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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3271 - AN ACT
CREATING THE CITY OF LUCENA
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| Section
1. This Act shall be known as the Charter of the City
of Lucena. ARTICLE I General Provisions Sec. 2. Territory of the city. — The City of Lucena, which is hereby created, shall comprise the present territorial jurisdiction of the Municipality of Lucena in the Province of Quezon. The President of the Philippines may, by executive order, increase the territory of the City of Lucena by adding thereto such contiguous barrios or municipalities as may be necessary and desirable in the public interest. Sec. 3. Corporate character of the city. — The City of Lucena constitutes a political body corporate and as such is endowed with the attribute of perpetual succession and possessed of the powers which pertain to a municipal corporation, to be exercised in conformity with the provisions of this Charter. Sec. 4. Seal and general powers of the city. — The city shall have a common seal which shall be used in all documents of official character, and may alter the same at pleasure. It may take purchase, receive, hold, lease, convey, and dispose of real and personal property for the general interest of the city, condemn private property for public use, contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, prosecute and defend to final judgment and execution, and exercise all the powers hereinafter conferred. Sec. 5. The city not liable for damages. — The city shall not be liable or held for damages or injuries to persons or property arising from the failure of the Municipal Board, the Mayor or any other city officers or employees, to enforce the provisions of this Charter, or any other law or ordinance, or from the negligence of said Municipal Board, Mayor or other city officers or employees while enforcing or attempting to enforce the provisions thereof. Sec. 6. Jurisdiction of the city. — The jurisdiction of the City of Lucena for police purposes shall be co-extensive with its territorial jurisdiction; and for the purpose of protecting and insuring the purity of the water supply of the city, such police jurisdiction shall also extend over all territory, within the drainage area of such water supply, and within one hundred meters of any reservoir, conduit, canal, aqueduct or pumping station used in connection with the city water service. The municipal court of the city shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the justice of peace court of the respective municipalities, 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. The police force of the several municipalities concerned shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the police force of the city for the maintenance of good order and the enforcement of ordinances throughout said zone, area or space shall be granted by the proper authorities of the municipality concerned, and the fees arising therefrom shall accrue to the treasury of the said municipality concerned and not to that of the city. ARTICLE II The Mayor Sec. 7. The Mayor — His election, qualification and compensation. — The Mayor shall be the chief executive of the city. He shall be elected by qualified voters of the city during every general election for provincial, city and municipal officials in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Election Code. No person shall be elected Mayor unless he is at least twenty-five years of age, a resident of the city for at least five years prior to his election, and a qualified voter therein. The mayor shall receive a salary of seven thousand two hundred pesos per annum. He shall be provided, in addition to his salary, a commutable allowance of two hundred fifty pesos a month. Sec. 8. The Vice-Mayor — His election, qualification, duties and compensation. — There shall be a Vice-Mayor who shall perform the duties of the Mayor in the event of the sickness, absence or other temporary incapacity of the Mayor, or in the event of a definitive vacancy in the position of the Mayor until said office is filled in accordance with law. The Vice-Mayor shall also preside over the meetings of the Municipal Board, but he shall have no right to vote except in case of tie. He shall be elected in the same manner as the Mayor and shall at the time of his election possess the same qualification as the Mayor. 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 treasurer. The Acting Mayor shall have the same powers and duties as the Mayor. The Vice-Mayor shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Mayor or prescribed by law on ordinance. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding four thousand two hundred pesos per annum: Provided, however, That when he acts as Mayor, he shall receive a salary equivalent to that of the Mayor. Sec. 9. General powers and duties of the Mayor. — Unless otherwise provided by law, the Mayor shall have immediate control over the executive and administrative functions of the different departments of the city, subject to the authority and supervision of the Office of the President. He shall have the following general powers and duties: (a) To comply with and enforce and give the necessary orders for the faithful enforcement and execution of the laws and ordinances in effect within the jurisdiction of the city. (b) To safeguard all the lands, buildings, records, money, credits and other property and rights of the city and, subject to the provisions of this Charter, shall have control over all its property. (c) To see that all taxes and other revenues of the city are collected and applied in accordance with appropriations to the payment of the municipal expenses. (d) To cause to be instituted judicial proceedings to recover property and funds of the city wherever found; to cause to be defended all suits against the city, and otherwise to protect the interest of the city. (e) To see that the executive officers and employees of the city property discharge their respective duties. The Mayor may, in the interest of the service and with the approval of the department head of the National Government first had, transfer officers and employees not appointed by the President of the Philippines from one section, division or service within the same department without changing the compensation they receive. To examine and inspect the books, records and papers of all officers, agents and employees of the city whom he has executive supervision and control at least once a year, and whenever occasion arises. For this purpose he shall be provided by the Municipal Board with such clerical or other assistance as may be necessary. (g) To give such information and recommend such measures to the Municipal Board as he shall deem advantageous to the city. (h) To represent the city in all its business matters and sign in its behalf all its bonds, contracts, and obligations made in accordance with laws or ordinances. (i) To submit to the Municipal Board at least two months before the beginning of each fiscal year a budget of receipts and expenditures of the city. ( j) To receive, hear, and decide as he may deem proper the petitions, complaints and claims concerning all classes of municipal matters of an administrative or executive character. (k) To grant or refuse municipal licenses or permits of all classes and to revoke the same for violation of the conditions upon which they were granted, or if acts prohibited by law or municipal ordinance are being committed under the protection of such licenses or in the premises in which the business or which the same have been granted is carried on, or for any other good reason of general interest. (l) To exempt, with the concurrence of the superintendent of city schools, deserving poor pupils from the payment of school fees or any part thereof. (m) To take such emergency measures as may be necessary to avoid fires and floods, and mitigate the effects of storms and other public calamities. (n) To submit an annual report to the Office of the President. (o) To exercise the power of veto, but vetoed ordinance or resolution may be repassed by the affirmative vote of six members of the Municipal Board. (p) To perform such other duties and exercise such other executive powers as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. (q) Subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Law and with the confirmation of the majority of the members of the Municipal Board, to appoint all officers and employees of the city, except those whose appointments are vested in the President of the Philippines, or otherwise provided by law. As herein conferred, the mayor shall have the power to appoint employees whose duties are strictly confidential in nature, the same to hold office at this pleasure: Provided, however, That the appointments shall not be subject to the confirmation of the municipal board. Sec. 10. Secretary of the Mayor. — The Mayor shall appoint one secretary who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Mayor. The