AN ACT TO REVISE THE CHARTER OF QUEZON CITY

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 537, June 16, 1950 ]

AN ACT TO REVISE THE CHARTER OF QUEZON CITY

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

PRELIMINARY ARTICLE

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the "Revised Charter of Quezon City."

ARTICLE I. - The City as a Public Corporation

Section 2. General powers. - The territory within the boundaries described in the next succeeding section is to be known as Quezon City which shall be the capital of the Philippines and the permanent seat of the National Government; and by that name it shall have perpetual succession; have and use of common seal and alter the same at pleasure; sue and be sued, and prosecute and defend suits to final judgment and execution; take, purchase, revive, hold, lease, convey, and dispose of real and personal property, within or without its corporate limits, for the benefit of the city and, expropriate private property for public use; contract and be contracted with; and execute all the powers hereinafter conferred.

Section 3. Boundaries. - The boundaries and limits of the territory of said city, containing the total area of fifteen thousand three hundred fifty-nine hectares, more or less, are established and prescribed as follows: Beginning at a point marked "1", which is the northwestern corner of boundary of Quezon City, thence due north 660.00 m.to point "2"; thence N. 43 deg. 30' E., 3.680.00 m. to point "3"; thence, N. 18 deg. 00' W., 3,200.00 m. to point "4"; thence N. 45 deg. 00' E., 4,100.00 m. to point "5"; thence due east 4,200.00 m. to point "6"; thence following the N. boundary line of the Novaliches watershed reservation to point "7"; thence, S. 68 deg. 00' E., 900.00 m. to point "8", which is the center of Marikina River; thence following the center of the downstream course of Marikina River to point "9", which is the intersection of the Arroyo and Marikina Rivers; thence upstream following Arroyo between Payatas and Marikina estates to point "10", which is 100.00 m. to north of the pipe line and which is the corner of Quezon City; thence following the northern boundary of Quezon City to point of beginning; and the territory described as follows: Beginning at a point marked "l" which is identical to boundary monument No. 1, Piedad Estate; thence to point "2", which is boundary monument No. 2 of Piedad Estate; thence downstream following the Arroyo between Payatas Estate and Marikina Estate to point "3", which is 100 meters North of the water pipe line of the Metropolitan Water District; thence following the ridge southwestward to point "4", where the water pipe line crosses the ravine; thence following the ridge south westward to point "5", which is boundary monument No. 25 of Marikina Estate southward to point "6", which is the junction of the Marikina River and Marikina Estate; thence downstream following the Marikina River to point "7", which is the crossing of Marikina River by the old Rosario Road; thence westward following the old Rosario Road to point "8", which is the intersection of the old Rosario Road with the eastern right of way of the circumferential road (Highway 54) ; thence northwestward following the eastern right of way of the circumferential road to point "9", which is the crossing of the said road by the Santolan Road (northern right of way of the tolan Road) ; thence westward following the northern right of way of the Santolan Road to point "10", which crossing of the said road with the Salapan Creek; thence downstream following the Salapan Creek to point"11",which is the junction of Salapan Creek and Dario River; thence southward following the Salapan Creek to its intersection with the east boundary of the City of Manila to point "12"; thence northwestward following; the east boundary of the City of Manila to point "13", near La Loma Cabaret, which is a corner of the boundary of the City of Manila near the entrance of the North Cemetery; thence northward following the boundary of the City of Manila to point "14", which is the Northeast corner of said city; thence westward along said City of Manila boundary at a distance of 100 meters to point "15"; thence northward paralleling the Novaliches Road to a distance of 100 meters from the property line on the side of said road to point "16", which is at a distance of 100 meters North of the crossing of Samson Street (road connecting Balintawak Monument with Bonifacio Monument) ; thence eastward paralleling Samson Street and the circumferential road at a distance of 100 meters on the North side of said street and road to point "17", which is the center of the Culiat Creek; thence upstream following the Culiat Creek to point "18", which is the junction of Pasong Tamo River and Culiat Creek; thence upstream following Pasong Tamo River to point "19", which is the junction of Pasong Tamo River and Pinagpatayan Buaya Creek; thence to point of beginning."

Section 4. City not liable for damages. - The failure of any city officer to enforce the provisions of this Act or any law or ordinance, or the negligence of said officer while enforcing or attempting to enforce the same, shall not cause the city to be held liable for damages or injuries to Persons or property.

Section 5. Conduct of elections. - The duties which are by the Election Code made incumbent upon provincial boards and municipal councils shall be performed by the City Council; and those upon provincial treasurers and municipal secretaries, by the City Treasurer and city secretary, respectively.

Section 6. Police jurisdiction. - The jurisdiction of Quezon for police purposes shall be coextensive with its territorial jurisdiction only, and for the purpose of protecting and insuring the purity of the water supply of the city such police jurisdiction shall extend over all territory within the drainage area of such water supply, or within one hundred meters of any reservoir, conduit, canal aqueduct, or pumping station used in connection with the city water service. The Court of First Instance and the municipal court of Quezon City shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the Courts of First Instance and the courts of justices of the peace of the province and municipalities, respectively, to try crimes and misdemeanors committed within said drainage area, or within said spaces of one hundred meters. The court first taking jurisdiction of such an offense shall thereafter retain exclusive jurisdiction thereof.

Section 7. Representative districts. - Until otherwise provided by law, the corresponding territories of Quezon City belonging at the time of the approval of this Act to the First and Second Representative Districts of the Province of Rizal, shall continue to remain parts of said districts.

ARTICLE II. - The Mayor

Section 8. The Mayor. - His appointment and compensation. - The Mayor shall be the chief executive of the city, and as such, shall have immediate supervision and control over the executive functions of the different departments subject to the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, The Mayor shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the Congress of the Philippines, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the President. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding nine thousand pesos a year. The City Council may provide the Mayor in addition to his salary a commutable quarter's allowance of not more than three thousand pesos per annum.

Section 9. Vice-Mayor. - There shall be a Vice-Mayor who shall be a member of the City Council, and who shall, during the absence of the Mayor from the city or his disability for any reason, discharge the duties of this office and exercise his powers, except that of removing any officer from office. If, for any reason, the Vice-Mayor is temporarily incapacitated for the performance of the duties of the office of the mayor, or said office of the vice-mayor is vacant, the duties of the Mayor, shall be performed by the City Engineer.

He shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the Congress and shall hold office at the pleasure of the president. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding three thousand six hundred pesos a year.

