Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTION OF ARTISTS AGAINST FORGERY, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9105 OR THE ART 
FORGERY ACT OF 2001, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 9105 was enacted with a noble purpose, and that is to prevent and prosecute acts 
of art forgery, which have caused negative effects not only on our artists' economic interests, but 
even on their morale. Every hardworking Filipino artist deserves the protection from the 
government against piracy and copycats. 
As good as the intentions of this law were, there were, however, loopholes in some provisions that 
made it difficult to implement. The most glaring one perhaps is the inclusion of “any National 
Artist for Visual Arts” in the Search Committee for the Art Authentication Panel. This made the 
Committee difficult to convene since its composition relies heavily on persons, rather than on 
institutions. Thus, it is recommended that the composition of the Committee be amended with the 
endview of making it easier to convene. 
Visual artists also took a hit during the pandemic. In addition to the reduction of opportunities to 
showcase and exhibit their works, there was also a challenge for Filipino artists to keep their 
artworks safe from forgery and piracy. 
The timely amendment of this Act aims to provide additional protections to the artists and their 
artworks in today’s changing times. The addition of digital visual arts in this Act will be able to 
protect the works of the rising digital artists in our country. In addition, the amendment also seeks 
to incorporate the objectives of this Act during the celebration of the National Arts Month every 
February, mandating the Committee to provide further information to the Filipinos on Art Forgery 
and Piracy, in partnership with the Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) and other 
related government agencies.  
July 6, 2022
8:00 am
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This Act also calls for the publication of the process for complaints in relation to forgery and piracy 
to be able to help the artists’ burden and further complications.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. CHRISTOPHER V.P. DE VENECIA 
Fourth District, Pangasinan 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTION OF ARTISTS AGAINST FORGERY, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9105 OR THE ART 
FORGERY ACT OF 2001, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “AMENDED Art Forgery 
Act [of 2001].” 
SECTION 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms or phrases 
used herein shall mean or be understood as follows: 
xxx 
(b) Work of fine art refers to all original works of art like paintings, sculptures,
drawings, DIGITAL ARTWORK, and artwork produced in multiples such as graphic
and photographic works and sculpture casts, but shall not include works intended to be
mass-produced for commercial use; and
(c) Art dealer refers to any person or entity who sells, WHETHER PHYSICALLY OR
ONLINE, or otherwise deals in works of fine art for profit or gain, such as art galleries,
art brokers, and agents.
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SECTION 3. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC 4. Art Authentication Panel; Creation and Composition. – There is hereby created 
a panel to be known as the Art Authentication Panel to replace and assume the powers 
and functions of the panel of experts for fine arts provided for in R.A. No. 4846, as 
amended by P.D. 374. The Panel shall be composed of three (3) members, who shall be 
chosen and appointed by the National Museum OF THE PHILIPPINES Board of 
Trustees from a list submitted by the Search Committee created under SEC 8 of this 
Act. 
 
SECTION 4. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC 5. Functions of the Art Authentication Panel. – In addition to the powers granted 
to it under Republic Act No. 4846, as amended, the Art Authentication Panel, herein 
referred to as the “Panel”, shall also have the following powers and functions: 
 
(a) To designate individuals, named by the Search Committee as Art Consultants, to 
become members of the Panel for particular authentication session/s; 
 
(b) To verify and certify as original any work of fine art submitted to it for 
authentication, and to issue the corresponding certificates of authentication; 
 
(c) Upon proper verification, to accept for registration all original works of fine art 
submitted by the author; 
 
(d) To impose and collect authentication and registration fees, and other appropriate 
fees as it may prescribe; 
 
(e) To initiate an investigation and recommend prosecution of all persons who may have 
violated the provisions of this Act; 
 
(f) TO RECEIVE REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS; 
 
(g) TO ASSIST IN THE PROSECUTION, INITIATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
JUSTICE, BEFORE THE REGULAR COURTS; 
 
(h) To promulgate rules and regulations in the exercise of its functions; 
 