secretary shall receive a compensation, to be fixed by ordinance approved by the Office of the President, of not exceeding three thousand six hundred pesos per annum. He shall be charged and custody of all records and documents of the city and of any office or department thereof for which provision is not otherwise made; shall keep the corporate seal and affix the same with his signature to all ordinances and resolutions signed by the Mayor, and to all other official documents and papers of the government of the city as may be required by law or ordinance; shall attest all executive orders, proclamations, ordinances and resolutions signed by the Mayor; shall, upon request, furnish certified copies of all city records and documents in his charged which are not of a confidential character, and shall charge twenty centavos for each one hundred words including the certificate, such fees to be paid directly to the city treasurer; and shall perform such other duties as the Mayor may require of him. ARTICLE III The Municipal Board Sec. 11. Constitution and organization of the Municipal Board; compensation of members thereof . — The Municipal Board shall be the legislative body of the city and shall be composed of Vice-Mayor who shall be its presiding officer, and eight councilors who shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the city during every election for provincial, city and municipal officials in conformity with the provisions of the Revised Election Code. In case of sickness, absence, suspension or other temporary disability of any member of the Board, or if necessary to maintain a quorum, the President of the Philippines may appoint a temporary substitute belonging to the same political party as the temporarily incapacitated member, who shall possess all the rights and perform all the duties of a member of the Board until the return to duty of the regular incumbent. If any member of the Municipal Board should be candidate for office in any election, he shall be disqualified to act with the Board in the discharge of the duties conferred upon it relative to election matters, and in such case the other members of the Board shall discharge said duties without his assistance, or they may choose a disinterested elector of the city to act with the Board in such matters in his stead. The members of the Municipal Board shall each receive a salary of not exceeding two thousand pesos per annum: Provided, That they are given the privilege to engage in the practice of their profession. Sec. 12. Qualifications, election, suspension and removal of the members of the Board. — The members of the Municipal Board shall be qualified electors of the city, residents therein for at least one year, and not less than twenty-three years of age. Upon qualifying, the members-elect shall assume office on the date fixed in the Revised Election Code until their successors are elected and qualified. The Members of the Board may be suspended or removed from office under the same circumstances, in the same manner and with the same effect as elective provincial officers, and the provisions of laws providing for the suspension or removal of elective provincial officers are hereby made applicable in the suspension or removal of said members of the Board. Vacancy in the Municipal Board shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Election Code. Sec. 13. Secretary of the Board. — His appointment, salary and duties. — The Municipal Board shall have a secretary who shall be appointed by it after every new election, to serve during the term of office of the members thereof. A vacancy in the Office of the secretary shall be filled temporarily for the unexpired term in like manner. The secretary of the Board shall receive a salary, to be fixed by ordinance approved by the Office of the President, of not exceeding three thousand six hundred pesos per annum. The secretary shall be in charge of the records of the Municipal Board. He shall keep a full record of the proceedings of the Board, and file all documents relating thereto, shall record, in a book kept for that purpose, all ordinances, and all resolutions and motions directing the payment of money or creating liability, enacted or adopted by the Board, with the dates of passage of the same, and of the publication of ordinances; shall keep a seal, circular in form, with the inscription "Municipal Board — City of Lucena," and affix the same, with his signature, to all ordinances and other official acts of the Board, and shall present the same for signature to the presiding officer of the Board; shall cause each ordinance to be published as herein provided; shall, upon request, furnish copies of all records of public character in his charge under the seal of his office and shall charge twenty centavos for each one hundred words including the certificate, the fees to be paid directly to the City Treasurer; and shall keep his office and all records therein which are not of a confidential character open to the public inspection during usual business hours. Sec. 14. Method of transacting business by the Board; Veto; Authentication and publication of ordinances. — Unless the Office of the President orders otherwise, the Board shall hold one ordinary session for the transaction of business during each week on a day which it shall fix by resolution, and such extraordinary sessions, not exceeding thirty during any one year, as may be called by the Mayor. It shall sit with open doors, unless otherwise ordered by an affirmative vote of five members. It shall keep a record of its proceedings and determine its rules of procedure not herein set forth. Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. But a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and may compel the immediate attendance of any member absent without good cause by issuing to the police of the city an order for his arrest and production at the session under such penalties as shall have been previously prescribed by ordinance. Five affirmative votes shall be necessary for the passage of any ordinance, or for any resolution or motion directing the payment of money or creating liability, but other measures shall prevail upon the majority vote of the members present at any meeting duly called and held. The ayes and nays shall be taken and recorded upon the passage of all ordinances, upon all resolutions or motions directing payment of money or creating liability, and at the request of any member, upon any other resolution or motion. Each approved ordinance, resolution or motion shall be sealed with the seal of the Board, signed by the presiding officer and the secretary of the Board and recorded in a book kept for the purpose and shall, on the day following its passage, be posted by the secretary at the main entrance of the city hall, and shall take effect and be in force on and after the tenth day following its passage unless otherwise stated in the said ordinance, resolution or motion or vetoed by the Mayor as hereinafter provided. A vetoed ordinance if repassed, shall take effect ten days after the veto is overriden by the required votes unless otherwise stated in ordinance or again disapproved by the Mayor within the prescribed time. All ordinances, resolutions or motions enacted or adopted by the Board shall be forwarded to the Mayor for his approval. Within ten days after the receipt of ordinance, resolution, or motion, the Mayor shall return it with his approval of veto. If he does not return it within that time, it shall be deemed to be approved. If he returns it with his veto, his reasons therefor in writing shall accompany it. It may then be again enacted by the affirmative vote of six members of the Board, and again forwarded to the Mayor for his approval, and if within ten days after its receipt he does not again return it with his veto, it shall be deemed to be approved. If within said time he again returns it with his veto, it shall be forwarded forthwith to the Office of the President for his approval or disapproval, which shall be final. The Mayor shall have the power to veto any particular item or items of an appropriation ordinance, or of an ordinance, resolution or motion directing the payment of money or creating liability, but the veto shall not affect the item or items to which he does not object. The item or items objected to shall not take effect except in the manner heretofore provided in this section as to ordinances, resolutions, and motions returned to the Board with his veto, but should an item or items in an appropriation ordinance be disapproved by the Mayor, the corresponding item or items in the appropriation ordinance of the previous years shall be deemed reenacted unless otherwise expressly directed in the veto. The Office of the President shall have full power to disapprove directly, in whole or in part, any ordinance, resolution or motion of the Municipal Board if he finds said ordinance, resolution or motion or parts thereof, to be beyond the powers conferred upon the Board. Sec. 15. General