Section 10. General duties and powers of the Mayor. - The general duties and powers of the Mayor shall be:

ARTICLE III. - The City Council

Section 11. The City Council-Constitution and organization-Compensation of members-Meetings-Ordinances. - There shall be a City Council composed of the Mayor as chairman, Vice-Mayor, and eight other members. The Council shall fix the time and places for its regular meetings, which shall be held twice in each week, and shall hold special sessions when called by the Mayor. Any meeting, regular or special, may, in case the amount of business shall require, be adjourned from day to day until the business is completed. The meetings of the Council shall be open to the public unless otherwise ordered by affirmative vote of a majority of its members. It shall keep a record of its proceedings and determine its rules of procedure not herein set forth. A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time. The ayes and nayes shall be taken and recorded upon the passage of all ordinances, upon all resolutions or motions directing the payment of money or creating liability, and, at the request of any member, upon any other motion or resolution. The affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the City Council shall be necessary for the passage of any ordinance, resolution, or motion directing the payment of money or creating liability. Each ordinance shall be sealed with the city seal, signed by the Mayor and the city secretary, and recorded in a book for that purpose. Each ordinance shall, on the day its passage, be posted by the city secretary at the main entrance of the municipal building and shall take effect and be in force on and after the tenth day following its passage, if no date is fixed in the ordinance.

The eight councilors hereinabove mentioned shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, shall hold office at the pleasure of the President; and, such councilors who are not officers or employees of the Government receiving a fixed compensation or salary from public funds shall receive a fixed salary of not exceeding three thousand six hundred pesos each per annum.

Section 12. General powers and duties of the council. - The City Council shall have power by ordinance or resolution:

Section 13. Restrictive provision. - No commercial sign, signboard, or billboard shall be erected or displayed on public lands, premises, or buildings. If after due investigation and having given the owners an opportunity to be heard the Mayor of the city shall decide that any sign, signboard, or billboard displayed or exposed to public view is offensive to the sight or is otherwise a nuisance, he may order the removal of such sign, signboard, or billboard, and if same is not removed within ten days after he has issued such order he may himself cause its removal, and the sign, signboard, or billboard shall thereupon be forfeited to the City, and the expenses incident to the removal of the same shall become a lawful charge against any person or property liable for the erection or display thereof.

Section 14. Power over subdivisions. - The City Council shall have power by ordinance approved by the department head to require that no plat or plan of subdivision of a residential estate within its jurisdiction shall be presented for approval or verification by the Bureau of Lands or the General Land Registration Office until the same shall have been approved by the city engineer under such regulations as may be provided by ordinance. Such regulations may provide for the proper arrangements, design width of streets in relation to other existing or planned streets, for adequate and convenient open spaces for traffic, public services, access of fire-fighting apparatus, recreation, light, and air, and for the avoidance of congestion of population including minimum width and area of lots in the several districts or sections of the city. Such regulations may also include provisions as to the extent to, and methods by, which streets and other ways may be graded, and improved and water and sewer and other public service mains, piping, or other facilities installed. Such regulations shall provide for approval of the plat or plan within sixty days after the submission thereof to the city engineer.

ARTICLE IV. - The City Secretary

Section 15. Appointment and compensation. - There shall be city secretary who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments and shall hold office at the pleasure of the President. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding four thousand eight hundred pesos per annum.

Section 16. General powers and duties. - The city secretary shall have the following general powers and duties:

ARTICLE V. - Departments and Offices

Section 17. City departments. - There shall be the following city departments over which the Mayor shall have direct supervision and control, any existing law to the contrary notwithstanding:

The Council may from time to time make such readjustments of the duties of the several departments as the public interest may demand.

Section 18. Powers and duties of heads of departments. - Any existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, each head of department of the city government shall be in control of such department, under the direct supervision of the Mayor, and shall possess such powers as may be prescribed herein or by ordinance. He shall certify to the correctness of all pay rolls and vouchers of his department covering the payment of money before payment. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided on or before the first day of March of each year, he shall prepare and present to the Mayor for submission to the Council an estimate of the receipts and appropriation necessary for the operation of his department during the ensuing year, and shall submit therewith such information for purposes of comparison as the Mayor may desire. He shall make to the Mayor as often as required reports covering the operations of his department.

In case of absence or sickness, or inability to act for any other reason, of the head of one of the city departments, or in case of a temporary vacancy, the officer next in rank in that department shall perform the duties of the head of the department concerned. In case of temporary vacancy, the officer next in rank performing the duties of the head of such department shall, during his incumbency in an acting capacity, receive the salary and other emoluments of the latter.

Section 19. Appointment and removal of officials and employees. - The President of the Philippines shall appoint, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of Congress, the city health officer, the city engineer, the chief of police, the city treasurer, the city assessor, the city attorney, and the assistant city attorneys, the judges of the municipal court, and in case of a temporary vacancy on such court, an acting judge therefor, and the city superintendent of schools. He may appoint to any of the above-named offices persons already holding official positions. In case of sickness, absence, or inability to serve for any reason of any of the aforementioned officials, including the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, city secretary and members of the Council, the President of the Philippines, may make a temporary appointment or designation, the provision of the last paragraph of the preceding section notwithstanding, until the return to duty of such official. During the period of such temporary appointment or designation, the person so appointed or designated shall possess all the powers and perform all the duties pertaining to the office.

Section 20. Officers not to engage in certain transactions. - No city officer or employee shall be directly or indirectly interested in any city contract work, or in any business transaction with the city whereby money is to be paid directly or indirectly out of the revenues of the city to such person, or in any games and amusements licensed by the city or in any business of the city, or in the purchase of any real estate or any property belonging to the city.

ARTICLE VI. - Relation to Bureaus and Offices

Section 21. The General Auditing Office. - The Auditor Genial shall receive and audit all accounts of the city, in accordance with the provisions of law relating to government Accounts and accounting. The city auditor shall be paid from the funds of the city at the rate of not exceeding six thousand pesos per annum.

Section 22. The Bureau of Public Schools. - The Director of Public Schools shall exercise the same jurisdiction and powers in the city as elsewhere in the Philippines, and the city superintendent of schools shall have all the powers and duties in respect to the schools of the city as are vested in division superintendents in respect to the schools their divisions.

The clerical force and assistants and laborers in the office of the city superintendent of schools shall be paid by the city, as well as the office expenses for supplies and materials incident to the operation of said office. The City Council may provide for additional compensation for the superintendent of city schools, so that the latter may have a total salary equal to that of a city department head of the same importance.

Section 23. Maintenance of schools and school buildings. - The city superintendent of schools shall make a quarterly report of the condition of the schools and school buildings of Quezon City to the Mayor, and such recommendations as seem to him wise in respect to the number of teachers, their salaries, new buildings to be erected, and all other similar matters, together with the amount of city revenues which should be expended in paying teachers, and improving the schools or school buildings of the city.

