Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Robert Ace S. Barbers 
AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLAVER IN THE PROVINCE OF 
SURIGAO DEL NORTE INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF 
CLAVER 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to create and convert the Municipality of Claver into a component city of 
the province of Surigao del Norte. 
With the province being the mining capital of the country, Claver, a first-class 
municipality, hosts most mining companies and some of the biggest mining corporations. This 
conversion will greatly help Claver speed up the development and improve the lives of the 
people.  It will be able to entice more businesses and industries that will increase its revenues 
substantially, thereby being able to respond better to the needs of its residents.   
Section 2(a) of the Local Government Code states that it is the policy of the State that 
the territorial and political subdivisions shall enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy to 
enable them to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities and make them 
more effective partners in the attainment of national goals.  Toward this end, the State shall 
provide for a more responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through 
a system of decentralization whereby local government units shall be given more powers, 
authority, responsibilities and resources.  The process of decentralization shall proceed from 
the National Government to the local government units.  
This conversion will empower Claver significantly in its independent and self-reliant 
posturing, enabling it to exercise more authority and power in the discharge of its functions and 
revenue generation. 
Towards this end, your support and approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ROBERT ACE S. BARBERS 
Representative 
2nd District, Surigao del Norte 
August 7, 2023
6:19 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session
House Bill No. _____
Introduced by Hon. Robert Ace S. Barbers 
AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLAVER IN THE PROVINCE OF 
SURIGAO DEL NORTE INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF 
CLAVER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SEC 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Charter of the City of Claver."
SEC 2.  The City of Claver. – The Municipality of Claver shall be converted into a component city to
be known as the City of Claver, hereinafter referred to as the City, which shall comprise the 
present jurisdiction of the Municipality of Claver, Province of Surigao del Norte The territorial 
jurisdiction of the City shall be within the present metes and bounds of the Municipality of Claver. 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 Claver and the adjoining local government units (LGUs):  
Provided, That, the territorial jurisdiction of the disputed area or areas shall remain with the LGU which 
has existing administrative supervision over said area or areas until the final resolution of the case. 
SEC 3.   Powers of the City. – As a corporation and political unit, the City shall exercise all  powers 
provided in the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, and in other laws. 
ARTICLE II 
CITY OFFICIALS 
SEC. 4. The Officials of the City of Claver. – As mandated by the Local Government 
Code of 1991, as amended  (a) There shall be in the City of Claver: 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 Officer, a City Engineer and Assistant City Engineer, 
a City Health Officer and an Assistant City Health Officer, a City Civil Registrar and an Assistant 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.  
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(b) In addition thereto, the City Mayor may appoint a City Architect, a City Information Officer, an
Environment and Natural Resources Officer, a City Cooperatives Officer, a City Population Officer, and
a City Agriculturist, a City Human Resource and Management Officer, and a City Tourism Officer.
(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 Sanggunian Panlungsod shall act on the appointment within 
fifteen (15) days from the day of its submission, otherwise the same shall be deemed confirmed. (e) 
Elective and appointive city officials shall receive compensation, allowances and other emoluments as 
may be determined by law or ordinances, subject to the budgetary limitations on personal services 
prescribed under Title Five, Book II of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended: Provided, 
That no increase in the compensation of the City Mayor, City Vice Mayor and the Sangguniang 
Panlungsod member shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of the local officials 
approving the increase.
e) Elective and appointive city officials shall receive compensation, allowances and other emoluments 
as may be determined by law or ordinances, subject to the budgetary limitations on personal services 
prescribed under Title Five, Book II of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended: Provided, 
That no increase in the compensation of the City Mayor, City Vice Mayor and the Sangguniang 
Panlungsod member shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of the local officials 
approving the increase.
SEC. 5. The City Mayor. – (a) The City Mayor shall be the Chief Executive of the City and shall be 
elected at large by the qualified voters of the City. The City Mayor shall be subject to all the 
qualifications and disqualifications as provided in  the Local Government Code, as amended.  His 
tenure shall likewise be governed by the  Local Government Code, as amended, and by other laws. 
b) The City Mayor, as the Chief Executive of the City Government, shall exercise such powers and 
perform such duties and functions as provided under the Local Government Code of 1991, as 
amended, this Act and other laws.
(c) The City Mayor shall hold office in the City Hall of the City of Claver.
SEC. 6. 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 the election possess the same qualifications as the 
City Mayor. His tenure shall likewise be governed by the Local Government Code of 1991, as 
amended. 
(b) The City Vice Mayor shall exercise the duties and powers provided in the Local Government Code 
of 1991, as amended, and in other laws.
