Mayor of Dipolog


The mayor of Dipolog is the head of the executive branch of the government of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. The mayor holds office at the Dipolog City Hall.
Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the mayor is elected via popular vote, and may not be elected for a fourth consecutive term. In case of death, resignation or incapacity, the vice mayor becomes the mayor.

History

Dipolog's history as a government unit is believed to have been established in 1834 when the Spanish Philippine government organized a civil government in the former Province of Misamis. The following capitans were appointed:
For another time, capitan was substituted to gobernadorcillo. The following men who had served the town as such were:
Around January 1889, the Gobernadorcillo position is reverted to capitan before the occurrence of the Philippine Independence of 1898. The following were appointed to the position:
In 1900, the capitan designation was renamed presidente local, and then renamed again to municipal president from 1901 to the time Dipolog was reverted to a barrio of Dapitan in March 1904. The following served that position:
  • Martin Fernandez,
  • Diosdado Mercado,
  • Gaudencio Zorilla, and
  • Isidro Patangan.
In 1912, the Governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, General John "Black Jack" Pershing granted the petition to separate Dipolog from Dapitan, and reorganize as a municipality again. As Dipolog was made a municipality in 1913, Municipal President of Dapitan Pascual Tan Martinez, a citizen of Dipolog, was appointed as the Municipal President.
Republic Act No. 5520, the Charter of the City of Dipolog, was signed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on June 23, 1969, and Dipolog became a city on January 1, 1970. Felicisimo Herrera, who was Municipal Mayor since 1963, became City Mayor on the day of its cityhood.

Functions and duties

The Local Government Code of 1991 outlines the functions and duties of the city mayor as follows:
  • Exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the city government;
  • Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the city and in the exercise of the appropriate corporate powers provided for under Section 22 of the Code, implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the city;
  • Initiate and maximize the generation of resources and revenues, and apply the same to the implementation of development plans, program objectives and priorities as provided for under Section 18 of the Code, particularly those resources and revenues programmed for agro-industrial development and countryside growth and progress;
  • Ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17 of the Code;
  • Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.

Vice mayor of Dipolog

The Vice Mayor is the second-highest official of the city. The vice mayor is elected via popular vote; although most mayoral candidates have running mates, the vice mayor is elected separately from the mayor. This can result in the mayor and the vice mayor coming from different political parties.
The Vice Mayor is the presiding officer of the Dipolog City Council, although they can only vote as the tiebreaker. When a mayor is removed from office, the vice mayor becomes the mayor until the scheduled next election.
Senen O. Angeles is the currently the vice mayor; he once served as City Councilor and was Zamboanga del Norte Vice Governor.

Post-mayoral life

After leaving office, a number of mayors have held various public positions and have made an effort to remain in the limelight.