The care and custody of school buildings by the department of engineering and its supervision of the construction and repair of schoolhouses ordered by the council, shall be subject to the provisions of law governing public schools.

ARTICLE VII. - Engineering Department

Section 24. The City Engineer, his powers, duties and compensation. - There shall be a City Engineer who shall b in charge of the department of engineering. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding seven thousand two hundred pesos per annum. He shall have the following powers am duties:

Section 25. Execution of public works and improvements. - All repair or construction of any work or public improvements except parks, boulevards, streets, or alleys involving an estimated cost of three thousand pesos or more shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after public advertisement by the Mayor upon the recommendation of the City Engineer: Provided, however, That the City Engineer may, with the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, execute by administration any such public works costing three thousand pesos or more.

In case of public works involving an expenditure of less than three thousand pesos, it shall be discretionary with the City Engineer either to proceed with the work himself or let the contract to the lowest bidder after such publication and notice as shall be deemed appropriate or as may be, by regulation, prescribed for the purpose.

Section 26. Assistants and employees. - To assist the Cit Engineer in the discharge of his official duties, there shall be such assistant engineers, superintendents, and other employees as are from time to time provided for in appropriation ordinances.

ARTICLE VIII-The Department of Finance

Section 27. Powers and, duties of the City Treasurer. - shall be a City Treasurer with a salary of not exceeding seven thousand eight hundred pesos per annum, who shall have charge of the Department of Finance and shall act as chief fiscal officer and financial adviser of the city and custodian of its funds, and shall have the following general powers and duties:

ARTICLE IX. - The Law Department

Section 28. The City Attorney-His assistants-His duties. - There shall be a City Attorney who shall be the chief of the law department of the city, a first assistant city attorney who shall be the assistant chief, a second assistant city attorney, and two third assistant city attorneys, who shall discharge their duties under the general supervision of the Secretary of Justice. The City Attorney shall be the chief legal adviser of the city and all offices and departments thereof and shall have the following general powers and duties:

Section 29. Compensation of City Attorney and his assistants. - The City Attorney and his assistants shall receive the salaries hereinafter set forth, which shall be paid by Quezon City:

ARTICLE X. - The Municipal Court

Section 30. The Municipal court. - There shall be a municipal court for Quezon City, with two judges to be known as judges of the first and second branch, respectively.

The municipal court shall have the same jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases and the same incidental powers as are at present conferred by law upon justice of the peace courts except those in conflict with the provisions of this Charter and such other additional jurisdiction and powers as may be conferred upon it by this Charter or by special law.

In case of the absence, sickness or incapacity of the judges of the municipal court of Quezon City and in case of any vacancy in said offices, the Secretary of Justice shall designate any Assistant Attorney of the Solicitor General's Office or Provincial Fiscal to act as judge of the municipal court, and he shall hold the office temporarily with all the powers of a regular judge of said court, until any of the regular incumbents shall have resumed office, or until a judge shall have been appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, but such acting judge shall not receive any additional compensation during the time he is acting as judge.

The judges of the municipal court shall receive a salary of not exceeding five thousand four hundred pesos per annum each.

Section 31. Clerk and employees of the municipal court. - There shall be a clerk of the municipal court who shall be appointed by the municipal judge in accordance with the Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations who shall receive a compensation to be fixed by ordinance. He shall keep the seal of the court and affix it to all orders, judgments, certificates, records, and other documents issued by the court. He shall keep a docket of the trials in the court, in which he shall record in a summary manner the names of the parties and the various proceedings in civil cases, and in criminal cases, the name of the defendant the charge against him, the names of the witnesses, the date of the arrest, the appearance of the defendant, together with the fines and costs adjudged or collected in accordance with the judgment. He shall have the power to administer oaths.

The clerk of the municipal court shall at the same time be sheriff of the city and shall as such have the same powers and duties as are assigned by existing law to provincial sheriffs. The City Council may provide for such number of clerks in the office of the clerk of the municipal court as the needs of the service may demand.

Section 32. Criminal jurisdiction. - The municipal court shall have territorial jurisdiction embracing the entire police jurisdiction of the city, and shall hold a daily session, Sundays and legal holidays alone excepted: Provided, however, That when a legal holiday occurs in two or more successive days or when a Sunday is immediately preceded and/or followed by a holiday, the municipal court may hold night session during said holidays. Said court shall have jurisdiction, exclusive of the other courts sitting in the city, over all criminal cases arising under the penal laws of the Philippines, where the offense is committed within the police jurisdiction of the city and the maximum punishment is by imprisonment for not more than six months, or a line of not more than two hundred pesos, or both. It shall also have concurrent jurisdiction with the Courts of First Instance over all criminal cases arising under the laws relating to gambling and management of lotteries, to assaults where the intent to kill is not charged or evident upon the trial, to larceny, embezzlement and estafa where the amount of money or property stolen, embezzled or otherwise involved does not exceed the sum or value of two hundred pesos, to the sale of intoxicating liquors, to falsely impersonating an officer, to malicious mischief, to trespass on Government or private property, and to threatening to take human life. It may also conduct preliminary examinations for any offense, without regard to the limits of punishment, and may release, or commit and bind over any person charged with such offense to secure his appearance before the proper court.

Section 33. Incidental powers of municipal court. - The municipal court shall have power to administer oaths and to give certificates thereof; to issue summonses, writs, warrants, executions, and all other processes necessary to enforce its orders and judgments; to compel the attendance of witnesses; to punish contempts of court by fine or imprisonment, or both, within the limitations imposed by the Rules of Court; and to require of any person arrested a bond for good behaviour or to keep the peace, or for the further appearance of such person before a court of competent jurisdiction. But no such bond shall be accepted unless it be executed by the person in whose behalf it is made, with sufficient surety or sureties, to be approved by said court.

Section 34. Procedure in municipal court in prosecutions for violation of laws and ordinances. - In a prosecution for the violation of any ordinance, the first process shall be a summons; except that a warrant for the arrest of the offender may be issued in the first instance upon the affidavit of any person that such ordinance has been violated, and that the person making the complaint has reasonable grounds to believe that the party charged is guilty thereof which warrant shall conclude: "Against the ordinance of the city in such case made and provided." All proceedings and prosecutions for offenses against the laws of the Philippines shall conform to the rules relating to process, pleading, practice, and procedure for the judiciary of the Philippines and such rules shall govern the municipal court and its officers in all cases in so far as the same may be applicable.

