Republic of the Philippines
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Metro Manila
Fourteenth Congress
Third Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand nine.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10066
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF THE NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE, STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS (NCCA) AND ITS AFFILIATED CULTURAL AGENCIES, 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 shall be known as the “National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.”
ARTICLE I
POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES
SECTION 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies. – Sections 14, 15, 16, and 17, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution declare that the State shall foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a Filipino culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression. The Constitution likewise mandates the State to conserve, develop, promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations. It further provides that, all the country’s artistic and historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasure of the nation and shall be under the protection of the State, which may regulate its disposition.
In the pursuit of cultural preservation as a strategy for maintaining Filipino identity, this Act shall pursue the following objectives:
The State shall likewise endeavor to create a balanced atmosphere where the historic past co-exists in harmony with modern society. It shall approach the problem of conservation in an integrated and holistic manner, cutting across all relevant disciplines and technologies. The State shall further administer the heritage resources in a spirit of stewardship for the inspiration and benefit of the present and future generations.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITION OF TERMS
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
ARTICLE III
CULTURAL PROPERTY
SECTION 4. Categories. - The Cultural Property of the country shall be categorized as follows:
SECTION 5. Cultural Property Considered Important Cultural Property. -For purposes of protecting a cultural property against exportation, modification or demolition, the following works shall be considered Important Cultural Property, unless declared otherwise by the pertinent cultural agency:
Unless declared by the Commission,
(a) Works by a Manlilikha ng Bayan;
(b) Works by a National Artist;
Unless declared by the National Museum,
(c) Archaeological and traditional ethnographic materials;
Unless declared by the National Historical Institute,
(d) Works of national heroes;
(e) Marked structure;
(f) Structures dating at least fifty (50) years old; and
Unless declared by the National Archives,
(g) Archival material/document dating at least fifty (50) years old.
The property owner may petition the appropriate cultural agency to remove the presumption of important cultural property which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
SECTION 6. World Heritage Sites (WHS). - The appropriate cultural agency shall closely collaborate with United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) National Commission of the Philippines in ensuring the conservation and management of world heritage sites of cultural and mixed sites category, in the Philippines.
SECTION 7. Privileges for Cultural Property. - All cultural properties declared as National Cultural Treasures and national historical landmarks shall be entitled to the following privileges:
All cultural properties declared as Important Cultural Property may also receive government funding for its protection, conservation, and restoration. An official Heritage Marker shall likewise be placed on an immovable cultural property to identify the same as important cultural property.
SECTION 8. Procedure for Declaration, or De-Listing of National Cultural Treasures or Important Cultural Property. - The procedure in declaring as well as in delisting a National Cultural Property or an Important Cultural Property shall be as follows:
SECTION 9. Right of First Refusal on the Sale of National Cultural Treasures (NCT). –
The appropriate cultural agency shall be given the right of first refusal in the purchase of cultural properties declared as national cultural treasures. Prior to the finality of the sale, the appropriate cultural agency may likewise match any offer made for the purchase of national cultural property.
SECTION 10. Licensing of Dealers of Cultural Property. - All dealers of cultural property shall secure a license to operate as such from the appropriate cultural agency concerned. They shall submit a quarterly inventory of items carried, which shall include a history of each item. Failure to submit two (2) consecutive inventories shall be a ground for cancellation of the license. All dealers of Cultural Property shall be subject to inspection of the concerned cultural agencies.
The cultural agencies may charge and collect fees for registration as well as for licenses, inspections, certifications, authorizations and permits that they issue and undertake in connection with the implementation of this Act. Funds generated from these collections by cultural agencies shall be retained by the cultural agency concerned for its operations.
SECTION 11. Dealings of Cultural Property. - No cultural property shall be sold, resold, or taken out of the country without first securing a clearance from the cultural agency concerned. In case the property shall be taken out of the country, it shall solely be for the purpose of scientific scrutiny or exhibit.
ARTICLE IV
HERITAGE ZONES
SECTION 12. Designation of Heritage Zones. - The National Historical Institute and the National Museum in consultation with the Commission and, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board or other concerned agencies, shall designate Heritage Zones to protect the historical and cultural integrity of a geographical area.
SECTION 13. Maintenance of Heritage Zones. - A Heritage Zone shall be maintained by the local government unit concerned, in accordance with the following guidelines:
ARTICLE V
REGISTRATION AND CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY
SECTION 14. Establishment of a Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP). - All cultural property of the country deemed important to cultural heritage shall be registered in the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property.
