education, trade, and tourism; promoting sustainable development; ensuring effective local governance; maximizing proprietary functions; and being a resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and livable city.
- Public officials and employees shall be guided by core values of service, integrity, competence, transparency, accountability, and resourcefulness.

Corporate Powers and General Powers (Sections 4-5)
- Baguio City is a political body corporate with perpetual succession and municipal corporation powers.
- It has the power to levy taxes, fees, and charges; open and close roads; acquire and dispose of property; expropriate private property for public use; contract; sue and be sued; and exercise powers granted to corporations.

City Officials (Section 6)
- Lists the officials of Baguio City, including the City Mayor, City Vice Mayor, Sangguniang Panlungsod members, and various department heads.
- The City Mayor may appoint additional officials like a city agriculturist, population officer, cooperatives officer, and traffic and transportation management officer.
- Appointment and compensation of officials are subject to civil service laws and budgetary limitations.

City Mayor (Section 7)
- The City Mayor is the chief executive and exercises powers and duties under the Local Government Code of 1991 and other laws.
- The City Mayor shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade Thirty (30).

City Vice Mayor (Section 8)
- The City Vice Mayor is the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and exercises duties under the Local Government Code of 1991.
- The City Vice Mayor shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade Twenty-eight (28).

Sangguniang Panlungsod (Sections 9-19)
- The Sangguniang Panlungsod is the legislative body composed of the City Vice Mayor, 12 elected regular members, and representatives from the Liga ng mga Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan, and indigenous people.
- It exercises powers, duties, and functions under the Local Government Code of 1991, including enacting ordinances, approving resolutions, and appropriating funds.
- Detailed provisions on the organization, rules of procedure, legislative process, disclosure of interests, sessions, quorum, approval and veto of ordinances, and review of barangay ordinances are provided.
- Regular Sangguniang Panlungsod members shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade Twenty-seven (27).

Qualifications, Disqualifications, and Succession (Sections 20-22)
- Elective city officials shall possess qualifications and disqualifications enumerated in the Local Government Code of 1991.
- Provisions on permanent vacancies in the offices of the City Mayor, City Vice Mayor, and Sangguniang Panlungsod, and the process for filling such vacancies, are outlined.

Appointive Officials and Their Duties (Sections 23-48)
- Outlines the qualifications, functions, duties, and responsibilities of various appointive officials, including:
- Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (Section 23)
- City Treasurer (Section 24)
- City Assessor (Section 25)
- City Engineer (Section 26)
- City Buildings and Architecture Officer (Section 27)
- City Health Officer (Section 28)
- City Civil Registrar (Section 29)
- City Accountant (Section 30)
- City Social Welfare and Development Officer (Section 31)
- City Budget Officer (Section 32)
- City Planning and Sustainable Development Officer (Section 33)
- City Administrator (Section 34)
- City Legal Officer (Section 35)
- City General Services Officer (Section 36)
- City Veterinarian (Section 37)
- City Human Resource Management Officer (Section 38)
- City Environment and Parks Management Officer (Section 39)
- City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (Section 40)
- City Tourism Officer (Section 41)
- City Public Information Officer (Section 42)
- City Librarian (Section 43)
- City Agriculturist (Section 44)
- City Population Officer (Section 45)
- City Traffic and Transportation Management Officer (Section 46)
- City Cooperatives Officer (Section 47)
- City Solid and Liquid Wastes Management Officer (Section 48)

Boards and Councils (Section 49)
- Local boards and councils created under the Local Government Code of 1991 shall continue to exist and function.
- Other local bodies like the City Tourism Council, City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sister-Cities Committee, Character City Committee, City Traffic and Transportation Management Committee, Office of the Local Zoning Officer, City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council, City Solid and Liquid Waste Management Board, City Market Authority, Baguio City Creative Council, Smart City Council, and E-Governance Council shall exist and function as provided by law or ordinance.

Baguio Townsite Reservation and Watersheds (Sections 50-53)
- Alienable and disposable lands within the Baguio Townsite Reservation shall be disposed of by the DENR through residential free patent, townsite sales, or other modes of disposition under relevant laws. (Section 50)
- The City shall advance the cost for the conduct of a subdivision survey of all its alienable and disposable public lands and segregate areas for public use. (Section 51)
- A Special Committee on Lands shall be created to assist the DENR and resolve land-related issues in the City. (Section 52)
- The City government, in coordination with the DENR, NWRB, and BWD, shall protect, conserve, develop, and sustainably manage its forestlands and watersheds, and impose penal sanctions for any destruction or infringement. (Section 53)

Ancestral Lands (Section 54)
- The Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997 shall govern claims related to ancestral lands and domains in Baguio City.
- Applications covering lands subject to pending ancestral land claims before the NCIP shall not be processed until the claims are denied with finality.

Camp John Hay Reservation (Section 55)
- The Camp John Hay Reservation, covering a total land area of 6,254,105 square meters subject to final survey, was transferred to the BCDA and is not part of the Baguio Townsite Reservation.

Transitory Provisions (Sections 56-59)
- Existing ordinances and resolutions of Baguio City shall continue to be in force until the Sangguniang Panlungsod declares otherwise. (Section 56)
- Incumbent elective and appointive officials shall continue to exercise their powers and functions until the expiration of their terms. (Section 57)
- Baguio City shall continue to exist as a lone legislative district until otherwise provided by law. (Section 58)
- The City shall retain its identity as a highly-urbanized city and remain part of the Cordillera Administrative Region. It may form part of growth corridors or aggrupations of LGUs for common beneficial purposes. (Section 59)

Final Provisions (Sections 60-63)
- The Local Government Code of 1991 and other laws applicable to highly-urbanized cities shall govern Baguio City. (Section 60)
- A separability clause is included. (Section 61)
- The Charter of the City of Baguio under the Revised Administrative Code of 1917 and other inconsistent laws are repealed or modified accordingly. (Section 62)
- The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. (Section 63)