Section 35. Costs, fees, fines and forfeitures. - There shall be taxed against and collected from the defendant, in case of his conviction in the municipal court, such costs and fees may be prescribed by the Council not exceeding those charged in criminal cases in justices of the courts. All costs, fees, fines and forfeitures shall be collected by the clerk of the court, who shall keep a docket of those imposed and of those collected, and shall pay collections of the same to the City Treasurer for the benefit the city on the next business day after the same are collected, and take receipts therefor. The presiding judge shall examine said docket each day, compare the same with the amount receipted for by the City Treasurer, and satisfy himself that such costs, fees, fines, and forfeitures have been duly accounted for.

Section 36. Commitment to prison. - No person shall be confined in the city prison by sentence of the municipal court until the officer in charge of the prison shall receive a written commitment showing the offense for which the prisoner was tried, the date of the trial, the exact terms of the judgment or sentence, and the date of the order of commitment. The clerk shall, under seal of the court-issue such a commitment in each case of sentence to imprisonment.

Section 37. Procedure on appeal from the municipal court to Court of First Instance. - An appeal shall lie to the Court of First Instance next to be within the city, in all cases where fine or imprisonment, or both, is imposed b the municipal court. The party desiring to appeal shall before four o'clock post meridian of the day after the ren- dition and entry of the judgment by the municipal court, file with the clerk of the court a written statement that he appeals to the Court of First Instance. The filing of such statement shall perfect the appeal. The judge of the court from whose decision appeal is taken shall, within five days after the appeal is taken, transmit to the clew the Court of First Instance a certified copy of the records of proceedings and all the original papers and process in the case, and the clerk of Court of First Instance docket the appeal in that court. A perfected appeal shall operate to vacate the judgment of the municipal court, and the action, when duly entered in the Court of First Instance, shall stand for trial de novo upon its merits in accordance with the regular procedure in that court, as though the same had never been tried and had been originally there commenced. Pending an appeal, the defendant shall remain in custody unless released in the discretion of the judge of the municipal court or of the Court of First Instance, upon sufficient bail, in accordance with the rules and regulation now or hereafter in force, to await the judgment of the appellate court.

Appeals in civil cases shall be governed by the ordinary procedure establishment by law for appeals from decisions of justice of the peace courts.

Section 38. Persons arrested to be promptly brought before a court-Preliminary examinations in City Attorney's office, municipal court and Court of First Instance. - Every person arrested shall, without unnecessary delay, be brought before the City Attorney, the municipal court, or the Court of First Instance for preliminary hearing, release on bail, or trial. In case triable in the municipal court the defendant shall not be entitled as of right to a preliminary examination, except to a summary one to enable the court to fix the bail, in any case where the prosecution announces itself ready for trial within three days, not including Sundays, after the request for an examination is presented. In case triable only in the Court of First Instance the defendant shall not be entitled as of right to preliminary examination in any case where the Fiscal of the city, after a due investigation of the facts, shall have presented an information against him in proper form. But the Court of First Instance may make such summary investigation into the case as it may deem necessary to enable it to fix the bail or to determine whether the offense is bailable.

Section 39. Compensation of certain expert witnesses in criminal cases. - Out of any sum appropriated for contingent expenses of the law department, the judge of the municipal court, or a judge of the Court of First Instance in the city, as the case may be, may allow compensation to physicians and surgeons, other than officers or employees of the National Government or the city, summoned by the Government as expert witnesses in criminal prosecutions when the attendance of such physicians and surgeons is necessary in the interest of justice. Such compensation shall not in any one case exceed five pesos for the testimony of the physician or surgeon so summoned, and the payment shall be made upon the certification of the judge presiding at the trial that the witness attended and testified, that the case is an exceptional and meritorious one, and that compensation ought to be allowed. The total expenditure under the provisions of this section shall not exceed five hundred pesos a year.

Section 40. Assessors in the courts in the city. - The aid of assessors in the trial of any civil or criminal action in the municipal court, or the Court of First Instance, within the city, may be invoked, in the manner provided in the Rules of Court. It shall be the duty of the Municipal Council to prepare one list of the names of twenty-five residents of the city best fitted by education, natural ability, and reputation for probity to sit as assessors in the trial of actions in the municipal court and a like list of persons to sit as assessors in the trial of action in the Court of First Instance. The Council may at any time strike any name from the list so prepared, by reason of the death, permanent disability, or unfitness of the person named; and in case names are so stricken out, other names shall be added in their place, to be selected as ii this section provided. Parties desiring to avail themselves of the use of assessors in the municipal court or Court of First Instance shall proceed as provided for by law or Rules of Court; and the method of summoning assessors enforcing their attendance, excusing them from attendance, their compensation, oath, duties and effect of dissent from the opinion of the judge shall be as provided in those laws or rules.

Section 41. Judicial notice of ordinances. - All courts ting in the city shall take judicial notice of the ordinal passed by the City Council.

ARTICLE XI. - Health Department

Section 42. Powers and duties of the City Health Officer. - There shall be a City Health Officer, with a salary of not exceeding six thousand pesos per annum, who shall have charge of the health department. He shall have the following general powers and duties:

ARTICLE XII. - The Police Department

Section 43. The Chief of Police. - There shall be a chief of lice with a salary of not exceeding eight thousand four hundred pesos per annum who shall have the following general powers and duties:

Section 44. Peace officers. - The chief of police, all city officers, and all members of the police force and secret service shall be peace officers; and all peace officers provided for in this Act, or authorized by law or ordinance, are authorized to serve and execute all processes of the municipal court and criminal processes of other courts to whomsoever directed, within the jurisdiction or the police limits of the city, and within the same territory they may pursue and arrest, without warrant any person found in suspicious places or under suspicious circumstances reasonably tending to show that such person has committed or is about to commit any crime or breach of the peace; may arrest or cause to be arrested, without warrant, any offender when the offense is committed in the presence of a peace officer or within his view; and in such pursuit or arrest may enter any building or take into custody any person therein suspected of being concerned in such crime or breach of the peace, and any property suspected of being stolen; they shall detain such person only until he can be brought before the proper magistrate; and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as peace officers as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. Whenever the Mayor shall deem it necessary to avert danger or public calamity, or when he has reason to fear any violation of law and order, he shall have power to swear in special police, in such number as the occasion way demand, who shall have the same powers while on duty as members of the regular force.

ARTICLE XIII. - Department of Assessment

Section 45. The City Assessor. - There shall be a City Assessor who shall have charge of the department of assessment. He shall receive a compensation of not exceeding six thousand pesos per annum.

Section 46. Powers and duties of the City Assessor. - The City Assessor or his duly authorized deputies shall annually assess all lands, buildings and other real properties subject to taxation within the jurisdiction of the city, and for this purpose he is empowered to administer oaths authorized to be administered in the assessment or collection of taxes.