The Commission, through the appropriate cultural agencies and local government units, shall establish and maintain this Registry within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act. The guidelines in the registration of cultural property are as follows:
Information on registered cultural properties owned by private individuals shall remain confidential and may be given only upon prior consent of the private owner. The Commission shall operate the Registry in the NCCA portal cultural databank.
SECTION 15. Conservation of Cultural Property. – All intervention works and measures on conservation of National Cultural Treasures, Important Cultural Property, as well as national historical landmarks, sites or monuments, and structures previously marked by the National Museum and/or National Historical Institute before the implementation of this Act shall be undertaken only upon prior approval of the Commission through the appropriate cultural agency which shall supervise the same.
The Commission shall approve only those methods and materials that strictly adhere to the accepted international standards of conservation.
SECTION 16. Documentation and Preservation of Traditional and Contemporary Arts. - Local government units shall document traditional and contemporary arts and crafts, including their processes and makers, and sustain the sources of their raw materials. The local government units shall encourage and sustain traditional arts and crafts as active and viable sources of income for the community.
The Commission, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Tourism and other government agencies involved directly or indirectly in the production of goods shall assist the local government units in protecting their traditional and contemporary arts and crafts making them viable for current and future markets, with a view to encouraging and promoting the unique heritage and identities of the said communities.
The local government unit concerned shall submit an annual inventory of these documentations to the Commission, which will be included in the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property, as established in Section 14 of this Act.
SECTION 17. Systematic Research in Natural History. - The National Museum shall have the authority to collect, maintain and develop the national reference collections of Philippine flora and fauna, rocks and minerals through research and field collection of specimens including Important Cultural Property within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines. It shall be exempt from any and all permit systems regulating the same.
The National Museum shall inform the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture of such collection. All type of specimens collected in the Philippine territory shall be deposited in the National Museum.
SECTION 18. Heritage Agreements. - The Commission, upon advice of the concerned cultural agency, may enter into agreements with private owners of cultural properties with regard to the preservation of said properties.
Such agreement shall be in the form of a contract, and may include such terms and conditions including, but not limited to:
Such agreement should be annotated in the land title to bind future owners and/or occupants of the immovable cultural property.
SECTION 19. National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. – The appropriate cultural agency shall closely collaborate with the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the Philippines. The Philippine Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee established by the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines shall continue to take lead role in implementing the provisions of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural heritage with particular attention to Article 11 to 15 of the said Convention.
SECTION 20. Immovable National Cultural Treasures. - Immovable National Cultural Treasures shall not be relocated, rebuilt, defaced or otherwise changed in a manner, which would destroy the property's dignity and authenticity, except to save such property from destruction due to natural causes.
The site referred to in this provision may only be moved after securing a permit from the Commission or the appropriate cultural agency.
SECTION 21. Indigenous properties. - The appropriate cultural agency in consultation with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples shall establish a program and promulgate regulations to assist indigenous people in preserving their particular cultural and historical properties.
SECTION 22. Renaming of Historical Streets, Buildings Designated as Cultural Treasure or Important Cultural Property. - The names of historical streets, parks, buildings, shrines, landmarks, monuments and sites designated as National Cultural Treasures or Important Cultural Property shall not be allowed to be re-named by a local or national legislation, unless approved by the National Historical Institute, and only after due hearing on the matter. Furthermore, for changes of names done to historical streets, parks, buildings, shrines, landmarks, monuments, and sites prior to the effectivity of this act, the National Historical Institute may direct the local government units to restore their original names, also after due hearing.
ARTICLE VI
REGULATING THE EXPORT, TRANSIT, IMPORT
AND REPATRIATION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY
SECTION 23. Export of Cultural Property. – Whoever desires to export cultural property registered in the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property shall adhere to the following requirements:
The grant of export permit shall be based on the following conditions: (i) the cultural property is exported on a temporary basis; and (ii) export of cultural property is necessary for scientific scrutiny or exhibit.
SECTION 24. Repatriation Claims and Agreements. – Should the cultural property registered in the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property be illicitly exported from the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs shall, upon the recommendation of the appropriate cultural agency, claim the right of repatriation vis-à-vis all other contracting States. Any compensation and costs shall be carried by the Philippine government.
