TH CONGRESS OF THE REPU 
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First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINE 
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T 
Introduced by Senator S. 
EXPLANATORY N 
History has an important role in our national life. The way we record and 
interpret our history determines the outlook that we adopt regarding the future. 
At present, the National Historical Institute is the primary entity that 
oversees the promotion and preservation of the Philippine Historical heritage. 
This bill seeks to strengthen the mandate of the National Historical 
Institute and delineate its ju'risdiction and special functions so that matters 
pertaining to national history can be adequately addressed. 
This measure also proposes the creation of other institutions such as the 
Historic Building Survey and Documentation Center. The Local Historic 
Committees Network and the Materials Conservation Center. 
This measure also proposes to grant tax incentives that will encourage 
private contributions to the restoration, reconstruction and preservation of historic 
building. 
SERGIO R. OSMEFJA III 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
"04. 
R 
S E N A T  
s. No. 
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Introdllced by Senator 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF THE 
NATIONAL HISTORICAL INSTITUTE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION. 1. General Mandate. - The National Historical Institute (NHI) 
2 shall be responsible for the promoting and preserving the Philippine cultural 
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heritage by undertaking, among others, studies on Philippine history and Filipino 
4 heroes; encouraging historical educational activities, including the widening of 
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local historical committee network; and managing and safeguarding the 
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improvement and restoration of national shrines, monuments, historical sites, 
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buildings and landmarks. 
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SEC. 2. Specific Functions. - The NHI shall assume jurisdiction over all 
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matters relative to historical studies and popularization of Philippine history, 
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including the survey and documentation, establishment, development and 
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maintenance of historic sites and structures. Specifically its functions shall be: 
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a. 
To conduct and accelerate historical research programs, including 
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the translation of Philippine written and oral history here and abroad; and to act 
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as historical research resource center that will provide historical research 
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services to the public by maintaining a historical data bank; 
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b. 
To undertake the documentation, authentication and evaluation of 
works of various aspects of Philippine history including the resolution of 
controversial and conflicting issues; 
c. 
To compile and acquire from various sources here and abroad data 
on historical personages and events, including rare and contemporary Filipiniana 
materials, through purchase, donation, exchange, or through any other manner, 
of important historical documents, materials and objects; 
d. 
To promote the writing or publishing of works of national heroes 
and other illustrious Filipinos; 
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e. 
For purposes siated in sub-paragraphs ( c) and'(d), to enter into 
negotiations or agreements, subject to the approval of the Secretary of 
Education, Culture and Sports with institutions and individuals for purposes of 
securing original documents or copies, photostat and micro-films thereof, dealing 
with the Philippines; 
f. 
To gather and publish source books, reports, records and 
documents on historical preservation such as surveys and inventories, and other 
valuable information relating to historical places, markers, events and personage; 
g. 
To encourage research, writing, and publication on Philippine 
history, including textbooks, biographies of heroes, accounts of historical events, 
and translations of important scholarly works of Filipinos and foreigners, by 
providing appropriation as the Institute may deem necessary; 
h. 
To set a standard for declaring and classifying historical places, 
edifices, and landmarks in the country in consonance with the provisions of 
Presidential Decree No. 260, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1505; 
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To study important historical events; to recommend heroes who 
should be honored by way of proclamation and special public holidays in their 
honor; and to plan and arrange for the execution of fitting activities to 
commemorate 
heroes; 
the events and birth anniversaries or centenaries of Filipino 
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j. 
To take charge of all historical activities or projects not otherwise 
undertaken by any entity or the government; 
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k. 
To identify, designate, declare, classify, register and appropriately 
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mark historic structures and places in the Philippines; 
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I. 
To administer and appropriate with the approval of the Office of the 
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President, funds donated to it by the public and the government, and proceeds 
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from income in pursuance of its duties and functions; 
m. 
To work in coordination with the Institute of Philippine Languages 
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for the translation of its work and materials into the National Language; 
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n. 
To initiate, with the assistance of the private sector, the restoration, 
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preservation, construction, or reconstruction, operation, and maintenance of 
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national shrines, monuments and landmarks that have been or may hereafter be 
declared, designated, and erected; 
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To take charge of the acquisition, by acquisition, donation, 
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exchange or by any other manner; and the preservation and restoration of 
historical objects, including relics and memorabilia of national heroes and 
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illustrious Filipinos; 
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p. 
To take charge of the preparation, evaluation, verification, and 
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approval of heraldic designs in the country, including the blazoning of the 
national government and its instrumentalities, the celebration of the Annual Flag 
Day and the strict observance of the country’s National Anthem and Flag Code; 
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q. 
