Section 26Sec./Art. 26

Temporary Vacancy in the Office of the City Mayor. - (a) When the City Mayor is temporarily incapacitated to perform the duties for physical or legal reasons such as, but not limited to, leave of absence, travel abroad, or suspension from office, the City Vice-Mayor or the highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod member, as the case may be, shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the City Mayor, except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees which can only exercised if the period of temporary incapacity exceeds thirty (30) working days.

(b) The temporary incapacity shall terminate upon submission of the City Mayor of a written declaration of having reported back to the office to the Sangguniang Panlungsod. In case where the temporary incapacity is due to legal cause, the City Mayor shall also submit the necessary documents showing that the legal cause no longer exists.

(c) When traveling within the country but outside the territorial jurisdiction of the City for a period not exceeding three (3) consecutive days, the City Mayor may designate in writing the officer-in-charge of the office. Such authorization shall specify the powers and functions that the local official concerned shall exercise in the absence of the City Mayor, except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees.

(d) If the City Mayor fails or refuses to issue such authorization, the City Vice-Mayor or the highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod member, as the case may be, shall have the right to assume the powers, duties and functions of the said office on the fourth (4th) day of absence of the City Mayor, subject to the limitations provided in subsection (c) hereof.

(e) Except as provided above, the City Mayor shall, in no case, authorize any local official to assume the powers, duties and functions of the office, other than the City Vice-Mayor or the highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod member, as the case may be.

ARTICLE VII

THE APPOINTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE CITY:

QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES