FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
u 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A nation will not achieve its full cultural, economic and political potential if its 
people do not have a sense of history. Without a unifying past, our people will be relegated 
to thinking like disconnected tribes. 
In order for our country to move forward, it is imperative that our people remember 
the past that brought us together as a nation. At the cusp of the age of globalization, 
cultural and economic homogeneity threatens those who do not remember their common 
ideals and the triumph of their legacy. Cultural annihilation waits for those who do not 
have a sense of history. 
It is not enough that history is studied in the university as it is now required by law. 
More importantly, there is a need to convey and connect our history with the lives of our 
people if we are to benefit from the lessons of the past. 
It is every government’s goal to make history relevant, so that having planted it in 
its citizens, the country becomes proud of its heritage, strong in its identity, and become 
unified as a nation. 
The National Historical Institute was established to articulate these goals by 
initiating and implementing programs relevant to historical research and popularization of 
history. However, its charter is a decade old, more or less. There is a need to ensure that 
this agency continues to achieve its obligation to make history relevant, popular and a 
dynamic source of inspiration. Without creating new offices, there is a need to strengthen 
and streamline the agency. In order to adapt to contemporary development, there is also a 
need to clarify the agency’s mandate and powers with the end in view of strengthening its 
resources, expanding the scope of its beneficiaries, and clarifying its role in relation to 
other cultural agencies. 
For these reasons, the passage of the bill is earnestly requested. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
CHANGING THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL 
INSTITUTE INTO NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, STRENGTHENING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted in the Senate and House OfRepresentatives ofthe Philippines in the 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "National Historical 
Commission of the Philippines Act". 
SEC. 2. Declaration ofPolicy. -It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State 
to conserve, promote and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and 
resources. The Constitution likewise mandates 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. 
Towards this end, the State shall provide means to strengthen people's 
nationalism, love of country, respect for its heroes, and pride for the people's 
accomplishments by reinforcing the importance of Philippine national and local history in 
daily life; reinvigorating government support for historical research; and sustaining 
programs for the protection, preservation and conservation of historical artifacts, 
monuments, sites and other historical resources. 
The State shall likewise give utmost priority not only to the research on history 
but also to the popularization of history. This way, the State will be able to build a 
Philippine national identity based on unity and pride in diversity held together by a 
common history. 
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SEC. 3. DeJnifion of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall be defined as follows: 
(a) 
Built Heritage refers to architectural and engineering structures, such as, 
but not limited to, bridges, government buildings, houses of ancestry, traditional 
dwellings, technological and industrial complexes, and their settings, and landscapes with 
notable historical and cultural significance; 
(b) 
Classzjkd refers to structures and sites marked and listed as such and 
recorded in the National Historical Institute’s National Registry of Historic Structures, 
and not falling under any of the five categories of historic sites and structures, namely: 
National Shrines, National Monuments, National Landmarks, Heritage Houses, and 
Historic Sites; 
(c) 
Conservation refers to all the processes and measures of maintaining the 
cultural Significance of a cultural property, including but not limited to, preservation, 
restoration, reconstruction, protection, adaptation or any combination thereof; 
(d) 
Documentation refers to the recording in a permanent format of 
information derived from conservation activities; 
(e) 
Heritage Houses refer to houses of ancestry with notable historical, 
cultural, social, architectural and artistic value and significance; 
(0 
Historic Site refers to natural area or place recognized to have important 
historical significance; 
(g) 
Historical Street Name refers to a street name which has been in existence 
for at least fifty (50) years; 
(h) 
History refers to the record of people, places and events in the past; it can 
also mean the discipline involving the study of people, places and events in the past; 
(i) 
History Museum refers to a museum or gallery associated with historical 
events, personages and places; 
0) 
Historical Research refers to the scholarly investigation of people, places, 
and events in the past; 
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(k) 
Historical Writing refers to the coherent, narrative and scholarly 
documentation of people, places and events in the past; 
(1) 
National Historical Landmarks refer to sites or structures that are 
associated with events or achievements significant to Philippine History; 
(m) 
National Historical Monuments refer to structures that honor illustrious 
persons or commemorate events of historical value; 
(n) 
National Historical Shrines refer to historical sites or structures hallowed 
and revered for their history or association; 
(0) 
National Registry of Historic Structures refers to the registry of all historic 
sites and structures of the country; 
(p) 
Preservafion refers to the protection of cultural property through activities 
that minimize chemical and physical deterioration and damage 
and which prevents 
loss of informational content; and 
(q) 
Restorution refers to the action taken or the technical intervention to 
correct deterioration and alterations. 
