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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
The Official Website of the City Council of Manila
The Official Website of the City Council of Manila
Manila’s lawmaking body, known today as the City Council of Manila, started upon the Spanish conquest of Manila in 1571. At the time, the city had only 250 inhabitants.
On 24 June 1571, Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi declared Manila as the new capital of the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines. Thereupon, the Cabildo (municipal government) was established, consisting of two Alcaldes (Mayors), 12 Regidores (Councilors) who were in charge of creating ordinances, and a secretary. The Cabildo then met twice a week to pass ordinances to be approved by the Governor General and implemented by the Alcaldes.
In 1901, during the American occupation, the then United States Philippine Commission enacted Act 183, which officially incorporated the City of Manila, giving birth to the Municipal Board that replaced the Cabildo.
The Municipal Board of Manila was initially composed of three members, all appointed by the Civil Governor. It was led by a President, whose duty was to preside over all meetings of the Board, and sign and enforce ordinances enacted.
The Board had a Secretary, who was in charge of all municipal records, whether executive or legislative. There also was an Advisory Board–with members coming from each of the city’s then 11 districts–the duty of which was to bring to the Board’s attention the special needs of the city and its inhabitants, and make recommendations relative thereto.
In 1903, the Philippine Commission enacted Act 936, expanding the Municipal Board’s membership to five by adding the City Engineer and the President of the Advisory Board as ex officio members. At the time, the expanded Board consisted of two Filipinos and three Americans.
In 1916, a new Administrative Code abolished the Advisory Board and reconstituted the Municipal Board, with ten members, as the city’s legislative body. This time, however, the Board was made independent of the executive department which was headed by the Mayor. Although Board members were, under the new Code, now elected at large from the entire city, the Mayor, on the other hand, remained to be an appointive official.
The new Board had its own President and presiding officer, elected annually from among its members, and a Secretary having charge and custody of the Board’s legislative records.
The Municipal Board continued to function until its operations were interrupted by the Japanese occupation during World War II.
On 20 July 1945, upon the liberation of Manila towards the end of the war, the Municipal Board was reconvened with new members appointed by President Sergio Osmeña.
Manila’s lawmaking body, known today as the City Council of Manila, started upon the Spanish conquest of Manila in 1571. At the time, the city had only 250 inhabitants.[1]
On 24 June 1571, Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi declared Manila as the new capital of the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines.[2] Thereupon, the Cabildo (municipal government) was established, consisting of two Alcaldes (Mayors), 12 Regidores (Councilors) who were in charge of creating ordinances, and a secretary. The Cabildo then met twice a week to pass ordinances to be approved by the Governor General and implemented by the Alcaldes.[3]
In 1901, during the American occupation, the then United States Philippine Commission enacted Act 183, which officially incorporated the City of Manila, giving birth to the Municipal Board that replaced the Cabildo.
The Municipal Board of Manila was initially composed of three members, all appointed by the Civil Governor. It was led by a President, whose duty was to preside over all meetings of the Board, and sign and enforce ordinances enacted.
The Board had a Secretary, who was in charge of all municipal records, whether executive or legislative. There also was an Advisory Board–with members coming from each of the city’s then 11 districts–the duty of which was to bring to the Board’s attention the special needs of the city and its inhabitants, and make recommendations relative thereto.[4]
In 1903, the Philippine Commission enacted Act 936, expanding the Municipal Board’s membership to five by adding the City Engineer and the President of the Advisory Board as ex officio members. At the time, the expanded Board consisted of two Filipinos and three Americans.[5]
In 1916, a new Administrative Code[6] abolished the Advisory Board and reconstituted the Municipal Board, with ten members, as the city’s legislative body. This time, however, the Board was made independent of the executive department which was headed by the Mayor. Although Board members were, under the new Code, now elected at large from the entire city, the Mayor, on the other hand, remained to be an appointive official.[7]
[1]Manila Standard – Google News Archive Search. (2014). Google.com. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Tg8iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EgsEAAAAIBAJ&dq=manila%20city%20council&pg=6384%2C2719395. [Accessed May 19, 2023].