For the protection of cultural and foreign affairs interests and to secure cultural heritage, the Philippines may conclude international treaties with contracting States on the import and repatriation of cultural property subject to the following conditions:
ARTICLE VII
POWERS OF THE COMMISSION/CULTURAL AGENCIES
SECTION 25. Power to Issue a Cease and Desist Order. - When the physical integrity of the national cultural treasures or important cultural properties are found to be in danger of destruction or significant alteration from its original state, the appropriate cultural agency, shall immediately issue a Cease and Desist Order suspending all activities that will affect the cultural property. The local government unit which has the jurisdiction over the site where the immovable cultural property is located shall report the same to the appropriate cultural agency immediately upon discovery and shall promptly adopt measures to secure the integrity of such immovable cultural property. Thereafter, the appropriate cultural agency shall give notice to the owner or occupant of the cultural property and conduct hearing on the propriety of the issuance of the Cease and Desist Order. The suspension of the activities shall be lifted only upon the written authority of the appropriate cultural agency after due notice and hearing involving interested parties and stakeholders.
SECTION 26. Power to Issue Compulsory Repair Order. - When a privately-owned heritage site cannot be maintained by the owner or has fallen into disrepair thru neglect to such an extent that it will lose its potential for conservation, the Commission, through the appropriate cultural agency, may serve on the owner or occupant of such property, an order to repair or maintain such site. If the owner fails to comply with said order within thirty (30) to forty-five (45) days, repairs may be undertaken by the appropriate cultural agency for the account of the owner.
SECTION 27. Visitorial Powers. - The cultural agencies concerned, through the Commission, are hereby given the power to inspect National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, and national historical landmarks, sites or monuments at any time to ensure the protection and integrity of such. They may also inspect public or private collections or objects that may be categorized as cultural property; Provided, That in the case of private collections or objects, the prior written consent of the owner shall be obtained.
SECTION 28. Power to Deputize Other Government Agencies. – The cultural agencies concerned, as well as the Commission, shall have the power to deputize the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other local or national law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Fisheries’ agents, the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources’ rangers, the Bureau of Customs and Immigrations agents, members of the Office of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes and other such agencies and their successors in interest, to enforce the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. The said agencies shall immediately detail their respective personnel to protect the cultural items under the National Registry.
Failure to follow deputization order of the concerned cultural agency as well as the Commission shall be penalized in accordance with Section 49herein.
SECTION 29. Power to Recover Cultural Properties. – The Commission is empowered to recover or retrieve cultural properties which are under the custody of foreign nationals or entities and to bring these properties back to Philippine custody.
SECTION 30. Anthropological Research and Archaeological Exploration/Excavation. –
(1) All cultural property found in terrestrial and / or underwater archaeological sites belong to the State.
(2) No terrestrial and/or underwater archaeological explorations and excavations for the purposes of obtaining materials and data of cultural value shall be undertaken without written authority and direct site supervision by archaeologists and/or representatives of the National Museum;
(3) All anthropological researches, for the purpose of obtaining materials and data of cultural value and where the principal proponent is a foreign national shall be undertaken only with the authority, and under the supervision of the National Museum or the National Historical Institute. Anthropological research by Philippine nationals, especially members of the indigenous communities shall be encouraged;
(4) Archaeological or anthropological materials presumed as important cultural property shall be allowed to leave the country only upon proper evaluation and written permission of the National Museum or the National Historical Institute;
(5) All explorations and excavations undertaken wherein the caves, rock shelters and their vicinities may have been used in the prehistoric past by man either for habitation, religious and/or sacred and burial purposes all over the country, shall be under the direct jurisdiction and supervision of archaeologists and/or other experts of the National Museum;
(6) All mining activities inside caves, rock shelters and any such other areas shall require a written permit and clearance from the National Museum. An appropriate prior inspection by representatives of the National Museum, funded by the company applying for a mining right, shall be required to ensure that no archaeological materials are present and, possibly, destroyed;
(7) Excavations in caves, rock shelters and other areas by laymen are prohibited by this Act. All earth-moving activities in these areas must have the proper permit and clearance from the National Museum and monitored by their representatives;
(8) All treasure hunting permits and licenses shall be issued by the National Museum, which shall formulate the rules and regulations to adequately control, regulate and monitor all applicants for such undertakings; and
(9) The provisions of this Act on explorations and excavations of terrestrial and underwater archaeological sites shall supersede all local, municipal, regional and autonomous regional governments’ resolutions and ordinances.
ARTICLE VIII
ROLE OF CULTURAL AGENCIES
SECTION 31. Responsibilities of Cultural Agencies for Designation of Cultural Property. - The cultural agencies, in conformity with their respective charters, shall define and delineate their respective areas of responsibility with respect to cultural property and assessment of National Cultural Treasures and national historical landmarks, sites or monuments. These areas shall be subject to periodic re-assessment whenever necessary.