powers and duties of the Board. — Except as otherwise provided by law, and subject to the conditions and limitations thereof, the Municipal Board shall have the following legislative powers: (a) To provide for the levy and collection of taxes for general and special purposes in accordance with law including specifically the power to levy real property tax not to exceed two per centum ad valorem. (b) To make all appropriations for the expenses of the government of the city: Provided, however, That not more than sixty per centum of the expected revenue of the city for any fiscal year shall be appropriated for the payment of salaries and wages of officials and employees of the city government for the said fiscal year. (c) To fix with the approval of the Office of the President the number and salaries of officials and employees of the city, subject to the limitations of this Act. (d) To authorize with the approval of the Office of the President the free distribution of medicines to the employees and laborers of the city whose salary or wage does not exceed one hundred and twenty pesos per month or four pesos per day, and of evaporated or fresh native milk to indigent mothers residing in the city, and of bread and light meals to indigent children ten years or less of age residing in the city, the distribution to be made under the direct supervision and control of the Mayor. (e) To fix the tariff of fees and charges for all services rendered by the city or any of its departments, branches or officials. To provide for the erection and maintenance or rental of the necessary buildings for the use of the city. t (g) To establish and maintain schools as provided by law and, with the approval of the Director of Public Schools, to fix reasonable tuition fees for instruction therein. (h) To establish or aid in the establishment and maintenance of vocational schools and institutions of higher learning conducted by the National Government or any of its subdivisions and agencies; and, with the approval of the Director of Public Schools, to fix reasonable tuition fees for instruction in the vocational schools and in the institution of higher learning supported by the city. (i) To provide for and maintain an efficient police force and make all necessary police ordinances, with a view to the confinement and reformation of vagrants, disorderly persons, mendicants, prostitutes, and persons convicted of violating any of the ordinances of the city. ( j) To provide for and maintain an efficient fire force and provide engine houses, fire engines, hose trucks, hooks and ladders, and other equipment for the prevention and extinguishment of fires, and to regulate the management and use of the same. (k) To establish fire zones, determine the kinds of buildings or structures that may be erected within their limits, regulate the manner of constructing and repairing the same, and fix the fees for permits for the construction, repair, or demolition of buildings and other structures. (l) To regulate the use of lights in stables, shops, and other buildings and places and to regulate and restrict the issuance of permits for the building of bonfires and the use of firecrackers, fireworks, skyrockets, and other pyrotechnic display, and to fix the fees for such permits. (m) To make regulations to protect the public from conflagrations and to prevent and mitigate the effects of famine, floods, storms and other public calamities, and provide relief for victims thereof. (n) To regulate and fix the amount of the license fees for the following: hawkers, peddlers and hucksters, not including hucksters or peddlers who sell only native vegetables, fruits or foods, personally carried by the hucksters or peddlers; auctioneers, plumbers, barbers, collecting agencies, mercantile agencies, shipping and intelligence offices, private detective agencies, advertising agencies, beauty parlors, massagists, tattooers, jugglers, acrobats, hotels, clubs, restaurants, cafes, lodging houses, boarding houses, livery garage, livery stables, boarding stables, dealers in large cattle, public billiard tables, laundries, cleaning and dyeing establishments, public warehouses, circuses and other similar parades, public vehicles, race tracks, horse races, bowling alleys, shooting galleries, slot machines, merry-go-rounds, pawnshops, dealers in second hand merchandise, junk dealers, brewers, distillers, rectifiers, money changers and brokers, public ferries, theaters, theatrical performances, cinematographs, public exhibitions and all other performances and places of amusements, and the keeping, preparation and sale of meat, poultry, fish, game, butter, cheese, lard, vegetable, bread, and other provisions. (o) To tax and fix the license fees for dealers of automobiles or accessories or both, and retail dealers of other merchandise, which dealers are not yet subject to the payment of any municipal tax. For the purpose of taxation, these retail dealers shall be classified as (A) retail dealers in general merchandise, and (B) retail dealers exclusively engaged in the sale of (a) textiles including knitted goods, (b) hardwares including glasswares, cooking utensils, electrical goods and construction materials, (c) groceries including toilet articles, except perfumery, (d) drugs including medicines and perfumeries, (e) books, including stationery, paper, and office supplies, (f) jewelries, (g) slippers and footwears, and (h) arms, ammunitions and sporting goods. (p) To tax, fix the license fee for, regulate the business and fix the location of match factories, blacksmith shops, foundries, steam boilers, lumberyards, shipyards, the storage and sale of gunpowder, tar, pitch, resin, coal, oil, gasoline, benzine, turpentine, hemp, cotton, nitroglycerine, petroleum, or any of the products thereof, and of all other highly combustible or explosive materials, and other establishments likely to endanger the public safety or give rise to conflagrations or explosions, and, subject to the rules and regulations issued by the Director of Health Services in accordance with law, tanneries, renderies, tallow chandleries, embalmers, and funeral parlors, bone factories, and soap factories. (q) To regulate the method of using steam engines and boilers, and all other motive powers other than marine steam engines or boilers or those belonging to the Government of the Philippines; to provide for the inspection thereof and fix a reasonable fee for such inspection, and to regulate and fix the fees for the licenses of the engineers engaged in operating the same. (r) To enact ordinances for the maintenance and preservation of peace ad good morals. (s) To regulate and fix the license fees for the keeping of dogs, to authorize their impounding and destruction when running at large, contrary to ordinances, and to tax and regulate the keeping or training of fighting cocks. (t) To establish and maintain municipal pounds; to regulate, restrain and prohibit the running at large of domestic animals, and provide for the distraining, impounding and sale of the same for the penalty incurred, and the cost of the proceedings; and to impose penalties upon the owners of said animals for the violation of any ordinance in relation thereto. (u) To prohibit and provide for the punishment of cruelty to animals. (v) To provide regulations for the weighing and measuring of bricks, lumber, coal, and other articles of merchandise. (w) To regulate, fix the location of, and fix the license fees for the establishment and operation of night clubs, dancing schools, dance halls, cabarets, cockpits and other places of amusement. (x) Subject to the provisions of existing laws, to provide for the laying out, construction, and improvement, and to regulate the use of streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, wharves, piers, parks, cemeteries, and other public places; to provide for lighting, cleaning, and sprinkling of streets and public places; to regulate, fix license fees for, and prohibit the use of the same for processions, signs, sign posts, awnings, awning posts, the carrying or displaying of banners, placards, advertisement, or handbills, or the flying of signs, flags, or banners, whether along, across, over or from the buildings along the same; to prohibit the placing, throwing, depositing, or leaving of obstacles of any kind, offal, garbage, refuse or other offensive matter or matters liable to cause damage in the streets and other public places, and to provide for the collection and disposition thereof; to provide for the inspection of, fix the license fees for, and regulate the openings in the same for the laying of gas, water, sewer, and other pipes, the building and repair of the tunnels, sewers, and drains, and all structures in and under the same, and the erecting of poles and the stringing of wires therein; to provide for and regulate crosswalks, curbs, and gutters therein; to name streets without a name and provide for and regulate the numbering of houses and lots fronting thereon or in the interior of the blocks; to regulate traffic and sales