record all of the governor's acts which are required by law to be record ed; he shall be the custodian of the department seal; he shall act as custodian of all records and documents affecting the department and discharge all duties usually pertaining to the office of secretary; he shall on demand furnish certified copies of all  public records and documents under his custody for which he may charge, to any private person, but not to any public official needing the same for a public purpose, the amount of ten centavos for every one hundred words of such copy, including the certifi cate, which amount shall accrue to the department treasury; and shall perform such other duties as the department governor may require of him. He shall act as secretary of the administrative council herein created, attest all its acts and resolutions, and  prescribe rules and regulations for the guidance of provincial and municipal secretaries. [2408-9.] S ECTION  2573 . Department Attorney and Assistant — Duties and so Forth . — The department attorney shall be the attorney and legal adviser of the department and of each of its officers and of the administrative council hereinbefore constituted and shall, whe n called upon by the said council or any officer of the department, furnish a written opinion on questions of law arising in the administration of the government. He shall represent the department, and all provincial and municipal governments therein, in all  suits brought on their behalf or against them in any court, except in cases where the interests of the department are opposed to those of any provincial or municipal government, when he shall represent the department, and the province or municipality may  employ special counsel; and in cases where the interests of any province are opposed to those of another province or municipality, in cases when two municipalities are adverse parties in the same litigation, and in cases involving controversies with the  Roman Catholic Apostolic Church or its representatives as to the title or right of administration or possession of any church, convent or cemetery, or other property used in connection therewith, in all of which cases the provincial or municipal government  concerned may employ special counsel. There shall be an assistant attorney for the department, who shall be appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the administrative council. Both the department attorney and the assistant attorney shall be duly admitted members of the bar of the  Supreme Court. The assistant attorney shall receive such annual salary as may be fixed and provided for such officer in the appropriations made by the administrative council not to exceed five thousand pesos annually. Before assuming office he shall take t he oath of office hereinafter prescribed for provincial officers. Copyright 2012 CD Technologies Asia, Inc. and Accesslaw, Inc. Philippine Law Encyclopedia 2011 795