Section 21. The Vice-Mayor.— The Vice-Mayor, who shall, at the time of his election, possess the qualifications required of the Mayor, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Mayor in the event of death resignation or permanent incapacity of the Mayor for the completion of the unexpired term of the latter. He shall hold office for four years, unless sooner removed for cause as provided for by law, and shall receive a salary of eight thousand four hundred pesos a year. The Vice-Mayor shall perform such additional duties as may be assigned to him by the Mayor or prescribed by ordinance. The Vice-Mayor may attend, if he wishes to, the sessions of the City Council and participate in its discussion but not to vote.

If, for any reason, the Mayor is temporarily incapacitated to perform the duties of his office because of absence on leave, sickness, or any temporary incapacity, the Vice-Mayor shall perform the duties and exercise the powers that may be delegated to him in writing by the Mayor, during the period of the Mayor’s temporary incapacity.

In the event of temporary or permanent vacancy in the office of the Vice-Mayor, the city councilor who obtained the largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding shall assume the office of Vice-Mayor. If, for some reason, the councilor obtaining the largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding is incapacitated from assuming the office of Vice-Mayor or refuses to assume said office, the councilor obtaining the next largest number of votes shall assume the office of Vice-Mayor, and so on until the vacancy is filled.

In the event that permanent vacancies in the office of Mayor and Vice-Mayor occur simultaneously, then the councilor obtaining the largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding shall assume the office of the Mayor and the councilor obtaining the second largest number of votes shall assume the office of Vice-Mayor. If, for some reason, the councilor obtaining the largest number of votes is incapacitated from assuming the office of the Mayor or refuses to assume said office, then the councilor obtaining the next largest number of votes shall assume the office of Mayor and the councilor obtaining the next largest number of votes after him shall assume the office of Vice-Mayor, and so on until the vacancies are filled.

Should the Mayor-elect die before assumption of office or fail to qualify for any reason, then the Vice-Mayor elect shall assume the office of Mayor, but in the latter case, he shall hold office until the Mayor-elect qualifies, should the Vice-Mayor die before assumption of office or fail to qualify for any reason, then the Councilor obtaining the largest number of votes in the local elections immediately preceding shall assume the office of Vice-Mayor.

Any permanent vacancies in the City Council shall be filled by appointment by the President of the Philippines, alone, upon the recommendation of the majority of the remaining members of the City Council.