[2]Manila was proclaimed capital of Spanish administration in Philippines June 24, 1571. (2012, June 23). The Kahimyang Project. https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1198/today-in-philippine-history-june-24-1571-manila-was-proclamed-as-the-capital-of-the-spanish-colonial-administration-in-the-philippines. [Accessed May 19, 2023].
[3]Manila Standard – Google News Archive Search. (2014). Google.com, supra
[4] Section 65, Act 183
[5] Astals, C. (2001). Manila’s Millennium Compilation of Ordinances (p. xxx) [Review of Manila’s Millennium Compilation of Ordinances]. Mario Astals Foundation, Inc.
[6] Act No. 2657.
The new Board had its own President and Presiding Officer, elected annually from among its members, and a Secretary having charge and custody of the Board’s legislative records.
The Municipal Board continued to function until its operations were interrupted by the Japanese occupation during World War II.
On 20 July 1945, upon the liberation of Manila towards the end of the war, the Municipal Board was reconvened with new members appointed by President Sergio Osmeña.
On 1 January 1946, then President Manuel Roxas appointed a new set of members, serving until the following year, 1947, when national and local elections were held.[8]
In 1949, the Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act 409 or the Revised Charter of the City of Manila.
The Charter reconstituted the Municipal Board as the city’s legislative body, consisting of three elective members, to serve a term of four years, from each the four representative districts into which the city was divided, namely:
Like its predecessor, the reconstituted Board had a President, elected annually from among its members, who presided over the meetings of the Board. The Board held twice a week sessions, and likewise had a Secretary chosen by the Board itself to take charge of its records, among other duties.
Apart from the Mayor, the Charter also created the position of Vice Mayor, who should perform the Mayor’s duties in the event of his or her absence, or any other function assigned by the Mayor or imposed by law or ordinance.
In 1955, the Philippine Congress passed Republic Act 1219, amending the Board’s composition by making the Vice Mayor its Presiding Officer.
[7]Ibid.
[8] HISTORY OF THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS. (n.d.). https://comeleclaw.tripod.com/comelec_history.htm. [Accessed May 24, 2023].
In 1975, the Martial Law government of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos created the Metropolitan Manila Commission, headed by a Governor, which exercised jurisdiction over all cities and municipalities in Metro Manila.[9] The President further abolished all existing city and municipal councils in the region, and created, in their stead, Sangguniang Bayans composed of barangay captains chosen by the Commission and sectoral representatives appointed by the President.
After the 1986 People Power Revolution, the Municipal Board was revived, and Manila was divided into six legislative districts consisting of the following:
Congress then passed a law[11] fixing the number of Councilors for Manila at six per legislative district, to serve, under the newly ratified 1987 Constitution, a maximum of three consecutive terms lasting three years each.
In 1988, the first local polls under the new Constitution were held, marking the election of the members of the First City Council of Manila, replacing the old Municipal Board and Sanguniang Bayan.
In 1991, Congress passed Republic Act 7160 (the Local Government Code), providing for the current composition of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of all cities, including the City Council of Manila.
Apart therefore from the Vice Mayor as Presiding Officer and the 36 regular members, the Council of Manila now includes ex officio members from the City Chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay and the Panlungsod na Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, pursuant to Sec. 457 of the law.
Among other officials, it has a President Pro Tempore, as well as Majority and Minority Floor Leaders. It holds regular sessions twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and has 38 standing committees.[12]
[9] See Presidential Decree No. 824, s. 1975
[10] See The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines – Ordinance | GOVPH. (n.d.). Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-ordinance/ . [Accessed May 26, 2023].
[11] See Section 2, Republic Act 6636.
[12] See the Internal Rules of Procedure of the Manila City Council.
