Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro ManilaTenth Congress
Republic Act No. 8492 February 12, 1998
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MUSEUM SYSTEM, PROVIDING FOR ITS PERMANENT HOME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::
Section 1. Short title. – This Act may be known as the "National Museum Act of 1998."
Section 2. Declaration of policy. – It is the policy of the State to pursue and support the cultural development of the Filipino people, through the preservation, enrichment and dynamic evolution of Filipino national culture, based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression.
Section 3. Conversion of the National Museum. – To implement the above declared State policies, and to ensure its independence and autonomy, the present National Museum hereafter referred to as the Museum, is hereby converted into a trust of the government. The National Museum is detached from the Department of Education, Culture and...
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Republic Acts
NATIONAL MUSEUM ACT OF 1998
Republic Act No. 8492
This law establishes the National Museum of the Philippines as an independent trust of the government, with the following key provisions:
Objectives and Functions
- Acquire, preserve, exhibit cultural materials, art objects, archaeological artifacts, and natural heritage specimens (Section 7.1)
- Conduct research on Philippine flora, fauna, rocks, minerals, fossils, and prepare publications (Sections 7.2, 7.4)
- Document and manage the museum's collections (Section 7.3)
- Regulate registration, excavation, preservation, and exportation of cultural properties (Sections 7.5, 7.6)
- Undertake archaeological research, excavations, and maintain a national archaeological reference collection (Sections 7.7, 7.8, 7.9)
- Collect, preserve, restore, and exhibit art objects (Sections 7.10, 7.11)
- Conduct research on Philippine ethnography, cultures, and artistic forms (Sections 7.12, 7.13)
- Maintain laboratories for scientific analysis and preservation (Section 7.14)
- Plan and organize exhibitions, library services, tours, lectures, and workshops (Sections 7.15, 7.16)
- Supervise restoration, preservation, and reconstruction of immovable properties and archaeological sites (Section 7.18)
- Disseminate astronomical knowledge through planetarium shows and exhibits (Section 7.19)
- Maintain and exhibit important archaeological sites like Tabon Caves (Section 7.20)
- Secure grants and endowments, establish linkages with other institutions (Sections 7.21, 7.23)
Governance and Administration
- Governed by a Board of Trustees with representatives from the government and private sector (Section 8)
- Private sector representatives appointed by the President for fixed terms (Section 9)
- Board has authority to adopt rules, regulations, and bylaws for administration (Section 10)
- Director and Assistant Directors appointed by the Board to manage operations (Sections 11, 12, 13)
- Personnel training and development programs, including graduate studies (Section 14)
- Establishment of exhibition and central registry units (Section 15)
- Supervision over regional museums (Section 16)
- Adequate laboratories and facilities for conservation and storage (Section 18)
- Authority to deputize law enforcement for protection of archaeological sites (Section 20)
- Incentives for reporting newly discovered archaeological sites (Section 21)
- Exemption from taxes, including import duties and tariff duties (Section 25)
- Revolving fund from sales and services, up to ₱2,000,000 (Section 26)
- Merit system and compensation scheme for personnel (Section 27)
- Hiring of officers, employees, and foreign consultants (Sections 28, 30)
- Health care services (Section 31)
- De-accessioning policy for upgrading collections (Section 32)
- Charging of admission fees, open on weekends and holidays (Section 33)
- Special budget and audit rules for fiscal autonomy (Section 34)
- Reorganization authority and automatic reappointment of personnel (Section 36)
Funding and Resources
- Annual budget from national government appropriations (Section 22)
- Establishment of a ₱500,000,000 Museum Endowment Fund from PCSO and PAGCOR earnings (Section 23)
- Tax exemptions for donations and bequests to the Endowment Fund (Section 23)
- Disposal of unappropriated money for promotion of museum purposes (Section 24)
Penalties
- Imprisonment up to 2 years or fine up to ₱10,000, or both, for violations (Section 35)
Objectives and Functions
- Acquire, preserve, exhibit cultural materials, art objects, archaeological artifacts, and natural heritage specimens (Section 7.1)
- Conduct research on Philippine flora, fauna, rocks, minerals, fossils, and prepare publications (Sections 7.2, 7.4)
- Document and manage the museum's collections (Section 7.3)
- Regulate registration, excavation, preservation, and exportation of cultural properties (Sections 7.5, 7.6)
- Undertake archaeological research, excavations, and maintain a national archaeological reference collection (Sections 7.7, 7.8, 7.9)
- Collect, preserve, restore, and exhibit art objects (Sections 7.10, 7.11)
- Conduct research on Philippine ethnography, cultures, and artistic forms (Sections 7.12, 7.13)
- Maintain laboratories for scientific analysis and preservation (Section 7.14)
- Plan and organize exhibitions, library services, tours, lectures, and workshops (Sections 7.15, 7.16)
- Supervise restoration, preservation, and reconstruction of immovable properties and archaeological sites (Section 7.18)
- Disseminate astronomical knowledge through planetarium shows and exhibits (Section 7.19)
- Maintain and exhibit important archaeological sites like Tabon Caves (Section 7.20)
- Secure grants and endowments, establish linkages with other institutions (Sections 7.21, 7.23)
Governance and Administration
- Governed by a Board of Trustees with representatives from the government and private sector (Section 8)
- Private sector representatives appointed by the President for fixed terms (Section 9)
- Board has authority to adopt rules, regulations, and bylaws for administration (Section 10)
- Director and Assistant Directors appointed by the Board to manage operations (Sections 11, 12, 13)
- Personnel training and development programs, including graduate studies (Section 14)
- Establishment of exhibition and central registry units (Section 15)
- Supervision over regional museums (Section 16)
- Adequate laboratories and facilities for conservation and storage (Section 18)
- Authority to deputize law enforcement for protection of archaeological sites (Section 20)
- Incentives for reporting newly discovered archaeological sites (Section 21)
- Exemption from taxes, including import duties and tariff duties (Section 25)
- Revolving fund from sales and services, up to ₱2,000,000 (Section 26)
- Merit system and compensation scheme for personnel (Section 27)
- Hiring of officers, employees, and foreign consultants (Sections 28, 30)
- Health care services (Section 31)
- De-accessioning policy for upgrading collections (Section 32)
- Charging of admission fees, open on weekends and holidays (Section 33)
- Special budget and audit rules for fiscal autonomy (Section 34)
- Reorganization authority and automatic reappointment of personnel (Section 36)
Funding and Resources
- Annual budget from national government appropriations (Section 22)
- Establishment of a ₱500,000,000 Museum Endowment Fund from PCSO and PAGCOR earnings (Section 23)
- Tax exemptions for donations and bequests to the Endowment Fund (Section 23)
- Disposal of unappropriated money for promotion of museum purposes (Section 24)
Penalties
- Imprisonment up to 2 years or fine up to ₱10,000, or both, for violations (Section 35)