Section 47. Exemption from taxation. - There shall be levied, assessed, and collected an annual ad valorem tax o real property, including land, buildings, machinery and other improvements not hereinafter specifically exempted. The following shall be exempt from taxation:

Section 48. Declaration by real estate owner. - It shall be the duty of each person who at any time acquires estate in the city, and of each person who constructs or adds to any improvement on real estate owned by him within the city, to prepare and present to the City Assessor, within a period of sixty days next succeeding the acquisition or completion of such construction or addition, a sworn declaration setting forth the value of the real estate acquired or the improvement constructed or addition made by him and containing a description of such property sufficient to enable the City Assessor readily to identify the same. Any person who fails to make and present such declaration of real estate newly acquired by him within the said period of sixty days shall be deemed to have waived his right to notice of the assessment of such property, and the assessment of the same in the name of its former owner shall, in all such cases, be valid and binding on all persons interested, and for all purposes, as though the same had been assessed in the name of its actual owner.

Section 49. Revision of assessment. - The City Assessor shall, during the first fifteen days of December of each year, add to his list of taxable real estate in the city the value of the improvements placed upon such property during the preceding year, and any property which is taxable and which has therefore escaped taxation. He may during the same period revise and correct the assessed value of any or all parcels of real estate in the city which are not assessed at their true money value, by reducing or increasing the existing assessments as the case may be. He shall give notice by publication for ten days prior to December first in two newspapers of general circulation published in the city, that he will be present in his office for that purpose on said days, and he shall further notify in writing each person the amount of whose tax will be changed agent in the Philippines sometime in the month of changed by such action or such proposed change by delivering or mailing such notification to such person or his authorized agent at the last known address of such owner November.

Section 50. The Board of Tax Appeals. - There shall be a Board of Tax Appeals which shall be composed of members of the City Council, the Mayor to be chairman thereof.

Section 51. Proceedings before Board of Tax Appeals. - The Board of Tax Appeals shall meet on the second Monday in January of each year, shall hear all appeals duly transmitted to it, shall decide the same forthwith, and shall complete its work and adjourn on or before the first day of March of each year unless its sessions for any given year are extended to a later date by direction the Secretary of Finance. It shall have authority to cause to be amended the listing and valuation of the property in respect to which any appeal has been perfected by order signed by the Board or majority thereof, and transmit it to the City Assessor, who shall amend the tax list in conformity with said order. It shall also have power to vise and correct, with the approval of the Department Head first had, any and all erroneous or unjust assess and valuation for taxation, and make a correct and just assessment, and state the true valuation, in each case where it decides that the assessments previously made are erroneous or unjust.

The list when so corrected shall be lawful and valid for all purposes as though the assessments had been made within the time herein prescribed. Such reassessments and revaluation shall be made on due notice to the individual concerned and he shall be entitled to be heard by the Board of Tax Appeals before any reassessment or revaluation is made. The decision of the Board of Tax Appeals shall be final unless the Secretary of Finance forthwith declares the decision reopened for a review by him, in which case he may make such revision or revaluation as in his opinion the circumstances justify. Such decision, when approved by the President of the Philippines, shall be final.

Section 52. Annual real estate tax. - A tax, the rate per centum of ad valorem taxation not to exceed two per centum, to be determined by the City Council shall be levied annually on or before the second Monday of December of the preceding year on the assessed value of all the real estate in the city subject to taxation. The tax for any year shall be due on the first day of January and become payable on or before the thirty-first day of May of the year, and if any taxpayer shall fail to pay taxes assessed against him on or before the thirty-first day of May of the year for which such taxes are due, he shall be delinquent in such payment and shall be subject to a penalty ten per centum of the amount of the original tax due, payment is made during the first and second months delinquency, and thereafter, to an additional penalty of two per centum for each month or fraction thereof of delinquency, but in no case shall the total penalty on each annual tax exceed sixteen per centum of the original tax. The penalty shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as the original tax.

At the option of the taxpayer, the tax due for any year may be paid in two installments, the first of such installments to consist of two-thirds of the annual tax due on the property and the second to consist of the remainder tax for the year. In such cases the first installment shall be paid on or before the thirty-first day of May of the year in which the tax is due, and the second shall be paid at any time prior to the first day of January of the following year, but if the first installment of the tax for any year is not paid on or before the thirty-first day of May of such year, then the whole of the year's tax shall be delinquent and the penalty due thereon as hereinbefore provided. If any taxpayer, having paid the first installment of his tax for any year, shall fail to pay the second installment thereof before the first day of January of the following year, he shall be subject to a penalty of ten per centum of such delinquent installment, if payment is made during the first and second months of delinquency and thereafter to an additional penalty of two per centum for each month or fraction thereof of delinquency; but in no case shall the total penalty on such unpaid tax exceed sixteen per centum of the amount due.

The penalties thus imposed shall be accounted for by the City Treasurer in the same manner as the tax. In the event that such tax and penalty shall remain unpaid for fifteen days after the tax becomes delinquent the City Treasurer shall proceed to make collection thereof in the manner hereinafter prescribed.

The City Council may extend the time for the collection of the tax on real estate in the city for a period not to exceed three months. It may also remit all or part of the tax on real estate or the penalties thereon during the ensuing year in case there are good and sufficient reasons for it. The resolution in any such case shall not take effect until it has been approved by the President of the Philippines.

The President may, in his discretion, extend the time for the collection of the tax on real estate in the city to a date within the same calendar year and may also remit or reduce the tax on real estate during any year if he deems it to be in the public interest.

Section 53. Distraint of personal property. - Fifteen days after the tax shall become delinquent, the City Treasurer shall prepare and sign a certified copy of the records his office showing the persons delinquent in payment of taxes and the amount of tax and penalty respectively due from them. He may thereupon proceed to seize the personal property of each delinquent not exempt under the provisions of the next succeeding section, and, unless redeemed as hereinafter provided, to sell at public auction, either at the main entrance of the City Hall or at the place where such property is seized, as he shall determine, so much of the same as shall satisfy the tax, penalty, and costs of seizure and sale, to the highest bidder for cash, alter due advertisement by notice posted for ten days at the main entrance of the City Hall and at a public and conspicuous place in the district where the property was seized, stating the time, place, and cause of sale. The certified copy of the City Treasurer's record of delinquents shall be his warrant for these proceedings, and the purchaser at such sale shall acquire an indefeasible title to the property sold. Within two days after the sale the City Treasurer shall make return of his proceedings and spread it upon his record. Any surplus resulting from the sale, over and above the tax, penalty, and costs, shall be returned to the taxpayer on account of whose delinquency the sale has been made.