SEC. 4. Renaming of the National Historical Institute. - The nomenclature of 
the National Historical Institute ("I), 
established pursuant to Presidential. Decree No. 1, 
series of 1972, is hereby changed to National Historical Commission of the Philippines 
("CP). 
The NHCP shall be an independent agency attached to the Office of the President. 
SEC. 5. General Mandate. - The NHCP shall be responsible for the conservation, 
promotion and popularization of the Philippine historical heritage and resources by 
undertaking all kinds of research relating to Philippine national and local history; 
encourage historical educational activities for the popularization of Philippine history; 
implement dissemination programs regarding historical events; and manage and 
safeguard the improvement and restoration of national shrines, monuments, historical 
sites, edifices of significant cultural value and landmarks. 
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The NHCP shall likewise assume jurisdiction over all matters relative to historical 
studies and popularization of Philippine history, including the survey and documentation, 
establishment, development and maintenance of historic sites and structures. 
SEC. 6. The Board. ~ 
The NHCP shall be governed by a seven-(7) member 
Board, which shall be created to formulate and implement policies relating to the national 
historical landmarks, treasures and resources. 
SEC. 7. Powers and Functions of the Board. - 
The Board of the NHCP shall 
exercise the following powers and functions: 
Conduct all manners of research pertaining to Philippine national and local 
history; 
Acquire important historical documents, collections, memorabilia and 
other objects that have significant historical value; 
Purchase real property, buildings and other structures that are of 
significant historical and enduring value; 
Determine the manner by which historical sites will be identified, 
maintained and preserved, and place appropriate historical markers to 
these historical sites; 
Identify, reconstruct, restore, preserve and maintain documents and other 
historical artifacts important to Philippine history; 
Plan, organize traditional, or initiate new celebrations or commemorations 
pertaining to Philippine history; 
Initiate and promote programs such as the integration of the subject on 
history into the school curriculum, among others, for the popularization of 
Philippine history; 
Implement and enforce the Flag law and other special laws where the 
NHCP has been designated as the implementing body; 
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(i) 
Secure and receive local, bilateral and international donations, grants and 
endowments in support of its programs and projects; 
6) 
Develop and implement consortium agreements to link other government 
agencies andor private individuals and organizations engaged in or in 
support of the mandate of the NHCP; 
(k) 
Regulate activities inimical to the preservation and conservation of 
historical property or resources; 
(1) 
Advise the President on matters pertaining to Philippine history; 
(m) 
Generate resources from government or private sources, local or 
international for its operation; 
(n) 
Collect reasonable fees for use, sale or rent of its resources as well as 
entrance fees to parks which the NHCP has the duty to maintain; 
(0) 
Create committees or deputize individuals for projects that the NHCP 
wishes to undertake; and 
(p) 
Conduct public hearings and ocular inspections or initiate factual 
investigations with respect to disputed historical issues for the purpose of 
declaring official historical dates, places, and personages. 
SEC. 8. Composition of tlze Board. - The Board shall be composed of the 
following: 
(a) 
The Executive Director of the National Library of the Philippines; 
(b) 
The Executive Director of the National Museum, 
(c) 
The Executive Director of the National Archives of the Philippines; and 
(d) 
Four (4) distinguished historians representing the private sector to be 
appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines. 
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The Chairperson o f  the Board shall be elected by the members from among the 
regular members of the Board. 
SEC. 9. Qualifications of Members of tke Board. -No person shall be appointed 
or elected to the Board unless he/she possesses following minimum qualifications: 
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A natural born citizen of the Republic of the Philippines; 
At least thirty-five (35) years of age; 
Has good moral character; 
Has distinguished himselfiherself in the field of Philippine history; 
Has published works in Philippine history and other academic expertise 
recognized by scholars and the reading public. 
SEC. 10. Term of Office. - The members of the Board shall serve for a term of 
four (4) years and shall not serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms. Appointment 
to any vacancy shall only be for the unexpired term of the predecessor and in no case 
shall a member be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting capacity. 
SEC. 11. The Executive Director. - The executive director shall implement 
policies and programs approved by the Board and manage and supervise the operation of 
the NHCP. 
The executive director shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the 
Philippines. He/She shall have a rank equivalent to a bureau director. 
SEC. 12. Functions of the Executive Director. - The executive director shall 
have the following functions: 
(a) 
Implement the policies and programs promulgated by the NHCP Board; 
(b) 
Take charge of the day to day administration and management of the 
NHCP; 
(c) 
Represent the NI-ICP in meetings; and 
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(d) 
Perform such other functions as may be necessary. 
SEC. 13. The Deputy Executive Directors. - The executive director shall be 
assisted by a deputy executive director for Administrative Affairs and a deputy executive 
director for Special Programs. 