To 
coordinate and supervise the 
collection, 
identification, 
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classification, reproduction, and release of archival materials and other historical 
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papers in the possession of government agencies; and 
r. 
To work in collaboration with the Department of Tourism towards 
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the 
preservation, 
restoration, 
and/or 
reconstruction of 
historic 
sites, 
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churcheslstructures and places declared as national shrines, monuments and/or 
landmarks. 
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SEC. 
3. 
Historic Building Survey and Documentation. - A Historic 
Building Survey and Documentation Center shall be established within the NHI 
with 
the existing Survey and Documentation Section as its nucleus, to 
undertake the survey, identification, documentation, classification, designation, 
and declaration of historic structures and edifices such as national shrines, 
monuments, and landmarks and the maintenance of national registry of historic 
structures. 
SEC. 4. Local Historic Committees Network. - The existing Provincial 
Historical Committees Section of the Institute shall constitute the Local Historical 
Committees Network that will monitor, coordinate and support various local 
historical bodies engaged in the collection, documentation, popularization and 
preservation of extant historical materials found in different parts of the 
Philippines; and the recording of the oral histories to towns, cities, provinces and 
regions. 
SEC. 5. Materials Conservation Center. - The Materials Conservation 
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Section of the Institute shall be renamed Materials Conservation Center. It shall: 
I) Provide consultancy services to collectors of historical objects that 
are considered valuable components of Filipino heritage to insure that 
preservation and recreation techniques and procedures are in accordance with 
the accepted international standards set in protecting historical objects and 
materials; 
2) 
Enrich and update knowledge on restoration and preservation 
techniques by conducting scientific research on these techniques to ensure the 
conservation of Filipino cultural heritage; 
3) 
Establish 
linkages 
between 
the 
Philippines 
and 
various 
international bodies engaged in the scientific preservation of historical and 
cultural objects. 
SEC. 6. Private Sector and Tax Incentives. - The participation and full 
support from private individuals and entities shall be solicited for the preservation 
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and restoration of national shrines, monuments, landmarks, and other important 
historic edifices. 
Any person, entity or corporate body undertaking the rehabilitation of 
historical buildings and structures classified, identified and listed in the National 
Registry of Historic Structures by the National Historical Institute shall be given 
tax incentives equivalent to fifty percent (50) of the total amount spent for the 
year the rehabilitation, restoration or preservation works were completed. 
SEC. 7. Other Tax Incentives. - ProTessional fees derived from the 
restoration, reconstruction, and preservation of historic buildings protected by the 
Philippine Government and listed in the National Registry of Historic Structures 
shall not be included under gross income and shall be exempt from taxation. 
Historical buildings declared as national shrines, monuments, or 
landmarks which are listed in the National Registry of Historical Structures and 
have undergone restoration, preservation and reconstruction shall not be subject 
to any tax in case of sale, exchange, or any other disposition. 
SEC. 
8. 
Fund Raising Prograrns/Activities. - Souvenir and history 
museum shops shall be established by the National Historical Institute at various 
historical shrines and landmarks under its care in order to provide mapefary 
support for the operation and administration of all historical shrines, monuments 
and landmarks throughout the country. The Institute is authorized to print, 
fabricate, reproduce and sell historical souvenirs and replicas of relics or 
publications and other items of popular interest. Proceeds may be deposited in a 
special account with a government financial institution, and used in the 
publication, production and manufacture of suitable items needed in the shops 
and for the furtherance of the Institute’s objective of bringing history closer to the 
com mu nity . 
SEC. 9. Utilization of Savings. - The Director of the National Historical 
Institute is hereby authorized to use the agency’s savings subject to the approval 
of the President under Section 40, Presidential Decree No. 1177, as amended, 
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for: a) the repair and improvement of various historic sites and structures 
identified and classified under Presidential Decree No. 260, as amended, subject 
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to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and 
Sports; b) the payment of the services of contractual or temporary technical 
consultants in the specialized fields of conservation, restoration, preservation, 
and heraldry, including translators, researchers and curators, who may be 
employed by the Institute from time to time. 
SEC. I O .  Coordination with Other Agencies. - The NHI, is coordination 
with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, is hereby empowered to promulgate rules 
and regulations for the implementation of the provisions of this Act. Such rules 
and regulations shall be approved by the Secretary of the Department of 
Education, Culture and Sports. 
The NHI shall coordinate with the Department of Tourism and other 
related agencies of government, for the purpose of implementing tourism projects 
and activities. 
SEC. 1 I, 
Repealing Clause. - All acts, executive orders, and regulations 
issued pursuant to existing laws or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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