upon the streets and other public places; to provide for the abatement of nuisances in the same and punish the author or owners thereof; to provide for the construction and maintenance, and regulate the use of bridges, viaducts, and culverts; to prohibit or regulate ball playing, kite flying, hoop rolling, and other amusements which they may annoy persons using the streets and public places, or frighten horses or other animals; to regulate the speed of horses and other animals, motor and other vehicles, cars, and locomotives within the limits of the city; to regulate the locating, constructing, and laying of the tracks of horses, electric and other forms of railroad in the streets or other public places of the city as may be authorized by law; unless otherwise provided by law, to provide for and change the location, grade, and crossing of railroads, and to compel any such railroad to raise or lower its tracks to conform to such provisions or changes; and to require railroad companies to fence their property, or any part thereof, and to construct and repair ditches, drains, sewers, and culverts along and under their tracks so that the natural drainage of the streets and adjacent property shall not be obstructed. (y) To provide for the construction and maintenance of, and regulate the navigation on, canals and water courses within the city and provide for the clearing and purification of the same; unless otherwise provided by law, to provide for the construction and maintenance, and regulate the use of public landing places, wharves, piers, docks and levees, and of those of private ownership; and to provide for or regulate the drainage and filling of private premises when necessary in the enforcement of sanitary rules and regulations issued in accordance with law. (z) Subject to the provisions of the Public Service Law, to fix the charges to be paid by all watercraft landing at or using public wharves, docks, levees, or landing places owned, operated, managed, or controlled by the city. (aa) To provide for the maintenance of waterworks for the purpose of supplying water to the inhabitants of the city, and for the purification of the sources of supply and the places through which the same passes, and to regulate the consumption and use of the water; to fix, subject to the provisions of the Public Service Law, and to provide for the collection of rents therefor; and to regulate the construction, repair, and use of hydrants, pumps, cisterns, and reservoirs. (bb) To provide the establishment and maintenance and regulate the use of public drains, sewers, latrines, and cesspools. (cc) Subject to the rules and regulations issued by the Director of Health Services in accordance with law, to provide for the establishment, maintenance and regulation and to fix the fees for the use of public stables, laundries and baths, and public markets and to prohibit the establishment or operation within the city limits of public markets by any person, entity, association, or corporation other than the city. (dd) To establish or authorize the establishment of slaughterhouses, to provide for their veterinary or sanitary inspection, to regulate the use of the same, and to charge reasonable slaughter fees. No fees shall be charged for veterinary or sanitary inspection of meat from large cattle or other domestic animals slaughtered outside the city when such inspection was had at the place where the animals were slaughtered. (ee) To provide measures preventing any discrimination or the exclusion of any race or races in or from any institution, establishment, or service open to the public within the city limits; to regulate and provide for the inspection of all gas, electric, telephone and street-railway conduits, mains, motors, and other apparatus, and provide for the condemnation, substitution, or removal of the same when defective or dangerous. ( ff ) To declare, prevent, and provide for the abatement of nuisances; to regulate the ringing of bells and the making of loud or unusual noises; to provide that owners, agents, or tenants of buildings or premises keep and maintain the same in sanitary condition, and that, in case of failure to do so within sixty days from the date of serving a written notice, the city health officer shall cause the same to be kept in sanitary condition, the cost thereof to be assessed to the owner to the extent of not to exceed sixty per centum of the assessed value, which cost shall constitute a lien against the property; and to regulate or prohibit or fix the license fees for the use of property on or near public ways, grounds, or places, or elsewhere within the city, or a display of electric signs or the erection or maintenance of billboards or structures of whatever material erected, maintained, or used for the display of posters, signs, or other pictorial or reading matter, except signs displayed at the place or places where the profession or business advertised thereby is in whole or in part conducted. (gg) To provide the enforcement of the rules and regulations issued by the Director of Health Services, and by ordinance to prescribed penalties for violations of such rules and regulations. (hh) To extend its ordinances over all waters within the city, over any boat or other floating structures thereon and, for the purpose of protecting and insuring the purity of the water supply of the city, over all territory within the drainage area of such water supply, and within one hundred meters of any reservoir, conduit, canal, aqueduct, or pumping station used in connection with the city water service. (ii) To tax, fix the license fee for, and regulate the sale, trading in or disposal of alcoholic or malt beverages, wines, and mixed fermented liquors, including tuba, basi, tapuy, offered for retail sale. t ( jj) To regulate any other business or occupation not specifically mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, and to impose a license fee upon all persons engaged in the same or who enjoy privileges in the city. (kk) To grant fishing and fishery privileges subject to the provisions of the Fisheries Act. (ll) To fix the date of the holding of a fiesta in the city not oftener than once a year and to alter, not oftener than once in three years, the date fixed for the celebration thereof. (mm) To enact all ordinances it may deem necessary and proper for the sanitation and safety, the furtherance of the prosperity, and the promotion of the morality, peace, good order, comfort, convenience, and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants, and such others as may be necessary to carry into effect and discharge the powers and duties conferred by his Charter, and to fix the penalties for the violation of ordinances, which shall not exceed a two hundred-peso fine, or six months imprisonment, or both such fine and imprisonment for a single offense. (nn) To exercise each such other powers that are now or may hereafter granted by law. Sec. 16. Restrictive provisions. — 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 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 the 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 creation or display thereof. ARTICLE IV Departments and Offices of the City Sec. 17. City Departments. — There shall be a finance department, an engineering department, a law department, a health department, a police department, a fire department, and an assessment department. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Mayor shall have general supervisory control over all the city departments. The Municipal Board may from time to time make such readjustment of the duties of the several departments as the public interest may demand, and, with the approval of the President of the Philippines, may consolidate any department, division or office of the city with any other department, division or office. Sec. 18. Powers and duties of head of departments. — Each head of department of the city government shall be in control of such department and shall possess such powers and obligations as may be prescribed herein or by ordinance. He shall certify to the correctness of all payrolls and vouchers of his department covering the payment of money before payment, except as herein otherwise expressly provided. At least four months before the beginning of each fiscal year, he shall prepare and present to the Mayor an estimate of the appropriation necessary for the operation of his department during the ensuing fiscal year, and shall submit therewith such information for purposes of comparison as the Mayor may desire. He shall submit to the Mayor as often as required reports covering the operation of his department. In case of the absence or sickness, or inability to act for any other reason, of the head of any of the city departments, the officer next in charge of that department shall act in his place with authority to sign all necessary papers, vouchers, requisitions and other similar documents. Sec. 19. Appointment and removal of officials and employees. — The President of the Philippines shall