The deputy executive directors shall be appointed by the Board. 
SEC. 14. Qualifications of the Executive Director and Deputy Executive 
Directors. - No person shall be appointed or designated as executive director and 
deputy executive directors of the NHCP unless he/she possesses the following minimum 
qualifications: 
(a) 
A natural born citizen of the Republic of the Philippines; 
(b) 
Has good moral character; 
(c) 
Holder of any four-(4) year degree, preferably in history, political science, 
or public administration, or information management; 
(d) 
Has at least ten (10) years of actual and relevant experience in managing a 
government agency in the case of the executive director and five (5) years experience in 
the case of the deputy executive directors; and 
(e) 
Has career executive service officer eligibility. 
SEC. 15. Delegation of Authority. - The executive director shall have authority 
over and responsibility for the operation of the NHCP. He/She may delegate such 
authority to the deputy executive directors to implement plans and programs. The 
delegation shall be in writing; shall indicate the name of specific officer to which the 
delegation is made; shall indicate the duties and responsibilities delegated; shall indicate 
the length of period of delegated authority; and shall vest sufficient authority to enable 
the delegate to discharge hidher assigned responsibility. 
SEC. 16. Reorganization. - Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Board shall have the authority to reorganize the structure of the 
NHI, including its staffing pattern in order to carry out its functions. 
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Employees of the NHI shall be subsumed in the NHCP and, whenever qualified, 
Employees opting to avail of an early 
be upgraded to their analogous positions. 
retirement scheme shall be granted under the existing DBM guidelines. 
SEC. 17. Historic Sites and Structures Documentation Center. - A Historic 
Sites and Structures Documentation Center (HSSDC) shall be established within the 
NHCP, replacing the existing Survey and Documentation Section, which shall he tasked 
to undertake the survey, identification, documentation, and recommendation for the 
declaration of historic structures and edifices such as national shrines, monuments, and 
landmarks or heritage houses by the NHCP Board and the maintenance of national 
registry of historic structures. 
SEC. 18. Local Historical Committees Network. - The existing work of the 
NHCP on historical society affiliations shall constitute the Local Historical Committees 
Network (LHCN). The LHCN shall monitor, coordinate, support and upon approval of 
the Board, affiliate various local historical bodies engaged in the collection, 
documentation, popularization and preservation of extant historical materials found in 
different parts of the Philippines. It shall also record the oral histories of towns, cities, 
provinces and regions, 
SEC. 19. Materials Research Conservation Division. - The Materials Research 
Conservation Center of the NHCP shall be renamed as Materials Research Conservation 
Division (MRCD). Aside from its regular functions, it shall provide consultancy services 
to collectors o€ historical objects that are considered valuable components of Filipino 
heritage to ensure that preservation and conservation techniques and procedures are in 
accordance with the accepted international standards set in protecting historical objects 
and materials. 
The MRCD shall enrich and update knowledge on restoration and preservation 
techniques by conducting scientific research on these techniques to ensure the 
conservation of Filipino cultural heritage. It shall likewise establish linkages between the 
Philippines and various international bodies engaged in the scientific preservation of 
historical and cultural objects. 
SEC. 20. Tax Exemption on Donations. - All donations in any form to the 
NHCP shall be exempt from the Donor’s Tax and the same shall be considered as 
allowable deduction from the gross income in the computation of the income tax of the 
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donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, 
as amended. 
SEC. 21. 
Funding Provision. - The amount necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 22. Transitory Provisions. - The incumbent executive director and deputy 
executive director of the NHI shall continue to serve in their respective capacity as the 
executive director and deputy executive director of the herein established NHCP for one 
(1) year after the effectivity of this Act or until a new executive director shall have been 
appointed by the President and the two (2) new deputy executive directors shall have 
been appointed by the Board. 
All assets, fixed and movable, and all contracts, records and documents relative to 
the operations of the NHI are hereby transferred to the NHCP. 
All agreements and contracts entered into by the NHI shall remain in full force 
and effect unless otherwise terminated, modified or amended by the NHCP. 
Officials and employees of the NHI shall be absorbed by the NHCP on the basis 
of merit and fitness: Provided, That officers and employees who shall be separated from 
the service as a result of the abolition of any of the divisions therein, shall he entitled to 
retirement and other separation benefits provided under existing laws. 
SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The NHCP, in consultation 
with the other government agencies mentioned in this Act, shall promulgate the 
implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this 
Act. 
SEC. 24. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions thereof. 
SEC. 25. Repealing Clause. - Pertinent provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1, 
series of 1972 and all other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
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Approved, 
SEC. 26. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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