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

SECTION 1. Section six of Republic Act Numbered Two hundred eighty-eight, otherwise known as the Charter the City of Basilan, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Three hundred fifty-five, is further amended to read as follows:

"SEC 6. Election and compensation.—The City of Basilan shall have a mayor who shall be its chief executive nd who shall reside therein.    He shall be elected by the voters of the city during every election for and municipal officials in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Election Code. No person shall be eligible for the position of Mayor unless he is at least twenty-five years of age, a qualified voter and a resident of the city for not less than one year immediately preceding his election.

"The Mayor shall receive the salary provided for in Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty."

SEC. 2. Sections seven and ten of the same Act are amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 7. The Vice-Mayor.—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 Mayor, until said office shall be filled in accordance with law. 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. The acting Mayor shall have the same powers and duties as the Mayor.

“The Vice-Mayor shall be the Chairman of the Council and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Mayor or prescribed by law or ordinance. He shall be elected in the same manner and shall possess the same qualifications as the Mayor, and shall receive a salary which shall not exceed three thousand six hundred pesos, the amount thereof to be fixed by the Council on the basis of the income of the city."

“SEC. 10. Establishment and organization of the council.-There shall be a council which shall be the legislative body of the City of Basilan. It shall be composed of eight members who shall be elected at large by popular vote during every election held for provincial and municipal officers in conformity with the Revised Election Code"

"The Vice-Mayor shall be the Chairman of the Council and shall preside at all sessions thereof in which he is present but shall have no right to vote except in case of tie. When the Vice-Mayor acts as Mayor or in his absence the member who received the highest number of votes in the last election among those present shall preside at the sessions of the Council as acting Chairman. The Chairman of the Council shall sign the ordinances, resolutions and motions directing the payment of money or creating liability, in case of absence or illness of any member of the Council, or if, for any reason, it shall become necessary to have a quorum, the President of the Philippines shall appoint temporarily a substitute, who shall hold the office, have the rights, receive the compensation and emoluments and discharge all the duties of a member of the Council until such absent or sick member returns to duty.

"The members of the Council shall each receive the per diem provided for in Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred forty."

SEC. 3. Pending the next general election for provincial and municipal officers to be held following the approval of this Act, the position of Vice-Mayor and two additional elective councilors shall be filled by appointment by the President of the Philippines.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, April 29, 1955.