Section 26. The Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod. —

1. There shall be a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod who shall be a career official with the rank and salary equal to a head of a department or office.

2. No person shall be appointed secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod unless he or she is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of Mabalacat City, 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.

3. The secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod shall take charge of the office of the sangguniang panlungsod, and shall:

   1. Attend meetings of the sangguniang panlungsod and keep a journal of its proceedings;

   2. Keep the seal of the City and affix the same with his or her signature to all ordinances, resolutions and other official acts of the sangguniang panlungsod, and present the same to the presiding officer for his or her signature;

   3. Forward to the city mayor for approval, copies of ordinances enacted by the sangguniang panlungsod, duly certified by the presiding officer;

   4. Forward to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) copies of the appropriations ordinances passed by the sangguniang panlungsod as provided for under Section 326, Book II of the Local Government Code of 1991;

   5. Forward to the sangguniang panlalawigan copies of duly approved ordinances in the manner as provided for in Sections 56 and 57 of the Local Government Code of 1991;

   6. Furnish, upon the request of any interested party, certified copies of records of public character in his or her custody, upon payment to the city treasurer of such fees as may be prescribed by ordinance;

   7. Record in a book kept for the purpose, all ordinances and resolutions enacted or adopted by the sangguniang panlungsod, with the dates of passage and publication thereof;

   8. Keep the office and all nonconfidential records therein open to the public during usual business hours;

   9. Translate into the dialect used by the majority of the inhabitants, 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;

   10. Take custody of the local archives and, where applicable, the local library and annually account for the same; and

   11. Perform such other duties and functions and exercise such other powers as provided for under the Local Government Code of 1991, and those that are prescribed by law or ordinance.