Section 54. Exempt personal property. - The following personal property shall be exempt from seizure and sale for delinquency in the payment of the real estate tax:

Section 55. Redemption of property seized. -The owner the personal property seized may redeem the same from the collecting officer at any time after seizure and b sale by tendering to him the amount of the tax, the pen and the costs incurred up to the time of tender. The costs be charged in making such seizure and sale shall only embrace the actual expense of seizure and preservation of the property pending the sale, and no charge shall be imposed for the services of the collecting officer or his deputy.

Section 56. Tax lien. - Taxes and penalties assessed against realty shall constitute a lien thereon, which shall be superior to all other liens, mortgages, or incumbrances of any kind whatsoever; shall be enforceable against the property whether in the possession of the delinquent or any subsequent owner or possessor, and shall be removable only by the payment of the delinquent tax and penalty. A lien upon real estate for taxes levied for each year shall attach on the first day of January of such year.

Section 57. Tax sale. - In addition to the procedure prescribed in section fifty-three hereof the City Treasurer may, upon the warrant of the certified record required in said section and after the lapse of not less than twenty days after delinquency, advertise the real estate delinquent for sale, or so much thereof as may be necessary to satisfy all public taxes upon said property inch penalties and costs of sale, for a period of thirty days.

The advertisement shall be made by posting a notice the main entrance of the City Hall and in a public conspicuous place in the district in which the real lies, and by publication once a week for three weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation published in if any there be. Publication in the Official Gazette shall not be required for such notice. The advertisement state the amount of the taxes and penalties so due, the time and place of sale, the name of the taxpayers against whom the taxes are levied, and the approximate area, the lot and block number, the location by district, and the street number, if the property has a street number of the real estate to be sold. At any time before the day fixed for the sale, the taxpayer may discontinue all proceedings by paying the taxes, penalties, and costs the City Treasurer. If he does not do so the sale shall held either at the main entrance of the City Hall or on the premises to be sold, as the City Treasurer may determine. Within five days after the sale the City Treasurer shall make a return of the proceedings and spread it n his records. The purchaser at the sale shall receive a certificate from the City Treasurer from his records showing the proceedings of the sale, describing the property sold, stating the name of the purchaser, and setting out the exact amount of all public taxes, penalties and costs.

It shall not be essential to the validity of a sale of real estate for delinquent taxes hereunder that the City Treasurer shall have attempted to make the amount due out of the personal property of the delinquent taxpayer, and the remedy provided in section fifty-three hereof shall be deemed cumulative only.

Section 58. In case the taxpayer shall not redeem the realty sold as above provided within one year from the late of sale, the City Treasurer shall, as grantor, execute a deed in form and effect sufficient to convey to the purchaser so much of the real estate against which the taxes nave been assessed as has been sold, free from all liens, of any kind whatsoever, and the deed shall succinctly recite all the proceedings upon which the validity of the sale depends.

Section 59. Forfeiture of real estate. - In case there is no bidder at the public sale of such realty who offers a sum sufficient to pay the taxes, penalties, and costs, the City Treasurer shall declare the real estate forfeited to the city, and shall make, within two days thereafter, a return of his proceedings and the forfeiture, which shall be spread upon the records of his office.

Section 60. Conveyance to city. - Within one year from the date of such forfeiture, the taxpayer, or anyone for him, may redeem said realty as above provided in cases where the same is sold. But, if the realty is not thus redeemed within a year, the forfeiture shall become absolute and the City Treasurer shall execute a deed, similar in form and having the same effect as the deed required to be made by him in case of a sale, conveying the real estate to the city. The deed shall be recorded as required by law for other real estate titles and shall then be forwarded to the Mayor for notation and return to the City Treasurer who shall file the same and enter it in his records of city property.

Section 61. Repurchase by owner after absolute forfeiture. - After the title to the property shall have become absolutely vested in the Government of Quezon City in the manner above provided, and at any time before a sale or contract of sale shall have been made by the City Treasurer to a third party in the manner provided for by law, the original owner or his legal representative shall have a further right to repurchase the property in question by paying therefor the full amount then due for taxes, penalties, and costs, together with an additional penalty of fifteen per centum upon the whole, and if the City Mayor has made a contract for the lease of the property the repurchase may be made subject to such contract,

Section 62. Civil action to collect tax debt. - The assessment of a tax shall constitute a lawful indebtedness from the taxpayer to the city which may be enforced by a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction, and this remedy shall be in addition to all the other remedies provided by law.

Section 63. Suits assailing validity of tax. - No court shall entertain any suit assailing the validity of a tax assessed under this article until the taxpayer shall have paid, under protest, the taxes assessed against him, nor shall any court declare any tax invalid by reason of irregularities or informalities in the proceedings of the officers charged with the assessment or collection of the taxes, or of a failure to perform their duties within the times herein specified for their performance, unless such irregularities, informalities, or failures shall have impaired the substantial rights of the taxpayer; nor shall any court declare any tax assessed under the provisions of this article invalid except upon condition that the taxpayer shall pay the just amount of his tax as determined by the court in the pending proceeding.

Section 64. Suits assailing validity of tax sale. - No court shall entertain any suit assailing the validity of a tax sale of real estate under this article until the taxpayer shall have paid into the court the amount for which the real estate was sold, together with interest at the rate of fifteen per centum per annum upon the sum from the date of sale to the time of instituting suit. The money so paid into court shall belong to the purchaser at the tax sale if the deed is declared invalid, and shall be returned to the depositor should he fail in his action. No court shall declare any such sale invalid by reason of any irregularities or informalities in the proceedings of the officer charged with the duty of making the sale or by reason of failure by him to perform his duties within the time herein specified for their performance, unless such irregularities, informalities, or failures shall have impaired the substantial rights of the taxpayer.

ARTICLE XIV. - The Fire Department

Section 65. Powers and duties of chief. - There shall be a chief of the fire department, with a salary of six thousand pesos per annum, who shall have the following general powers and duties:

ARTICLE XV. - Special Assessments for Public Improvements

Section 66. Power to levy. - The City Council may, by ordinance duly approved, provide for the levying and collection, by special assessments of the real estate comprised within the district or section of the city especially benefited, of the cost, or a part thereof not less than sixty per centum, of laying out, opening, constructing, straightening, widening, extending, grading, paving, curbing, walling, deepening, or otherwise establishing, repairing, enlarging, improving public avenues, roads, streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, plazas, bridges, landing places, wharves, piers, docks, levees, reservoirs, waterworks, water mains, water courses, esteros, canals, drains, and sewers, including the cost of acquiring the necessary land. Within the meaning of this article, all real estate comprised within the district benefited, except lands or buildings owned by the Government of the Philippines, or by Quezon City, shall be subject to the payment of the special assessment, based upon the valuation of such real estate as shown by the books of the City Assessor, or its present value as fixed by said officer in the first instance if the property does not appear of record in his books according to the valuation whereof the special tax has to be made, computed and assessed.

