of city ordinances and in the delivery of public services. The vice mayor heads a legislative council that is composed of 13 members: twelve elected councilors and one ex officio office held by the Association of Barangay Chairmen President as the barangay sector representative. The council is in charge of creating the city's policies in the form of ordinances and resolutions. Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, the city government is to be composed of a mayor (alkalde), a vice mayor (bise alkalde) and members (kagawad) of the legislative branch Sangguniang Panlungsod alongside a secretary to the said legislature, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms. As with every Philippine city, Lipa's chief executive is the city mayor. Elected to a term of three years and limited to three consecutive terms, the mayor appoints the directors of each city department, which include the office of administration, engineering office, information office, legal office, and treasury office. The incumbent mayor is Eric Africa, from the Nacionalista Party, who first served as city councilor from 1998 to 2007, from 2010 to 2013 and city Vice Mayor from 2013 to 2019. He was first elected as mayor of Lipa in 2019 defeating Bernadette Sabili, wife of then-incumbent Mayor Meynardo Sabili. The city's vice mayor performs duties as acting governor in the absence of the mayor. The vice mayor also automatically succeeds as mayor upon the death of the incumbent. The vice mayor also convenes the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the city's legislative body. The incumbent vice mayor of Lipa is Camille Angeline Lopez from the Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma. She first assumed office on June 30, 2019. She's the first female city vice mayor. Legislative The city, which is a lone congressional district, is represented in the Philippine House of Representatives by congressman Ralph Recto from the Nacionalista Party. He first assumed office as representative of the 4th legislative district of Batangas when Lipa was still part of it in 1992. He was elected to the Philippine Senate in 2001 and was able to return in 2010. Within the city, the City Board or Sangguniang Panlungsod crafts all city ordinances, performs appropriation of city funds, issues franchises and permits, impose fees on city services, and exercise other duties and powers