(i) To impose fines and sanctions for violation of its rules and regulations;  
 
(j) TO PROMOTE THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS ACT DURING THE NATIONAL 
ARTS MONTH HELD DURING THE FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR, PURSUANT 
TO PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NO. 683, BY RAISING AWARENESS 
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION IN 


THE FIELD OF THE ARTS THROUGH THE CONDUCT OF EVENTS, 
PROGRAMS, AND CELEBRATIONS, AMONG OTHERS;  
 
(I) TO SUBMIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND BOTH HOUSES 
OF CONGRESS, NOT LATER THAN THE 30TH OF APRIL OF EVERY YEAR 
FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, A REPORT GIVING A 
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT, INCLUDING 
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATION, IF NECESSARY; and 
 
(J) To perform such other acts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act. 
 
SECTION 5. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC 6. Qualifications of the Members of the Panel. – The members of the Panel must 
be citizens of the Philippines, at least thirty-five (35) years of age on the day of their 
appointment, of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence of mind, and 
holders of a degree or equivalent training and WITH AT LEAST TEN (10) YEARS OF 
experience in art conservation, connoisseurship, art history or visual arts. 
 
SECTION 6. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC 7. Term of Office. – The members of the Panel shall be appointed by the Board of 
Trustees for a term of THREE (3) [two (2)] years: Provided, that no member of the 
Panel shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms: Provided, further, that 
appointment to any vacancy shall only be for the unexpired term of the predecessor and 
shall be counted as one term. 
 
SECTION 7. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC 8. Search Committee for the Panel. – The Board of Trustees of the National 
Museum OF THE PHILIPPINES created under R.A. No. [8492] 11333, is hereby 
mandated to constitute a Search Committee for the Panel to be composed of, but not 
limited to, the following persons: 
 
(a) The Executive Director of the National Museum OF THE PHILIPPINES, as ex-
officio chairperson; 
 
(b) A Commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), as 
nominated by the Chairperson of the NCCA; 
 
(c) [The president of the Philippine Association of Art Galleries] A representative from 
the art galleries; 


 
(d) [Any National Artist for Visual Arts] THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF THE PHILIPPINES (IPOPHL) OR HIS 
OR HER DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE WITH A RANK NOT LESS 
THAN THAT OF A DIRECTOR IV 
 
(e) Two (2) deans of reputable schools of fine arts; and 
 
(f) [The president of the Artists Association of the Philippines] A representative from a 
creative workers association of visual artists. 
 
SECTION 8. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC 9. Functions of the Search Committee for the Panel. – The following are the 
functions of the Search Committee for the Panel: 
 
(a) Submit to the National Museum OF THE PHILIPPINES Board of Trustees a list of 
six (6) names, from which the members of the Panel shall be chosen; and 
 
(b) Maintain and update a list of individuals, herein called Art Consultants, who are 
recognized experts in various art fields, indexing such names by area of expertise or 
other qualifications, from which the Panel may draw upon as the need arises. 
 
SECTION 9. Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9105 or the Art Forgery Act of 2001 is hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC 11. Penalties. – Any person who commits any of the acts enumerated in SEC 3(a) 
of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one 
(1) day but not more than twelve (12) years, and a fine not less than ONE HUNDRED 
[fifty] thousand pesos [(₱50,000.00)] (₱100,000.00) but not more than ONE MILLION 
[Five hundred thousand] pesos [(₱500,000.00)] (₱1,000,000.00). 
 
If the acts are committed by a corporation, partnership or any kind of juridical entity, 
the penalty provided herein shall be imposed on its chief executive officer and/or other 
officials responsible therefor. 
 
If the acts are committed by the art dealers or the owners or operators of art galleries, 
they shall suffer, in addition to the penalties provided herein, the automatic revocation 
of their license to operate. 
 
SECTION 10. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the immediate implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 


SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Board of Trustees of the National 
Museum shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation 
of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act shall be held to be 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, decrees, rules, and regulations 
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,