Section 67. Contents of Ordinance. - The ordinance providing for the levying and collection of a special assessment shall describe in terms of reasonable accuracy the nature, extent, and location of the proposed improvement; the probable cost of the improvement; the rate per centum of the cost to be defrayed by special assessment; the district which shall be subject to the payment of the said rate per centum of the proposed improvement, delimiting the same by metes and bounds, and the number of annual installments, which shall not be less than five, in which such special assessment shall be paid without arty interest. The City Council shall not be required to fix one uniform rate per centum for all the taxable real estate in the entire district, but may fix different rates for real estate in different parts or sections of the same, according as said property will derive greater or less benefit from the contemplated improvement.

Section 68. Publication and hearing. - The proposed special assessment ordinance shall be published for the period of one week in two daily newspapers of general circulation, one in English and one in the Spanish or Tagalog language, before its adoption by the Council. The city secretary shall, upon request, furnish a copy of the proposed ordinance free of charge to each owner affected or his agent, and shall in so far as possible send each of them a copy of said proposed ordinance, by ordinary mail or otherwise. At the request of any owner, made within three days from the last publication of the proposed ordinance, or at its own motion, the Council or the committee thereof in charge of the project shall hold a public hearing on the same and hear all pertinent arguments and evidence offered by the persons interested or their attorneys and such arguments and evidence shall be attached to the records of the project.

Section 69. Transmitted to the Mayor. - The special assessment ordinance shall be sent to the Mayor, together with all papers pertaining to the same, within five days after its passage. The Mayor may then consider the protest of the persons claiming to be affected if signed by a majority of said persons representing more than one-half of the total assessed value of the property which, according to the proposed ordinance would be subject to the special assessment, and within fifteen days after the Mayor receives such protest, if any, he may propose to the City Council such amendment or amendments to the same as he may see fit If a protest has been duly filed with the Mayor in accordance with this section, the special assessment ordinance shall not take effect until the Mayor shall have returned such ordinance together with amendments, if any, and the City Council shall have repassed the same.

Section 70. Assessment of tax. - Upon the effectivity of the special assessment ordinance, the City Assessor and Collector shall forthwith proceed to determine the special tax payable by each realty each year during the period fixed in the ordinance, upon the basis of the estimated cost of the work and the total and parcel value of the real estate comprised within the district especially benefited, and shall notify each owner by ordinary mail of the special tax assessed against each property owned by him in the district benefited; but if upon the completion of the improvement it should appear that the cost has been less or more, the City Engineer shall forthwith certify this fact to the Assessor and Collector, who shall thereupon proceed to rectify the assessment, reducing or increasing, as the case may be the special tax upon each property affected for the unpaid remainder of the annual installments, or, if all are paid fixing the amount to be credited to or the special additional tax to be collected from the realty, as the case may be, and hall notify the persons interested of such rectifications.

Section 71. Appeal. - Any owner considering himself aggrieved by any decision of the City Assessor and Collector, may appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals in the same time and in the same manner as prescribed by law for cases of assessment and valuation of real estate for the ordinary tax.

Section 72. Payment. - All sums and amounts due from any owner or owners as a result of any action taken by virtue of the authority conferred in this article shall be due and payable to the City Assessor and Collector in the same manner as the annual tax levied on real estate under the provisions of article thirteen hereof, and shall be subject to the same penalties for delinquency, and enforceable by the same remedies, as such annual tax; and all such sums and amounts together with any such penalties incurred, shall from the date on which they were assessed constitute a lien on the property against which the same were assessed and shall take precedence over any and all other liens which may exist upon such property excepting only such as may have attached as a result of the nonpayment of said annual tax.

ARTICLE XVI. - Special Assessments for National Roads

Section 73. Assessment by direction of the President. - When the President of the Philippines shall so direct it, the City Council, as an agency of the National Government, shall provide, by means of an ordinance, for the levying and collection, by special assessments of the real estate within the district or section of Quezon City especially benefited, of the cost or a part thereof to be determined by the President, of laying out, opening, constructing, frightening, widening, extending, grading, paving, curbing, walling, deepening, or otherwise establishing, repairing, enlarging, or improving national roads, in Quezon City, including the costs of acquiring the necessary land and improvements therein. Within the meaning of this section, all real estate comprised within the district or section benefited, except lands or buildings owned by the Republic of the Philippines or by Quezon City, shall be subject to the payment of the special assessment, based upon the valuation of such real estate as shown by the books of the City Assessor, or its present value as fixed by said officer in the first instance if the property doe not appear of record in his books according to the valuation whereof the special tax has to be made, computed and assessed.

Section 74. Contents of ordinance. - The ordinance providing for the levying and collection of a special assessment shall describe in terms of reasonable accuracy the nature extent, and location of the national road project to cover the cost of which the special assessment is to be levied; the probable or actual cost thereof; the rate per centum, as shall be determined by the President, of the cost to be defrayed by special assessment; the district or section which shall be subject to the payment of the said special assessment, delimiting the same by metes and bounds and the number of annual installments, which shall not be less than five, in which such special assessment shall be paid, without any interest.

The City Council shall not be required to fix one uniform rate per centum for all the taxable real estate in the entire district or section, but may fix different rates for real estate in different parts or sections of the same, according as said property will derive greater or less benefit from the improvement.

Section 75. Publication and hearing. - The proposed sped assessment ordinance shall be published for a period one week in two daily newspapers of general circulate one in English and one in the Spanish or Tagalog language before its adoption by the Council, and shall be posted the usual places for posting public notices, in the offices of the Director of Public Works and in the office of the City Engineer and also at conspicuous places in the district or section of the city where such national road project is constructed or contemplated to be constructed. The city secretary shall, upon request, furnish a copy of the proposed ordinance, by ordinary mail or otherwise. Within three days after the last publication of the special assessment ordinance, the Council or the committee in charge of the project shall hold a public hearing on the same and hear all pertinent arguments and evidence offered by the persons interested or their attorneys and such arguments and evidence shall be attached to the proper records.

Section 76. Transmittal to the Mayor. - The special assessment ordinance, together with all papers pertaining to the same, shall be sent to the Mayor within five days after its passage. The Mayor may then consider the protest of the persons claiming to be affected if signed by a majority of said persons representing more than one-half of the total assessed value of the property which according to the proposed ordinance would be subject to the special assessment, and within fifteen days after the Mayor receives such protest, if any, he may propose to the City Council such amendment or amendments to the same as he may see fit. If a protest has been filed with the Mayor in accordance with this section, within ten days after transmittal to him by the City Council, the special assessment ordinance shall not take effect until the Mayor shall have returned such ordinance together, with amendments, if any, and the City Council shall have repassed the same, otherwise such ordinance shall take effect like any other ordinary ordinance. Either the parties affected or the City Engineer through the Director of Public Works may appeal to the President of the Philippines, whose decision shall be final.

