REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1209 - AN ACT MAKING ELECTIVE THE POSITIONS OF MAYOR, VICE-MAYOR AND COUNCILORS IN THE CITY OF ILOILO, AMENDING FOR SAID PURPOSE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NUMBERED ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHT, AS AMENDED.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section eight of Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred fifty-eight, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Two hundred seventy-six, is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 8. Election and compensation. —The Mayor shall be the chief executive of the City.

"He shall be elected by the qualified electors of the City. He shall be at least twenty-five years of age and a qualified elector of the City. He shall hold office for lour years unless removed, and shall receive a salary in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty. A discretionary fund of three thousand pesos a year shall be appropriated out of the funds the city to be placed at the disposal of the Mayor."

SEC. 2. Section eight and one-half of the same Act, as five by Republic Act Numbered Three hundred sixty-five, is amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 81/2. The Vice-Mayor. —There shall be a Vice-Mayor who shall be elected by the qualified electors of the City and shall hold office for a term of four years He shall have the same qualifications as those of the Mayor. He shall act as Mayor and perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Mayor, in the event of sickness, absence, or other permanent or temporary incapacity of the Mayor and he shall, when occupying the position of Mayor, be entitled to the salary and allowances of the Mayor.

"The Vice-Mayor, when not acting as Mayor shall be ex officio member of the Municipal Board and shall receive a per diem of twenty pesos for each day of attendance at the session of the Board."

SEC. 3. The first paragraph of section fourteen of the same Act, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Three hundred sixty-five, is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 14. Constitution and organization of the Municipal Board. —The Municipal Board shall be the legislative body of the city and shall consist of the City Mayor, the Vice-Mayor, who shall be ex officio councilor when not acting as Mayor, and ten councilors to be elected by the qualified electors of the City. The councilors shall be qualified electors of the City and shall hold office for a term of four years. The City Mayor shall act as Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside over all sessions thereof at which he is present and shall have the right to vote on all matters submitted to the Board. In his absence, the Vice-Mayor shall preside at the session of the Board as temporary chairman. The Chairman o the Board shall sign all ordinances and resolutions and motions directing the payment of money or creating liability. In case of sickness or absence of any member of the Board, or if it becomes necessary to maintain a quorum the President of the Philippines shall appoint a temporary substitute who shall hold office, possess all the ngh receive the emoluments, and discharge all the duties connection therewith until the return to duty of the or absent member."

SEC. 4. The first election for Mayor, Vice-Mayor and councilors of the City of Iloilo under the provisions of this Act shall be held at the general elections for provincial and municipal officials immediately following the approval of this Act.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, April 29, 1955.