Section 4Sec./Art. 4

Metro Manila Council. - The governing board and policy making body of the MMDA shall be the Metro Manila Council, composed of the mayors of the eight (8) cities and nine (9) municipalities enumerated in Section 1 hereof, the president of the Metro Manila Vice Mayors League and the president of the Metro Manila Councilors League.

The heads of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Committee (HUDCC), and Philippine National Police (PNP) or their duly authorized representatives, shall attend meetings of the council as non-voting members.

The Council shall be headed by a chairman, who shall be appointed by the President and who shall continue to hold office at the discretion of the appointing authority. He shall be vested with the rank, rights, privileges, disqualifications, and prohibitions of a cabinet member.

The chairman shall be assisted by a general manager, an assistant general manager for finance and administration, an assistant general manager for planning and assistant general manager for operations, all of whom shall be appointed by the President with the consent and concurrence of the majority of the Council, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations. They shall enjoy security of tenure and may be removed for cause in accordance with law.

The assistant general manager for planning must have not less than five (5) years extensive experience in development and planning or must hold a master's degree in urban planning or similar disciplines.

The chairman and members of the Council shall be entitled to allowance and per diems in accordance with existing policies, rules and regulations on the matter.