appoint, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, the judge and auxiliary judge of the municipal court, the city treasurer, the city engineer, the city attorney, the city health officer, the chief of police, the chief of the fire department, and the other heads of such city departments as may be created. All other officers and employees of the city whose appointment is not otherwise provided for by law shall be appointed by the Mayor upon the recommendation of the corresponding city department head in accordance with the Civil Service Law and they shall be suspended or removed in accordance with the said law. Sec. 20. Officers not to engage in certain transactions. — It shall be unlawful for any city officer, directly or indirectly, individually or as a member of a firm, to engage in any business transaction with city, or with any of its authorized officials, boards, agents, or attorneys, whereby money is to be paid, directly or indirectly, out of the resources of the city to such person or firm; or to purchase any real estate or other property belonging to the city, or which shall be sold for taxes or assessments, or by virtue of legal process at the suit of the city; or to be surety for any person having a contract or doing business with the city, for the performance of which security may be required; or to be surety on the official bond of any officer of the city and shall not be financially interested in any transaction or contract in which the National Government or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof is an interested party. t ARTICLE V Finance Department Sec. 21. The City Treasurer. His powers, duties and compensation. — There shall be a city treasurer, 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. He shall receive a salary of five thousand four hundred pesos per annum: Provided, That in the event that the City of Lucena is reclassified into a second or first class city, he shall receive that which is fixed under Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty. He shall have the following general powers and duties: (a) He shall collect all taxes due the city, all licenses authorized by law or ordinance, all rents due for lands, markets and other property owned by the city, all further charges of whatever nature fixed by law or ordinance, and shall receive and issue receipt for all cost, fees, fines and forfeitures imposed by the municipal court. (b) He shall collect all miscellaneous charges made by the engineering department and by other departments of the city government, and all charges made by the city engineer for inspections, permits, licenses, and the installations, maintenance and services rendered in the operation of the private privy system. (c) Unless otherwise specifically provided by law or resolution, he shall perform in and for the city the duties imposed by law or resolution upon provincial treasurers generally, as well as the other duties imposed upon him by law. (d) He shall purchase and issue all supplies, equipment or other property required by the city, through the purchasing agent, or otherwise, as may be authorized, subject to the general provisions of law relating thereto. (e) He shall be accountable for all funds and property of the city and shall render such accounts in connection therewith as may be prescribed by the Auditor General. He shall deposit daily all city funds and collections in any bank duly designated as Government depository. (g) He shall disburse the funds of the city in accordance with duly authorized appropriations, upon properly executed vouchers bearing the approval of the chief of the department concerned, and on or before the twentieth day of each month he shall furnish the Mayor and the Municipal Board for their administrative information a statement of the appropriation, expenditures and balances of all funds and accounts as of the last day of the month of preceding. ARTICLE VI Engineering Department Sec. 22. The City Engineer — His powers, duties and compensation. — There shall be a city engineer who shall be in charge of the department of engineering and public works: Provided, however, That the District Engineer of Quezon Province shall act as city engineer ex officio for one year from the approval of this Act, and who shall receive an additional compensation of not exceeding one thousand two hundred pesos per annum, payable from the funds of the city. The city engineer shall receive a salary of not exceeding the sum provided for under Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty. He shall have the following general powers and duties: (a) He shall have charge of all the surveying and engineering work of the city, and shall perform such service in connection with public improvements, or any work entered upon or proposed by the city, or any department thereof, as may require the skill and experience of a civil engineer. (b) He shall ascertain, record, and establish monuments of the city survey and from thence extend the survey of the city, and locate, establish, and survey all city property and also private property abutting on the same, whenever directed by the Mayor. (c) He shall prepare and submit plans, maps, specifications and estimates for buildings, streets, bridges, docks, and other public works, and supervise the construction and repair of the same. (d) He shall make such tests and inspection of engineering materials used in the construction and repair as may be necessary to protect the city from the use of materials of a poor or dangerous quality. (e) He shall have the care of all public buildings, including markets and slaughterhouses and all buildings rented for city purposes, and of any system now or hereafter established by the city for lighting the streets, public places, and public buildings. He shall have the care of all public streets, parks and bridges, and shall maintain, clean, sprinkle, and regulate the use of the same for all purposes as provided by ordinance; shall collect and dispose of all garbage, refuse, the contents of closets, vaults, and cesspools, and all other offensive and dangerous substance within the city. (g) He shall have the care and custody of all public docks, wharves, piers, levees, and landing places owned by the city. (h) He shall prevent the encroachment of private buildings and fences on the streets and public places of the city. (i) He shall have general supervision and inspection of all private docks, wharves, piers, levees, and landing places, and other property bordering on the harbor, river, esteros, and waterways of the city, and shall issue permits for the construction, repair and removal of the same, and enforce all ordinances relating to the same. ( j) He shall have the care and custody of the public system of waterworks and sewers, and all sources of water supply, and shall control, maintain, and regulate the use of the same, in accordance with the ordinance relating thereto; shall inspect and regulate the use of all private systems for supplying water to the city and its inhabitants; and all private sewers and their connections with the public sewer system. (k) He shall supervise the laying of mains and connections for the purpose of supplying gas to the inhabitants of the city. (l) He shall inspect and report upon the conditions of public property and public works whenever required by the Mayor. (m) He shall supervise and regulate the location and use of engines, boilers, forges, and other manufacturing and heating appliances in accordance with law and ordinance relating thereto. He is authorized to charge fees at rates to be fixed by the Board with the approval of the Department Head, for the sanitation and transportation services and supplies furnished by his department. (n) He shall inspect and supervise the construction, repair, removal, and safety of private buildings, and regulate and enforce the numbering of houses in accordance with the ordinances of the city. (o) With the previous approval of the Mayor in each case, he shall order the removal of buildings and structures erected in violation of the ordinances; shall order the removal of the materials employed in the construction or repair of any building or structure made in violation of said ordinances; and shall cause buildings and structures dangerous to the public to be made secure or torn down. (p) He shall file and preserve all maps, plans, notes, surveys, and other papers and documents pertaining to his office. Sec. 23. Execution of authorized public works and improvements. — All repair or construction of any work or public improvement, except parks, boulevards, streets or alleys, involving an estimated cost of three thousand pesos or more shall be awarded by the Mayor upon the recommendation of the city engineer to the lowest responsible bidder after public advertisement by posting notices of the call for bids in conspicuous places in the City Hall and other public places, which shall not be less than ten days, and by publication in the Official Gazette for not less than ten days: Provided, however, That the city engineer may, with the approval of the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, execute by administration any such public work 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 to let the contract to the lowest bidder after such publication and notice as shall be deemed appropriate or as may be, by regulations, prescribed. ARTICLE VII Law Department Sec. 24. The City Attorney — His powers, duties, and compensation. — There shall be a city attorney, who shall be the chief legal adviser of the city. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding the sum provided in Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty. He shall have the following general powers and duties: (a) He shall personally or through any assistant represent the city in all civil cases wherein the city or any officer thereof, in his official capacity, is a party; and shall prosecute and defend all civil actions related or connected with any city officer or interest. (b) He shall, when directed by the Mayor, institute and prosecute in the city's interest a suit on any bond, lease, or other contract and upon any breach or violation thereof. (c) He shall, when requested, attend meetings of the Board, draw ordinances, contracts, bonds, leases, and other instruments involving any interest of the city, and inspect and pass upon any such instruments already drawn. (d) He shall give his opinion in writing, when requested by the Mayor or the Board or any of the heads of the city departments, upon any question relating to the city or the rights or duties of any city officer thereof. (e) He shall, whenever it is brought to his knowledge that any city officer or employee is guilty of neglect or misconduct in office, or that any person, firm, or corporation holding or exercising any franchise or public privilege from the city, has failed to comply with any condition, or to pay any consideration mentioned in the grant of such franchise or privilege, investigate or cause to be investigated the same and report to the Mayor. He shall investigate all charges of crimes, misdemeanors, and violations of laws and city ordinances and prepare the necessary informations or make the necessary complaints against the persons accused. He may conduct such investigations by taking oral evidence of reputed witnesses and for this purpose may, by subpoena or subpoena duces tecum summon witnesses to appear and testify under oath before him, or to produce documents and other evidence before him, and the attendance of, or the production of documents and other evidence by an absent or recalcitrant witness may be enforced by application for warrant of arrest to the municipal court or the Court of First Instance. (g) He shall have charge of the prosecution of all crimes, misdemeanors and violations of laws and city ordinances triable in the Court of First Instance of Quezon and the municipal court of the city, and shall discharge all the duties in respect to criminal prosecutions enjoined by law upon provincial fiscals. (h) He shall cause to be investigated the causes of sudden deaths which have not been satisfactorily explained and when there is suspicion that the cause arose from unlawful acts or omissions of other persons or from foul play. For that purpose he may cause autopsies to be made in case it is deemed necessary and shall be entitled to demand and receive for the purpose of such investigations or autopsies the aid of the city health officer. (i) He shall at all times render such professional service as the Mayor or Municipal Board may require, and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by law ordinance. ( j) He shall perform the duties prescribed by law for register of deeds. ARTICLE VIII Health Department Sec. 25. The City Health Officer — His powers, duties and compensation. — There shall be a city health officer who shall have charge of the health department. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding the sum provided in Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty, one-half of which shall be paid by the city government and the other half by the National Government. The city health officer shall have the following general power and duties: (a) He shall have general supervision over the health and sanitary conditions of the city. (b) He shall execute and enforce all laws, ordinances, and regulations relating to the public health. (c) He shall recommend to the Municipal Board the passage of such ordinance as may deem necessary for the preservation of the public health. (d) He shall cause to be prosecuted all violations of sanitary laws, ordinances, or regulations. (e) He shall make sanitary inspection and may be aided therein by such members of the police force of the city or the national police as shall be designated as sanitary police by the chief of police or proper national police officer and such sanitary inspectors as may be authorized by law. He shall keep a civil register for the city and shall record therein all births, marriages, and deaths with their respective dates. (g) He shall perform such other duties, not repugnant to law or ordinance, with reference to the health and sanitation of the city as the Director of Health Services shall direct. ARTICLE IX Police Department Sec. 26. The Chief of Police — His powers, duties, and compensation. — There shall be a chief of police who shall have charge of the police department. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding the sum provided in Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty. He shall have the following general powers and duties: (a) He may issue supplementary regulations not incompatible with law or general regulations promulgated by the proper department head of the National Government, in accordance with law, for the governance of the city police and detective force. t (b) He shall quell riots, disorders, disturbances of the peace, and shall arrest and prosecute violators of any law or ordinance; shall exercise police supervision over all land and water within the police jurisdiction of the city; shall be charged with the protection of the rights of person and property wherever found within the jurisdiction of the city, and shall arrest when necessary to prevent the escape of the offender, violators of any law or ordinance, and all who obstruct or interfere with him in the discharge of his duty; shall have charge of the city prison; and shall be responsible for the safe-keeping of all prisoners until they shall be released from custody, in accordance with law, or delivered to the warden of the proper prison or penitentiary. (c) He may take good and sufficient bail for the appearance before the judge of the municipal court of any person arrested for violation of any city ordinance. (d) He shall have authority, within the police limits of the city, to serve and execute criminal processes of any court. (e) He shall be the deputy sheriff of the city, and as such, he shall, personally or by representative, attend the sessions of the municipal court, and shall execute promptly and faithfully, all writs and processes of said court. He shall exercise supervision over the police training school established in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Police Department. (g) He shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the law or ordinance. Sec. 27. The Chief of the Secret Service. — There shall be a chief of the secret service who shall, under the chief of police, have charge of the detective work of the department and of the detective force of the city, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the chief of police or prescribed by law or ordinance. The chief of secret service shall receive a salary of not exceeding two thousand one hundred sixty pesos per annum. Sec. 28. Peace Officers. — Their powers and duties. — The Mayor, the chief of police, the chief of secret service, and all officers and members of the city police and detective force shall be peace officers. Such peace officers are authorized to serve and execute all processes of the municipal court and criminal processes of all other courts to whomsoever directed, within the jurisdictional limits of the city or within the police limits as defined in this Charter, within the same territory, to 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; to 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 to enter any building, ship, boat, or vessel or take into custody any person therein suspected of being concerned in such crime or breach of the peace, and any property suspected of having been stolen, and to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. They shall detain an arrested person only in accordance with the provisions of existing laws relative to such detention until he can be brought before, the proper magistrate. Whenever the Mayor shall deem it necessary to avert danger or to protect life and property, in case of riot, disturbance, or public calamity, he shall have power to swear in special police, in such numbers as the occasion