ARTICLE III 
THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD 
SEC. 7. Composition. – (a) The Sangguniang Panlungsod, the legislative body of the City, shall be 
composed of the City Vice Mayor as the presiding officer, ten (10) 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 three (3) sectoral representatives from the 
following sectors, as members: one (1) from the women sector; and, as shall be determined by the 
Sangguniang Panlungsod within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of the local elections, one (1) 
from the agricultural or industrial workers sector; and one (1) from the other sectors, including the 
urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, or persons with disabilities (PWDs). (b)The regular 
members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in the 
manner provided for by law.  All the pertinent qualifications and disqualifications enumerated in the 
Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, apply to the  
members of the Sanggunian. City Vice Mayor as the presiding officer, ten (10) 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 three (3) sectoral representatives 
from the following sectors, as members: one (1) from thewomen sector; and, as shall be determined by 
the Sangguniang Panlungsod within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of the local elections, one (1) 
from the agricultural or industrial workers sector; and one (1) from the other sectors, including the urban 
poor, indigenous cultural communities, or persons with disabilities (PWDs). (b) The regular members 
of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in the manner 
provided for by law.  All the pertinent qualifications and disqualifications enumerated in the Local 
Government Code of 1991, as amended, apply to the members of the Sanggunian. 
SEC. 8. 
Powers, Duties, and Functions. – (a) The Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative 
body of the City, shall exercise its powers and discharge its functions as provided in the Local 
Government Code of 1991, as amended. 
SEC. 9. Vacancies.  – Vacancies occurring in the elective positions shall be governed  by the pertinent 
provisions in the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, other  laws and jurisprudence.  
ARTICLE IV 
THE APPOINTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE CITY 
SEC.  10.   Powers, Duties and Functions. -  All appointive officials shall be appointed as provided for 
in the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, and their powers, functions and duties discharged 
in accordance therewith.  
SEC. 11. Composition. – (a) The Sangguniang Panlungsod, the legislative body of the City, shall be 
composed of the City Vice Mayor as the presiding officer, ten (10) 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 three (3) sectoral representatives from the 
following sectors, as members: one (1) from thewomen sector; and, as shall be determined by the 
Sangguniang Panlungsod within ninety (90) days prior to the holding of the local elections, one (1) from 
the agricultural or industrial workers sector; and one (1) from the other sectors, including the urban 
poor, indigenous cultural communities, or persons with disabilities (PWDs). (b) The regular members 
of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in the manner 
provided for by law.  All the pertinent qualifications and disqualifications enumerated in the Local 
Government Code of 1991, as amended, apply to the members of the Sanggunian. 
SEC. 12. 
Powers, Duties, and Functions. – (a) The Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative 
body of the City, shall exercise its powers and discharge its functions as provided in the Local 
Government Code of 1991, as amended. 
SEC. 13. Vacancies.  – Vacancies occurring in the elective positions shall be governed  by the 
pertinent provisions in the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, other  laws and  
jurisprudence.  


ARTICLE V 
THE APPOINTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE CITY 
SEC.  14.   Powers, Duties and Functions. -  All appointive officials shall be appointed as provided for 
in the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, and their powers, functions and duties discharged 
in accordance therewith.  
ARTICLE VI 
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 15. Municipal Ordinances Existing at the Time of the Approval of this Act. – All 
municipal ordinances of the Municipality of Claver existing at the time of the approval of this Act shall 
continue to be in force within the City of Claver until otherwise, amended or repealed  by the 
Sangguniang Panlungsod.  
SEC. 16. Plebiscite. – The City of Claver shall acquire corporate existence upon the ratification of its 
creation by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters in a plebiscite to be conducted in the 
present Municipality of Claver within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act. 
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall conduct and supervise such plebiscite. The expenses 
for such plebiscite shall be borne by the Municipality of Claver. The Commission on Elections 
(COMELEC) shall conduct and supervise such plebiscite. The expenses for such plebiscite shall be 
borne by the Municipality of Claver. 
SEC. 17. Holdover Authority of the Officials of the Municipality of Claver. – The present elective 
officials of the Municipality of Claver shall continue to exercise their powers and functions until such 
time that a new election is held and the duly-elected officials shall have already qualified and assumed 
their offices. Appointive officials and employees of the Municipality of Claver shall likewise continue 
exercising their functions and duties and they shall automatically be absorbed by the City Government 
of the City of Claver. 
SEC. 18. 
Succession Clause. – The City of Claver shall succeed to all the assets, properties, liabilities 
and obligations of the Municipality of Claver. 
SEC. 19. Legislative District. – Until otherwise provided by law, the City of Claver shall continue to be 
a part of the Second Legislative District of the Province of Surigao del Norte. 
SEC. 20. Applicability of Laws. – The provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, 
and such other laws as are applicable to component cities shall govern the City of Claver in sofar as 
they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act. 
Approved.