For purposes of this Act, the following shall be the responsibilities of cultural agencies in the categorization of cultural property:
(a) The Cultural Center of the Philippines shall be responsible for significant cultural property pertaining to the performing arts;
(b) The National Archives of the Philippines shall be responsible for significant archival materials;
(c) The National Library shall be responsible for rare and significant contemporary books, manuscripts such as, but not limited to, presidential papers, periodicals, newspapers, singly or in collection, and libraries and electronic records;
(d) The National Historical Institute shall be responsible for significant movable and immovable cultural property that pertains to Philippine History; heroes and the conservation of historical artifacts
(e) The National Museum shall be responsible for significant movable and immovable cultural and natural property pertaining to collections of Fine Arts, Archaeology, Anthropology, Botany, Geology, Zoology and Astronomy, including its conservation aspect; and
(f) The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) shall be responsible for the dissemination, development, and the promotion of the Filipino national language and the conservation of ethnic languages;
SECTION 32. Institutional Linkages of the National Cultural Agencies. - The cultural agencies and other national government agencies, as listed below, shall consult, coordinate and work closely with the Commission in the implementation of their respective programs/projects in the context of this Act. Furthermore, the Commission may link up with other agencies and institutions, as it may deem appropriate, as a way of dealing with conservation on a holistic manner.
SECTION 33. Incorporation of Cultural Property Programs in Local Government Units Budgets. - The local government units are encourage to incorporate programs and budgets for the conservation and preservation of Cultural Property in their environmental, educational and cultural activities.
SECTION 34. Training Programs. - The Commission, in coordination with the appropriate cultural agencies shall provide general training programs on conservation to the local government units which have established cultural heritage programs and projects in their localities.
ARTICLE I X
CULTURAL PROPERTY INCENTIVES PROGRAM
SECTION 35. Tax Exemption on Donations. – All donations in any form to the Commission and its affiliated cultural agencies shall be exempt from the donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction form the gross income in the computation of the income tax of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
SECTION 36. National Heritage Resource Assistance Program. - The Commission may provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to historic, archaeological, architectural, artistic organizations for conservation or research on cultural property. No grant made pursuant to this Act shall be treated as taxable income.
SECTION 37. Awards and Citations. - To encourage preservation of the national heritage, the Commission shall establish an annual conservation recognition program under which monetary prizes, awards and citations will be given by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commission, for special achievements and important contributions and services in the area of heritage preservation and conservation efforts.
ARTICLE X
CULTURAL EDUCATION
SECTION 38. Incorporation of National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Property in the Basic Education System. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education in coordination with the Commission’s Philippine Cultural Education Program shall formulate the cultural heritage education programs both for local and overseas Filipinos to be incorporated into the formal, alternative and informal education, with emphasis on the protection, conservation and preservation of cultural heritage property.
The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property shall likewise be incorporated into the formal, alternative, and informal education by the provincial and local governments.
SECTION 39. Cultural Heritage Education Program. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Commission on higher Education in consultation with the Commission shall set forth in its teaching programs nationwide the following cultural heritage education programs with emphasis at the provincial, city and municipal levels:
SECTION 40. Public Accessibility. - Access to national historical landmarks, monuments and sites, whether designated as National Cultural Treasure, Important Cultural Property by the general public for visitation and information, and by government representatives for inspection, shall not be hindered except on reasonable cause. Fees, as prescribed by the cultural agency concerned, may in appropriate cases be charged to defray cost of conservation, inclusive of general maintenance and upkeep. In the case of privately owned monuments and sites, the National Historical Institute or the National Museum shall arrange with the owners the schedules of visits and regular inspection.
ARTICLE XI
CULTURAL HERITAGE WORKERS' INCENTIVES PROGRAM
SECTION 41. Cultural Heritage Workers' Incentives. - The national cultural agencies, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education shall initiate scholarships, educational training programs, and other measures to protect the well being of curators, conservators, authenticators and valuators/appraisers of cultural property. Such cultural workers shall be given grants, incentives and scholarships upon the endorsement by the head of the appropriate cultural agency.
(a) Program for Cultural Heritage Workers. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Commission through the cultural agencies concerned shall come up with the following:
1) An active Roster of Authenticators and Valuators/Appraisers;
2) An education and training plan for conservators, authenticators, valuators/appraisers, and other conservation related workers; and
3) A general training plan on conservation for local government units.
(b) Application of Scientific Career Merit System. Cultural heritage workers in the Civil Service with a Doctorate, Master of Science, or Master of Arts Degree in fields related to cultural heritage promotion and conservation, shall be given the rank and benefits of Scientists, subject to qualifying standards equivalent to those prescribed in the scientific career merit system of the government.
A cultural heritage worker involved in science and technology in the government agencies shall be eligible for the benefits under Republic Act 8439 or the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other S&T Personnel in Government. The Commission shall likewise establish a merit award system for non-civil service cultural heritage workers.