demands. Such special police shall have the same powers while on duty as members of the regular force. ARTICLE X Fire Department Sec. 29. The Chief of Fire Department — His powers, duties and compensation. — There shall be a chief of fire department who shall have charge of said department. He shall receive a salary of not exceeding the sum provided in Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty. He shall have the following general powers and duties: (a) He may issue supplementary regulations not incompatible with law or general regulations issued by the proper department head of the National Government in accordance with law, for the governance of the fire force. (b) He shall have charge of the fire-engine houses, fire engines, hose trucks, hooks and ladders, trucks and all other fire apparatus. (c) He shall have full police powers in the vicinity of fires. (d) He shall have authority to remove or demolish any building or other property whenever it shall become necessary to prevent the spreading of fire or to protect adjacent property. t (e) He shall investigate and report to the Mayor upon the origin and cause of all fires occurring within the city. He shall inspect buildings erected or under construction or repair within the city and determine whether they provide sufficient protection against fire and comply with the ordinances relating thereto. (g) He shall have charge of the city fire alarm service. (h) He shall supervise and regulate the stringing, grounding, and installation of wires for all electrical connection with a view to avoiding conflagrations, interference with public traffic or safety, or the necessary operation of the fire department. (i) He shall supervise the manufacture, storage, and use of petroleum, gas, acetylene, gunpowder, and other highly combustible matters and explosives. ( j) He shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. ARTICLE XI Assessment Department Sec. 30. The City Treasurer as City Assessor Ex-Officio — His general powers, duties and compensation. — The city treasurer shall act as city assessor ex officio and shall have charge of the department of assessment. He shall receive an additional salary of not exceeding the sum authorized under Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty. He and his authorized deputies are empowered to administer any oath authorized in connection with the valuation of real estate for the assessment and collection of taxes. He shall make the list of the taxable real estate in the city, arranging in the order of the lot and block numbers the names of the owners thereof, with a brief description of the property opposite each such name and the cash value thereof. In the making this list, the city assessor ex officio shall take into consideration any sworn statement made by the owners of the of the property, but shall not be prevented thereby from considering other evidence on the subject and exercising his own judgment in respect thereto. For the purpose of completing this list, he and his representatives may enter upon the real estate for the purpose of examining and measuring it, and may summon witnesses, administer oaths to them, and subject them to examination concerning the ownership and the amount of real estate and its cost value. He may, if necessary, examine the records of the office of the Register of Deeds of the Province of Quezon showing the ownership of real estate in the city. Sec. 31. Real estate exempt from taxation. — The following shall be exempt from taxation: (a) Lands or buildings owned by the Republic of the Philippines, the Province of Quezon or the City of Lucena, and burying grounds, churches, and their adjacent parsonages and convents, and lands or buildings used exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, or educational purposes, and not for profit; but such exemption shall not extend to lands or buildings held for investment, though income therefrom be devoted to religious, charitable, scientific, or educational purposes. (b) Lands or building which are the only real property of the owners, and the value of which does not exceed two hundred pesos. (c) Machinery, which term shall embrace machines, mechanical contrivances, instruments, appliances; and apparatus attached to the real state used for industrial, agricultural or manufacturing purposes, during the first five years of operation of the machinery. Sec. 32. Declaration to be made by persons acquiring or improving real estate. — It shall be the duty of each person who, at any time, acquires real estate in the city, and of each person who constructs or adds to any improvements on real estate owned by him in the city, to prepare and present to the city assessor ex officio within a period of sixty days next following such acquisition, 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 a description of such property sufficient to enable the city assessor ex officio readily identify the same. Any person having acquired real estate who fails to make and present the declaration herein required 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 has been assessed in the name of its present owner. Sec. 33. Action when owner makes no returns or is unknown, or ownership is in dispute or in doubt, or when land and improvements are separately owned. — If the owner of any parcel of real estate shall fail to make a return thereof, or if the city assessor ex officio is unable to discover the owner of any real estate, he shall nevertheless list the same for taxation, and charge the tax against the true owner, if known, and if unknown then as against an unknown owner. In case of doubt or dispute as to ownership of real estate, the taxes shall be levied against the possessor or possessors thereof. When it shall appear that there are separate owners of the land and the improvements thereon, a separate assessment of the property of each shall be made. Sec. 34. Action in case estate has escaped taxation. If it shall come to the knowledge of the city assessor ex officio that any taxable real estate in the city has escaped listing, it shall be his duty to list and assess the same at the time and in the manner provided in the next succeeding section and to charge against the owner thereof the taxes due for the current year and the last preceding one year, and the taxes thus assessed shall be legal and collectible by all the remedies herein provided, and if the failure of the city assessor ex officio to assess such taxes to any fault or negligence on the part of the owner of such property, the penalties shall be added to such back taxes as though they had been assessed at the time when they should have been assessed. Sec. 35. When assessment may be increased or reduced. — The city assessor ex officio shall, during the first fifteen days of January 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 therefor 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 assessment, as the case may be. Sec. 36. Publication of complete list and proceedings thereon. — The city assessor ex officio shall, after the list shall have been completed, inform the public by notice published for seven days in a newspaper of general circulation in the city, if any, and by notice posted for seven days at the main entrance of the City Hall, that the list is on file in his office and may be examined by any person interested therein, and that upon the date fixed in the notice, which shall not be later than the tenth day of February, the city assessor ex officio will be in his office for the purpose of hearing complaints as to the accuracy of the listing of the property and the assessed value thereof. He shall further notify in writing each person the amount of whose tax will be changed by such proposed revision, by delivering or mailing at least thirty days in advance of the date fixed in the notice such notification to such person or his authorized agent at the last known address of such owner or agent in the Philippines. It shall be his duty carefully to preserve and record his office copies of said notice. On the day fixed in the notice, and for five days thereafter, he shall be present in his office to hear all complaints filed within the period by persons against whom taxes have been assessed as owners of real estate, and he shall make his decision forthwith and enter the same in a well-bound book, to be kept by him for that purpose, and if he shall determine that injustice has been done or errors have been committed he is authorized to amend the list in accordance with his findings. Sec. 37. City assessor ex officio to authenticate list of real estate assessed. — The city assessor ex officio shall authenticate each list of real estate valued and assessed by him as soon as the same is completed, by signing the following certificate at the foot thereof: "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 the City of Lucena has been omitted from the list, according to the best of my knowledge and behalf. ____________________________ (Signature) City Assessor Ex Officio" Sec. 38. Time and manner