R.A. 1515

REPUBLIC ACT No. 1515

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MORE AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT FOR MUNICIPAL DISTRICTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE SIX, CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

Section 1. Article six, Chapter sixty-four of the Administrative Code is amended to read as follows:

Section 2. Any fifth class municipality, the annual receipts of which shall fail to average four thousand pesos for four consecutive fiscal years shall ipso facto be classified as a first class municipal district and shall thereafter be governed by the provisions of Article six, Chapter sixty- four of the Administrative Code, as hereinabove amended. Similarly, any first class municipal district the annual receipts of which shall average more than four thousand pesos for four consecutive fiscal years shall ipso facto be classified as a fifth class municipality and shall thereafter be governed by the provisions of Articles one to five, Chapter sixty-four of the same Code.

Section 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 16, 1956

"ARTICLE VI
Municipal Districts

"Sec. 2630. Special municipal governments. In localities the majorities of the inhabitants whereof have not progressed sufficiently in civilization to make it practicable to bring them under municipal government as provided in existing legislation, and whenever non-Christian settlements are so small or remote that their organization as barrios of municipalities is impracticable, there shall be organized municipal district governments in accordance with the provisions of this article.

"Sec. 2630-A. Classification of municipal districts. Municipal districts are divided into four classes, according to their receipts, as follows:

"Any municipal district the average receipts of which are less than one thousand pesos shall be incorporated and merged with such adjacent municipal district as the provincial board concerned shall determine.

"Beginning with the fiscal year nineteen hundred fifty- seven and for each period of four consecutive fiscal years thereafter, the chief of local governments shall cause the classification of municipal districts in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraphs.

"Sec. 2630-B. Officials of the municipal districts. The mayor, vice-mayor and councilors of each municipal district shall be elected by the qualified voters thereof during every election for provincial and municipal officers in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Election Code. No person shall be eligible for the position of mayor, vice- mayor or councilors of a municipal district unless he has the corresponding qualifications prescribed by law for elective municipal officers.

"There shall also be in each municipal district a secretary, a treasurer and such other appointive officers and employees as the municipal district council shall deem necessary and provide for and the provincial board shall authorize.

"Sec. 2630-C. Salaries. Notwithstanding the provisions of the minimum wage law, the municipal district officers shall receive the following annual compensation:

"Sec. 2630-D. The mayor. The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the municipal district and shall have the following general powers and duties:

"Sec. 2630-E. The vice-mayor. The vice-mayor shall be a member of the municipal district council and shall, during the temporary absence of the mayor from the municipal district or his disability for any reason, discharge the duties of his office and exercise all his powers; and in case of death, removal, or permanent disability of the mayor, the vice-mayor shall act as temporary mayor until a new mayor shall have been elected and shall have qualified.

"Sec. 2630-F. The municipal district treasurer. The municipal district treasurer shall, until otherwise provided by law, be appointed by the provincial treasurer, subject to the approval of the provincial board, and shall perform the following general powers and duties:

"Sec. 2630-G. The municipal district secretary. The municipal district secretary shall have the following general powers and duties:

"Sec. 2630-H. Councilors. The councilor shall participate in the exercise of the powers vested in the municipal district council as a body and shall therein serve as the representative of the true interests of the people of the entire municipal district. As an individual officer, each councilor shall have the following general duties and powers:

"Sec. 2631. The municipal district council. The municipal district council shall be composed of the mayor, as the presiding officer, the vice-mayor and the number of councilors prescribed in section two thousand six hundred thirty-A hereof. The council shall have the power, by ordinance or resolution:

"The ordinances and resolutions approved by the council shall take effect as provided for in the Administrative Code for regular municipalities."