The Secretary of the Municipal Board of Cebu City
Today's Secretary of the Cebu City Council is an appointive position but the original charter of Cebu City mandated that it was to be an elective position.
When the Municipal Board of Cebu City was reconvened after World War II in 1945, the first to assume the position was Cebu's master playwright, composer, comedian, poet and sublime artist, Pio Abelgas Kabahar who later changed his name to Piux. A street in Guadalupe is named after him.
There was also Leodegario C. Salazar also a renowned writer and lawyer (admitted to the Bar on June 21, 1954). Pompio A. Paradiang was the Secretary of the City Council in the late 1980's. Paradiang became a lawyer on March 19, 1966. There was Estanislao T. Empinado and Estrella F. delos Reyes of the modern city council.
This was how the original charter of Cebu City crafted the position:
"Section 14. Appointment and duties of Secretary of Board.- The Board shall have a secretary, who shall be elected by it to serve during the term of office of the then members. A vacancy in the office of secretary shall be filled temporarily or for the unexpired term in like manner. 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 Cebu," in the center of which shall be placed the arms of the city, and affix the same, with his signature, to all ordinances and other official acts of the Board, and shall present the name for signature to the president; shall cause each ordinance passed to be published as herein provided; shall, on demand, furnish certified copies of all records of public character in his charge under the seal of his office; and collect and receive therefor such fees as may be prescribed by resolution of the Board; and shall keep his office and all records therein which are not of a confidential character open to public inspection during usual business hours. His compensation as secretary shall be fixed by the Board at not exceeding one thousand two hundred a year." (Commonwealth Act No. 58)
The Cebu City Charter provided that four members of the board shall constitute a quorum, at that time there was only seven members elected at large and not like today which is by district. The ordinances of the Municipal Board are forwarded to the Provincial Board of the Province of Cebu for its approval. In case of disapproval the Municipal Board may appeal to the Department of the Interior, the action of which is final.