Section 25Sec./Art. 25

The Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. -(a) There shall be a secretary to thesangguniang panlalawiganwho shall be a career official with the ranl and salary equal to a head of a department or office.

(b) The secretary to thesanggunianmust be a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the province, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in law, commerce or public administration from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent.1aшphi1

The appointment of the secretary to thesanggunianis mandatory.

(c) The secretary to thesanggunianshall take charge of the office of thesangguniang panlalawigan,and pursuant thereto, perform the following:

(1) Attend meetings of thesanggunianand keep a journal of its proceedings;

(2) Keep the seal of the province and affix the same on all ordinances, resolutions and other official papers of thesanggunian,duly signing them before presenting the same to the presiding officer for the latter's signature;

(3) Forward to the provincial governor, for approval, copies of ordinances enacted by thesanggunianand duly certified by the presiding officer, in the manner provided under Section 54 of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended;

(4) Forward to thesangguniang bayanorsangguniang panlungsod,as the case may be, copies of duly approved ordinances in the manner provided under Sections 56 and 57 of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended;

(5) Furnish, upon the request of any interested party, certified copies of records of public character in the secretary's custody, upon payment to the treasurer of such fees as may be prescribed by ordinance;

(6) Record in a book kept for the purpose, all ordinances and resolutions enacted or adopted by thesanggunian,with the dates of passage and publication thereof;

(7) Keep the office and all nonconfidential records therein open to the public during usual business hours;

(8) Translate into the dialect used by the majority of the inhabitants, all ordinances and resolutions immediately after their approval, and cause the publication of the same together with the original version in the manner provided under the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended;

(9) Take custody of the local archives and, where applicable, the local archives and, where applicable, the local library and annually account for the same; and

(10) Exercise such powers and perform other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance relative to his or her position.