Section 77. Assessment of Tax. - Upon the effectivity of the special assessment ordinance, the City Assessor and Collector shall forthwith proceed to determine the special tax payable by each realty during the period fixed in the finance, upon the basis of the estimated or actual cost the work and the total and parcel value of the real estate comprised within the district especially benefited, and shall notify each owner by ordinary mail of the special tax assessed against such property owned by him in the district benefited, but if upon the completion of the improvement in cases where the assessment is made prior to the completion thereof, it should appear that the cost has been less or more, the City Engineer through the Director of Public Works, shall forthwith certify this fact to the City Assessor and Collector who shall thereupon proceed to rectify the assessment, reducing or increasing, as the case may be, the special tax upon each property affected, for the unpaid remainder of the annual installments, or if all are paid, fixing the amount to be credited to or the special additional tax to be collected from the realty, as the case may be, and shall notify the persons interested of such rectification.

Section 78. Appeal. - Any owner considering himself aggrieved by any decision of the City Assessor and Collector may appeal from the same to the Board of Tax Appeals within the same time and in the same manner as prescribed by law for cases of assessment and valuation of real estate for the ordinary tax.

Section 79. Payment. - All sums and amounts due from any owner or owners as a result of any action taken by virtue of the authority conferred in this Act shall be due and payable to the City Treasurer in the same manner as the annual tax levied on real estate under the provisions of article XIII of this Act, and shall be subject to the same penalties for delinquency, and enforceable by the same remedies, as such annual tax; and all such sums and amounts, together with any suchpenalties incurred, shall from the date on which they were assessed constitute liens which may exist upon such property excepting only such as may have attached as a result of the non-payment of said annual tax: Provided, however, That the proceeds thereof shall accrue to the National Treasure as a special fund for the construction, improvement, an maintenance of national roads within Quezon City, to be allotted by the Secretary of Public Works to such projects upon the recommendation of the Director of Public Works.

ARTICLE XVII. - Regulation of Places of Amusements and Sale of Intoxicating Liquors

Section 80. Power of Council over amusement places. - All laws and executive orders existing at the time of the approval of this Act referring to the regulation of nightclubs, cabarets, dancing schools, pavilions, cockpits, bars, saloons, bowling alleys, billiard pools, boxing contests and other places of amusements, and the regulations for the sale of intoxicating liquors, shall be inoperative within Quezon City, and the power to promulgate such regulations shall be vested in the City Council and the Mayor. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, such laws and Executive Orders existing at the time of the approval of this Act shall continue in force within Quezon City until the City Council and the Mayor shall by ordinance provide otherwise.

ARTICLE XVIII. - Acquisition and Administration of Landed Estates

Section 81. Administration of lands by the city. - All lands, estates, or haciendas in Quezon City already purchased or to be purchased by the National Government for resale to their bona fide tenants or occupants shall be administered by the city through the Mayor, in accordance with ordinances, to be approved by the City Council. For this purpose, all duties, functions, powers and obligations heretofore imposed upon, or exercised or assumed by the Rural Progress Administration in connection with said lands, estates or haciendas are hereby transferred to Quezon City.

Section 82. City Council to fix terms and conditions for resale of lots. - The City Council shall by ordinance fix the terms and conditions for resale of the lots in the lands, haciendas or estates mentioned in section one: Provided, That (a) in such resale, first priority shall be given to the bona fide tenants or occupants of the land, hacienda or estate at the time the same was purchased by the National Government, and second priority to laborers and low-salaried employees and veterans; (b) the price to be fixed shall not exceed that which is sufficient to cover the purchase price paid by the National Government plus cost of surveying, subdividing and laying of boundaries and monuments, etc., if the same had not been already made at the time of the purchase; (c) in the case lots sold on the installment plan, no interest shall be charged in excess of four per centum per annum of the unpaid balance; (d) no cost or expenses of administration of any kind shall be imposed upon the buyers of lots; (e) lands or areas reserved for streets, alleys or other public improvements shall be paid by Quezon City and shall not be charged to the buyers, but for this purpose the city shall be considered as a bona fide tenant and shall be entitled to such terms, installments and other conditions as any other bona fide tenant; and (f) no rent shall be charged to the bona fide tenants or occupants from the time the lands, haciendas or estates were bought by the National Government to the time the lots into which they have been subdivided were sold to the bona fide tenants or occupants.

Section 83. Revision of contracts in connection with resale of lots. - All contracts made and existing at the time of the approval of this Act in connection with the resale of the lots herein mentioned shall be revised and readjusted to conform with the conditions set forth in the proviso of the preceding section and any additional conditions prescribed by the City Council, in so far as they are favorable to the purchasers of said lots. All rents paid by the bona fide tenants or occupants to the National Government at the time of approval of this Act shall be credited in their favor as part of the purchase price the respective lots.

Section 84. Authority of the City to acquire private for sale to residents. - Quezon City is hereby authorized to acquire private lands in the city to subdivide into home lots for sale on easy terms to city residents, giving first priority to the bona fide tenants or occupants of said lands, and second priority to laborers and low-salaried employees and veterans. For the purpose of this section, the city may raise the necessary funds by appropriation of general funds, by securing loans or by issuing bonds, and, if necessary, may acquire the lands through expropriation proceedings in accordance with law, with the approval of the President. The lands acquired under this section shall be administered in the same manner as those mentioned in section eighty-one and the conditions prescribed in the proviso of section eighty-two shall be applicable to the resale of the lands thus acquired.

ARTICLE XIX. - Final Provisions

Section 85. Revealing clause. - Commonwealth Act Numbered Five hundred and two, as amended by Commonwealth Act Numbered Six hundred and fifty-nine, as further amended by Republic Acts Numbered Three hundred and thirty-three and Three hundred and ninety-two, is hereby repealed.

Section 86. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 16, 1950.

"I hereby certify that the foregoing list contains a true statement of the piece or pieces of taxable real estate belonging to each person named in the list, and its true cash value, and that no real estate taxable by law in Quezon City has been omitted from the list, according to the best of my knowledge and belief.

"--------------------------------------------
City Assessor"

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will well and truly hear and determine all matters and issues between the City Assessor and taxpayer submitted f my decision. So help me God. (In case of affirmation, the last four words to be stricken out.)

"---------------------------------------------------
(Signature)

"Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this______ day of ___________19__

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(Signature and title of officer administering oath)"