National Museum of the Philippines Act

Republic Act No. 11333

Summary of the National Museum of the Philippines Act

Declaration of Policy (Section 2)
- The State shall pursue and support the cultural development of Filipinos through preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of Filipino national culture.

Renaming and Mandate of the National Museum (Sections 3, 4)
- The National Museum is renamed as the "National Museum of the Philippines" or "Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas".
- It is the primary institution for managing museums and collections of national scope in arts, cultural heritage, and natural history.
- Its mandate includes:
  - Documenting, acquiring, preserving, exhibiting, and fostering appreciation of works of art, specimens, and cultural/historical artifacts (Section 4a)
  - Establishing, managing, and developing the National Museum Complex and other facilities (Section 4b)
  - Managing and developing national collections in arts, cultural heritage, and natural history (Section 4c)
  - Carrying out research programs in various fields (Section 4d)
  - Disseminating museological skills and supporting museum development (Section 4e)
  - Extending technical assistance in preservation and restoration (Section 4f)
  - Carrying out other functions of public collecting and research museum institutions (Section 4g)

National Museum as a Trust of the Government (Section 5)
- The National Museum is considered a trust of the government, attached to the Department of Education for budgetary purposes.
- It shall be classified as a National Government Agency and enjoy privileges of a Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporation and a State University or College.

Permanent Site and National Museum Complex (Sections 6, 7, 8, 9)
- The former Congress/Legislative Building, former Department of Finance Building, former Department of Tourism Building, and the National Planetarium in Rizal Park shall form the core of the National Museum Complex.
- The former Session Halls of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be preserved as historical sites.
- The National Museum Complex shall be dedicated to the life, work, martyrdom, and memory of Dr. Jose Rizal.
- The National Museum shall develop a Master Plan for the National Museum Complex, integrating it with Intramuros and preserving monuments.

Central Museums and Regional Network (Sections 10, 11)
- The central museums include the existing National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, and the National Planetarium.
- Steps shall be taken to establish central museums for archaeology, maritime and underwater cultural heritage, architectural arts and built heritage, political and social history, an institute for museology education, and a conservation center.
- The National Museum shall maintain its existing regional, area, and site museums and satellite offices, and establish new ones in each administrative region.

Board of Trustees (Sections 12, 13, 14, 15)
- The National Museum shall be governed by a Board of Trustees with 15 members, including 8 private sector representatives and 7 ex officio government officials.
- The Board shall have various powers and functions, including appointing the Head of Agency and Agency Management, approving policies and projects, and administering funds.
- Private sector representatives shall be appointed by the President for a 4-year term and are eligible for reappointment.
- The Board shall have an Executive Committee and may constitute other committees and advisory boards.

Head of Agency and Agency Management (Sections 16, 17)
- The National Museum shall be headed by a Director-General (rank of Undersecretary) and two Deputy Directors-General (rank of Assistant Secretary).
- There shall be 7 Directors and Assistant Directors for managing central and regional museums.
- These officials shall be appointed by the Board for a 4-year term and are eligible for reappointment.

Free Admission and Retention of Income (Sections 18, 19)
- The general public shall be granted free admission to all public museums, subject to capacity and availability.
- The National Museum is authorized to retain its income from all sources and expend it for its benefit, as authorized by the Board.
- A National Museum Income Fund and a National Museum Donations Fund shall be established.

National Museum Endowment Fund (Section 20)
- The existing Museum Endowment Fund, sourced from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, shall continue to be utilized for special programs and projects approved by the Board.
- The Fund shall be administered by the Board, which may appoint professional fund managers.

Tax Exemptions (Section 21)
- The National Museum shall be exempt from taxes, fees, and charges imposed by the National Government and its subdivisions.
- Donations to the National Museum shall be exempt from the donor's tax and considered as allowable deductions from the donor's gross income.
- Importation of books, supplies, and materials for conservation and preservation work shall be exempt from customs duties.

Procurement of Collections Items (Sections 22, 23)
- The procurement of unique, special, and/or original items for the National Museum's collections shall be exempted from government procurement laws.
- The National Museum shall be allowed to procure collections items through direct negotiation with owners or their agents, following specific procedures outlined in Section 22.
- The National Museum shall be authorized to procure items through public auction, including online auctions, with a right of first refusal established by the Act (Section 23).

Movable Cultural Properties and National Government Collections (Section 24)
- All movable cultural properties owned by the National Government shall be registered with the National Museum and form part of a general inventory and catalogue.
- The National Museum shall have the authority to request the transfer or loan of any such National Government collections for protection, preservation, study, or public exhibition.

Commercial Operations (Section 25)
- The National Museum shall be authorized to undertake commercial operations, including rental of areas for events, lease of areas for commercial establishments and parking, and production/licensing of official merchandise.
- The National Museum shall be authorized to outsource general, non-museological property management operations through public bidding.

Personnel Training, Development, and Performance Incentives (Section 26)
- The National Museum shall undertake training and development programs to upgrade the capabilities of its personnel.
- A system of monetary incentives shall be established to reward superior performance and milestones of professional development.

De-Accessioning Policy (Section 27)
- The National Museum may provide for a de-accessioning policy regarding its collections, subject to the approval of the Board in each case.

Internal Audit and Reorganization (Sections 28, 29)
- An internal audit unit shall be established within the National Museum.
- The Board shall be allowed to propose a reorganization of the National Museum or changes to its organizational structure or staffing pattern, subject to approval.

Transfer of Regulatory Functions (Section 30)
- All regulatory functions of the National Museum shall be transferred to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts within two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act.

Appropriations and Repealing Clause (Sections 31, 33)
- The amount necessary to cover the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the appropriation of the National Museum under the current General Appropriations Act.
- Republic Act No. 8492 is hereby repealed, and other laws inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended accordingly.

Effectivity (Section 34)
- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.