of appealing to Board of Tax Appeals. — In case any owner of real estate, or his authorized agent, shall feel aggrieved by any decision of the city assessor ex officio under the preceding sections of this Article, such owner or agent may, within thirty days after the entry of such decision, appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals. The appeal shall be perfected by filing a written notice of the same with the city assessor ex officio, and it shall be the duty of that officer forthwith to transmit the appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals with all the written evidence in his possession relating to such assessment and valuation. Sec. 39. Constitution and compensation of the Board of Tax Appeals. — There shall be a Board of Tax Appeals which shall be composed of five members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. Three members of the Board shall be selected from among government officials in the city other than those in charge of assessment and they shall serve without additional compensation. The two other members shall be selected from among property owners in the city and they shall each receive a compensation of ten pesos for each day of session actually attended. The Chairman of the Board shall be designated in the appointment and shall have the power to designate any city official or employee to serve as the secretary of the Board without additional compensation. The members of the Board of Tax Appeals shall hold office for a term of two years unless sooner removed by the President of the Philippines. Sec. 40. Oath to be taken by the members of the Board of Tax Appeals. — Before organizing as such, the members of the Board of Tax Appeals shall take the following oath before the municipal judge or some other officer authorized to administer oaths: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will hear and determine well and truly all matters and issues between taxpayers and the city assessors ex officio submitted for my decision. So help me God. (In case affirmation the last four words are to be stricken out). _____________________________ (Signature) Member of the Board of Tax Appeals "Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this ________ day of _____________ , 19 ________ ___________________________________ (Signature and title of officer administering oath) Sec. 41. Proceedings before the Board of Tax Appeals and the Department Head. — The Board of Tax Appeals shall hold such number of sessions as may be authorized by the Secretary of Finance, shall hear all appeals duly transmitted to it, and shall decide the same forthwith. 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 the majority thereof, and transmit it to the city assessor ex officio who shall amend the tax list in conformity with said order. It shall also have the power to revise and correct, with the approval of the Department Head first had, any and all erroneous or unjust assessments and valuations for taxation, and make a correct and just assessment and state the true valuation, in each case when it decides that the assessment previously made is erroneous or unjust. The assessment when so corrected shall be lawful and valid for all purposes as though the assessment had been made within the time herein prescribed. Such reassessment and revaluation shall be made on due notice to the individual concerned who 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 Department Head declares the decision reopened for review by him, in which case he may make such revision or revaluation as in his opinion the circumstances justify. Such revision when approved by the President of the Philippines shall be final. Sec. 42. Taxes on real estate. — Extension and remission of the tax. — A tax, the rate of which shall not exceed two per centum ad valorem to be determined by the Municipal Board, shall be levied annually on or before the second Monday of January on the assessed value of all real estate in the city subject to taxation. All taxes on real estate for any year shall be due and payable annually on the first day of January and from this date such taxes together with all penalties accruing thereto shall constitute a lien on the property subject to such taxation. Such lien shall be superior to all other liens, mortgages or encumbrances of any kind whatsoever; and shall be enforceable against the property whether in the possession of the delinquent or any subsequent owner, and can only be removed by the payment of the tax and penalty. At the option of the taxpayers, the tax for any year may be paid in two installments, to be fixed annually by the Municipal Board simultaneously with the rate per centum ad valorem taxation: Provided, That the time limit for the first and second installments shall be set at not late than thirty-first day of May and the thirtieth day of October of each year, respectively. Any person, who on the last day set for the payment of the real estate tax as provided in the preceding paragraphs, shall be within the premises of the City Hall willing and ready to pay the tax but is unable to effect it on account of the large number of taxpayers therein present, shall be furnished a properly prescribed card which will entitle him to pay the tax without penalty on the following day. The words "paid under protest" shall be written upon the face of the real estate tax receipt upon the request of any person willing to pay the tax under protest. Confirmation in writing of an oral protest shall be made within thirty days. At the expiration of the time for the payment of the real estate tax without penalty, the taxpayer shall be subject, from the first day of delinquency, to the payment of penalty at the rate of two per centum for each full month of delinquency that has expired, on the amount of the original tax due, until the tax shall have been paid in full or until the property shall have been forfeited to the city provided in this Act: Provided, That in no case shall the total penalty exceed twenty-four per centum of the original tax due. In the event that the crop is extensively damaged or that a great lowering of the prices of products is registered in any year, or that a similar disaster extends throughout the Province, or for other good and sufficient reason, the Municipal Board may, by resolution passed on or before the thirty-first day of December of each year, extend the time for the collection of the tax or penalty for the ensuing year, but such resolution shall have to specify clearly the grounds for such extension or remission and shall not take effect until it shall have been approved by the Department Head. The President of the Philippines may, in his discretion, remit or reduce the real estate taxes for any year in the city if he deems this to be in the public interest. Sec. 43. Seizure of the personal property for delinquency in payment of the tax. — After a property shall have become delinquent in the payment of taxes and said taxes and the corresponding penalties shall remain unpaid ninety days after payment thereof shall have become due, the city treasurer, or his deputy, if he desires to compel payment through seizure of any personal property of any delinquent person or persons, shall issue a duly authenticated certificate, based on the records of his office, showing the fact of delinquency and the amount of the tax and the penalty due from said delinquent person or persons or from each of them. Such certificate shall be sufficient warrant for the seizure of the personal property belonging to the delinquent person or persons in question not exempt from seizure; and these proceedings may be carried out by the city treasurer, his deputy, or any other officer authorized to carry out legal proceedings. Sec. 44. Personal property exempt from seizure and sale for delinquency. — The following personal property shall be exempt from seizure, sale and execution for delinquency in the payment of the real estate tax: t (a) Tools and implements necessarily used by the delinquent in his trade or employment. (b) One horse, cow or carabao, or other beast of burden, such as the delinquent may select, and necessarily used by him in his ordinary occupation. (c) His necessary clothing and that of his family. (d) Household furniture and utensils necessary for housekeeping and used for that purpose by the delinquent, such as he may select of a value not exceeding one hundred pesos. (e) Provisions for individual or family use sufficient for four months. The professional libraries of lawyers, judges, clergymen, physicians, engineers, schoolteachers and music teachers, dentists, pharmacists, certified public accountants, not exceeding five hundred pesos in value. (g) The fishing boat and net, not exceeding the total value of one hundred pesos, the property of any fisherman, by the lawful use of which he earns a livelihood. (h) Any article or material which forms part of a home or of any improvement on any real estate. Sec. 45. The owner may redeem personal property before sale. — The owner of the |