Section 9
SEC. 9. General powers and duties of the Mayor&mdashThe Mayor shall have the following general powers and duties: (a) See that the provisions of this Charter, the ordinances of the city, and all laws within the jurisdiction of the city are faithfully enforced and complied with; (b) Safeguard all the lands, buildings, records, monies, credits, and other properties and rights of the City, and subject to the provisions of this Charter, to have control thereof; (c) Cause to be instituted judicial proceedings to recover properties and funds of the City wherever found and cause to be defended all suits against the City; (d) See that all taxes and other revenues of the City are collected and applied in accordance with appropriations to the payment of the expenses of the City; (e) See that executive officers and employees of the city are properly discharging their respective duties. The Mayor, may in the interest of the service, transfer officers and employees, not appointed by the President of the Philippines from one section, division, service or department to another section, division, service or department, without changing the compensation they receive; (f) Examine and inspect the books, records, and papers of all officials, agents and employees of the City whenever occasion arises and at least once in each year; (g) Give such information and recommend such measures to the City Council as he shall deem advantageous to the City; (h) Attend, if he wishes to do so, the sessions of the City Council and participate in the discussions, but not to vote; (i) Represent the City in all its business matters and sign in its behalf all its bonds, contracts, and obligations made in accordance with the laws or ordinances; (j) Submit to the City Council two months before each fiscal year an annual budget of receipts and expenditures of the City. The City Council may not increase the appropriations recommended by the Mayor for the operation of the city government as specified in the budget. (k) Receive, hear and decide, as he may deem proper, the protest, complaints, and claims of the residents of the city concerning all classes of municipal matters of an administrative executive character; (l) Grant and refuse municipal license or permits of all classes including permits for benefits of whatever kind, any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding and to revoke the same for violation of the conditions upon which they were granted, or if acts prohibited by law or city ordinances are being committed under the protection of such licenses or in the premises in which the business for which the same have been granted is carried on or for any other good reasons of general and public interest; (m) Determine the time, manner, and place of payment of the salaries and wages of the officers and employees of the City; (n) Exempt deserving poor pupils from the payment f school fees, or of any part thereof upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools; (o) Require owners of houses, buildings, or other structures constructed without the necessary permit or in violation of existing laws or ordinances, whether constructed on public or private lands, to remove or demolish such houses, buildings, or structures within sixty days after notice, and upon failure of such owner to remove or demolish such house, building, or structure within said period, the Mayor may summarily cause its removal or demolition at the expense of the owner, any existing law to the contrary notwithstanding; (p) Take such emergency measures as may be necessary to avoid fires, floods, and mitigate the effects of storms and other public calamities; (q) Request, if public interest and safety so require, the assistance of the Philippine Constabulary and other police agencies of the National Government in maintaining peace and order in the City and only in such cases and upon specific request made, can the Philippine Constabulary or other national police agencies intervene in the preservation of peace and order in the City; (r) Subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Law and rules, appoint all officers and employees whose salaries are paid wholly or partly from city funds, any existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, except such officers whose appointments are vested in the President or otherwise provided for in this Charter, and regular employees in the city auditor's office. Officers and employees appointed by the Mayor may be suspended by him for cause, and on the grounds provided by Civil Service Law and rules, for a period not exceeding thirty days, which suspension may continue for a longer period but not exceeding ninety days if concurred in by the City Council, and after proper investigation in accordance with the Civil Service Law and rules, and with the consent of at least two-thirds of all the members of the City Council, may discharge such officer or employee, any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding. The Mayor may investigate or order the investigation of any city officer or employee not appointed by him and may recommend to the President or to the proper national department head the suspension or removal of such officer or employee; (s) Prepare and make out plans for the physical development of the city, zoning and land subdivision rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the City Council, any existing law or executive order to the contrary notwithstanding; (t) Release, subject to such conditions as he may see fit, or unconditionally, any person imprisoned or sentenced for violation of a city ordinance, or remit the sentence of such person, or any part thereof; and (u) Perform such other duties and exercise such other executive powers as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.