ARTICLE XII
SENTRO RIZAL
SECTION 42. Creation of Sentro Rizal. – There is hereby created and established a Sentro Rizal whose main purpose is the promotion of Philippine arts, culture and language throughout the world.
SECTION 43. Overseas Branches or Offices of Sentro Rizal. –Sentro Rizal shall have branches or offices in countries where there are children of overseas Filipino workers who need to be educated about their roots, as well as developed countries where there are large Filipino communities.
The office or branch shall be repository, inter alia, of the following materials on Philippine art, culture and language: books, digital video discs, compact discs, films, magazines, artworks, tourism promotion materials, information materials, etc. all these shall be made available to the public both Filipino and foreign.
SECTION 44. Coordination and Supervision with Philippine Schools. – The Sentro Rizal shall coordinate and supervise the Philippine Schools for Filipino children overseas.
SECTION 45. Services Offered. –The Sentro Rizal shall offer Filipino language courses for children and adults, as well as exhibits, small concerts, poetry reading, Philippine cuisine lessons in all Sentro Rizal branches.
SECTION 46. Provision of Tourism, Trade and Investment Materials to the Sentro Rizal. – The Department of Tourism, as well as the Department of Education, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Commission on Higher Education, National Historical Institute, National Archives, National Library, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, shall provide tourism promotion materials to the Sentro Rizal overseas branches. In the same manner, the Department of Trade and Industry will also provide trade and investments materials.
SECTION 47. Appropriation. - The amount of One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) necessary to carry out the provisions of this article shall be appropriated immediately to be generated from whatever source that are available in the National Treasury.
ARTICLE XIII
PENAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 48. Prohibited Acts. - To the extent that the offense is not punishable by a higher punishment under another provision of law, violations of this Act may be made by whoever intentionally:
SECTION 49. Penal Provisions. - Upon conviction, the offender shall be subject to a fine of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) or imprisonment for a term of not less than ten (10) years, or both upon the discretion of the Court: Provided, That any cultural property attempted to be concealed from registration or those intended to be encumbered or excavated in violation of this Act shall be summarily confiscated and forfeited in favor of the Commission: Provided further, That if the violation is committed by a juridical person, the president, manager, representative, director, agent or employee of said juridical person responsible for the act shall also be liable for the penalties provided herein: Provided furthermore, That if the acts are committed by dealers, they shall suffer, in addition to the penalties provide herein, the automatic revocation of their license to operate: Provided finally, That if the offender is an alien, he shall be placed under the custody of the Bureau of Immigration for the appropriate proceedings under this Act, and shall be summarily deported after serving his/her sentence.
Heads of departments, commissions, bureaus, agencies or offices, officers and/or agents found to have intentionally failed to perform their required duty as prescribed by the deputization order under Section 28 of this Act shall be liable for nonfeasance and shall be penalized in accordance with applicable laws.
If the offense involves the non-registration of a cultural property such as those referred to in Section 14, and the non-registration occurs upon or after proper notification by the Commission or the cultural agency concerned, the offender shall be subject to a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000).
The concerned head of agency, officer and/or employee of the government entities mentioned in Section 31 shall be held liable for failure to consult and coordinate with the Commission for the damage to the cultural property resulting from the implementation of the entity’s program/project, and shall be meted the penalty mentioned in the first paragraph of this section: Provided, That the offender/s shall likewise be asked to pay for the repair or rebuilding of what has been damaged.
ARTICLE XIV
ENDOWMENT
SECTION 50. National Endowment for Culture and the Arts. – The sum of Five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) shall be contributed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and/or General Appropriations at the minimum rate of One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) per year for five years, towards the establishment of a National Endowment for Culture and the Arts. Said amount shall be kept separate and deposited in a special account in the Bureau of Treasury specifically earmarked for culture and the arts.
ARTICLE XV
FINAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 51. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Commission, in consultation with other government agencies mentioned in this Act, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.
SECTION 52. Repealing Clause. – Pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 7356, the “Law Creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts”; Republic Act No. 8492, the “National Museum Act of 1998”; Republic Act No. 9072, the “National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act”; and Republic Act No. 7942, the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995”; and all other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 53. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provision of this Act that may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining provisions can still subsist and be given effect.
SECTION 54. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
PROSPERO C. NOGRALES Speaker of the House of Representatives |
JUAN PONCE ENRILE President of the Senate |
This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3014 and House Bill No. 6733 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 14, 2009 and December 16, 2009, respectively.
MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Secretary general House of Representatives |
EMMA LIRIO-REYES Secretary of the Senate |
Approved: March 26, 2010
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines