SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2208 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
!6>enatl' 
l(Hf.;r ttl t~e .~tnvhu"! 
'14 
MAY -6 P 3 :24 
AN ACT CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, RATIONALIZING AND STRENGTHENING ITS ATTACHED AGENCIES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Culture is a nation's DNA. It is responsible for shaping judgements, ethics, and behaviors. 
Clothing, food, celebrations, language, and creative expressions are only observable aspects of 
culture, but it must also be viewed in a holistic light. One of the most compendious definitions 
of culture is by anthropologist Ruth Benedict who said "Culture is learned as a child, and as 
children we each learned from those around us a particular set of rule, beliefs, priorities and 
expectations that molded our world into a meaningful whole. That is culture." 
The shared values, customs and history are responsible for shaping the way an individual 
thinks, behaves and views the world. Through cultural heritage, members create a bond and 
foster a sense of belongings. 
Culture is not an add-on, it is a vital component in triggering economic and intellectual vitality 
in city centers and towns throughout the counhy. For this reason, it is crucial to institute a 
deparhnent engaged solely in cultural endeavors. 
Establishing a Department of Culture is aimed specifically at creating a cenh'alized body 
dedicated to all matters pertaining to the identification, protection, preservation, conservation, 
regulation and promotion of culture, cultural heritage and arts on the part of the national 
government, in furtherance of Sections 14, 15, 16 and 17 of Article XIV of the Constitution: 
Section 14. The State shall foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic 
evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity 
in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression. 
Section 15. Arts and letters shall enjoy the patronage of the State. The State shall 
conserve, promote, and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and 
resources, as well as artistic creations. 


Section 16. 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. 
Section 17. The State shall recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous 
cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures, h'aditions, and 
institutions. It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national plans and 
policies. 
Section 18. 
1. The State shall ensure equal access to cultural opportunities through the 
educational system, public or private cultural entities, scholarships, grants 
and other incentives, and community cultural centers, and other public 
venues. 
2. The State shall encourage and support researches and studies on the arts 
and culture. 
In pursuit of these declared principles, and in response particularly to exigencies and challenges 
of rapid social change, economic development and climate change, there is a need to foster, 
strengthen and accelerate the convergence of various existing Departments and cultural 
agencies, and harmonize, rationalize and consolidate their organizations and functions, 
pal'ticularly in areas of policy, strategic direction, and implementation of the prevailing 
framework of cultural laws, notably Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the National 
Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. 
Through this bill, the existing structure of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts 
(NCCA) shall be largely preserved and solely dedicated towards the independent 
administration of the National Endowment for Culture and Arts established by previous laws, 
and shall be renamed as such, while existing managerial, administrative and support functions 
and persOlmel shall incorporated into the Department of Culture, to be composed of the Office 
of the Secretary and five bureaux focusing on core areas of: protection and regulation; 
management and development; information, education and training (to include and incorporate 
a National Institute of Culture, Heritage and Arts); cultural institutions, industries and 
practitioners, and the Rizal Centers or Sentro Rizal envisioned by Congress to be the Philippine 
counterpart to such cultural networks as the Alliance Fran~aise, Instituto Cervantes and Goethe 
Institut. The proposed Department shall be authorized to establish regional and international 
offices, and station persOlmel in posts abroad, in the pursuit of its mandate, responsibilities and 
functions. 
Attached agencies of the Department shall include those within the existing NCCA umbrella, 
with the addition of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Intramuros 


Administration (rA), the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), and Nayong 
Pilipino (NP). 
At the same time, key cultural agencies such as the National Archives of the Philippines, 
National Library of the Philippines, and National Museum of the Philippines are to be further 
sh'engthened in support of their established mandates, and in order that they may focus on 
their core responsibilities and functions, all attached agencies are relieved of their various 
regulatory functions, which shall be transferred to the Department. 
For the above-cited reasons, the passage of this bill is urgently sought. 
==L~RDA 
> 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENA.:n, 
s.B.No.~08 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, RATIONALIZING AND STRENGTHENING ITS ATTACHED AGENCIES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1, Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Department of Culture Act of 2014." 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
ARTICLE I 
POLICIES 
7 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
8 
a. To recognize that culture is a unifying, humanizing and modernizing agent of any 
9 
society; 
10 
b. To utilize culture as a measure for the formulation of appropriate and significant 
11 
political and economic policy that will better serve Filipinos; 
12 
c, To foster, strengthen and accelerate the convergence of various cultural offices and 
13 
agencies, and rationalize their organizations and functions; 
14 
d. To ensure that all Filipinos enjoy full cultural rights, take full advantage of a dynamic 
15 
cultural experience, and contribute to and celebrate the country's arts and cultural 
16 
heritage; 
17 
e. To recognize that cultural education is the right of every Filipino and therefore ensure 
18 
that cultural literacy is inculcated in the development and education of all Filipinos; 
19 
f. 
To promote the national language of the country while enhancing the linguistic 
20 
diversity of the Philippines; 


g. To create a centralized body which will develop, manage and be responsible for the 
2 
implementation of policy, legislation and strategic direction for the identification, 
3 
protection, preservation, conservation, regulation and promotion of culture; 
4 
h. To recognize culture as the patrimony and right of every citizen of the Philippines; 
5 
and 
6 
i. 
To recognize, protect and promote the independence of cultural practitioners, 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
particularly artists, and the integrity of their works and associated processes of 
creation and production. 
ARTICLE II 
THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE 
13 
SEC. 3.Creation of the Department of Cultnre. There is hereby created the Department of 
14 
Culture (KagawaranngKalinangan), hereinafter referred to as the Department, which shall 
15 
carry out the above-declared policies and assume the powers and functions of the following 
16 
national offices, agencies and departments in matters pertaining to the identification, 
17 
protection, pl'eservation, conservation, regulation, development promotion of culture and 
18 
heritage: 
19 
a. Department of Education 
20 
b. Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
21 
c. Department of Foreign Affairs 
22 
d. Department of Interior and Local Government 
23 
e. Department of Public Works and Highways 
24 
f. 
Department of Tourism 
25 
g. Deparhnent of Trade and Industry 
2!i 
h. Commission on Filipinos Overseas 
27 
i. 
Commission on Higher Education 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
j. 
National Commission for Culture and the Arts 
k. National Commission on Indigenous People 
1. 
National Museum of the Philippines 
m. National Historical Commission of the Philippines 
n. National Archives of the Philippines 
o. National Library of the Philippines 
p. Cultural Center of the Philippines 
2 


I 
q. KomisyonngWikang Filipino 
2 
r. 
Film Development Council of the Philippines 
3 
s. 
Intrmnuros Administration 
4 
t. 
National Parks Development Committee 
5 
u. Nayong Pilipino 
6 
7 
SEC. 4. Mandate. The Department shall be the primary policy, planning, coordinating, 
8 
implementing, regulating and administrative entity of the executive branch of the National 
9 
Government that will identify, protect, preserve, conserve, regulate, develop and promote 
10 
the culture and cultural heritage of the Philippines. 
11 
12 
SEC. 5.Powers and Functions.The Department shall exercise the following powers and 
13 
functions: 
14 
a. Formulate, recommend and implement national policies, plans, programs and 
15 
guidelines for the identification, protection, preservation, conservation, regulation, 
16 
development and promotion of culture, including movable, immovable, tangible 
17 
and intangible cultural heritage, and provide wider and convenient access to the 
18 
same; 
19 
b. Harmonize and coordinate all plans and initiatives of government agencies and 
20 
local governments related to culture and cultural heritage to ensure overall 
21 
consistency with the objectives of this Act in particular, and with national 
22 
objectives in general; 
23 
c. Represent the Philippines in matters pertaining to culture in regional and 
24 
international organizations and events; 
25 
d. Ensure the convergence of knowledge, information and resource sharing, database 
26 
building and agency linkages among various government agencies related to 
27 
culture and the objectives of this Act; 
28 
e. Coordinate and support the establishment and accessibility of necessary resources 
29 
for the development and growth of cultural sectors, industries and programs; 
30 
f. 
Encourage and establish guidelines for partnerships with the non-government and 
31 
32 
private sectors in the implementation of programs and projects, and the policies 
and objectives of this Act; 
3 


I 
g. Coordinate and support the operations, programs and projects of agencies 
2 
established and! or attached to the Department by virtue of this Act, and other 
3 
concerned institutions; 
4 
h. Coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Intellectual Property 
5 
Office of the Philippines and other concerned government agencies in the 
6 
promotion of trade and inveshnent opportunities, the development and 
7 
coordination of cultural industries, and safeguarding of investor interests and 
8 
intellectual property in cultural protection, preservation, development and 
9 
promotion; 
10 
i. In coordination with concerned agencies, promote strategic partnership and 
11 
alliances among and between local and international bodies and institutions, 
12 
concerned with culture, cultural heritage and arts, and the policies and objectives 
13 
of this Act; 
14 
j. 
Develop, institute and carryout the training and certification of cultural officers 
IS 
and personnel from concerned agencies of the National Government and local 
16 
governments; 
17 
k. Administer the qualification, selection and conferral of the Award for National 
18 
Living Treasures (GcrwadngManlilikhang Bayan), the Order of National Artists 
19 
(OrdenngPambansangAlagadngSining), 
and 
all 
other national awards and 
20 
decorations in the field of culture; 
21 
1. 
Have the exclusive power to recommend for proclamation by the President of the 
27 
Philippines of National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties; 
23 
m. Other powers and functions as may be created, assigned or transferred by the 
24 
President of the Philippines in accordance with law. 
25 
26 
SEC. 6.Compositioll.The Department of Culture shall be headed by a Secretary. The 
27 
Department proper shall be composed of the Office of the Secretary, the offices of the 
28 
Undersecretaries and the Assistant Secretaries, and the Bureaux. 
29 
30 
SEC. 7.SecretanJ of Culture. The Secretary shall be appOinted by the President of the 
31 
Philippines, and shall have the following functions: 
32 
a. Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of the 
33 
Department and its attached agencies; 
4 


I 
b. Establish policies and standards for the effective, efficient and economical 
2 
opera tion of the Department, in accordance with the programs of Government; 
3 
c. Rationalize delivery systems necessary for the effective attainment of the 
4 
objectives of the Department, in accordance with the programs of Government; 
5 
d. Review and approve requests for financial and human resources of all operating 
6 
offices of the Department; 
7 
e. Designate and appoint officers and employees of the Department, excluding the 
8 
Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, in accordance with the Civil Service 
9 
laws, rules and regulations; 
10 
f. 
Sit on the governing boards of attached agencies as provided in this Act, as well as 
II 
any other agencies or organizations as may be appropriate or designated; 
12 
g. Coordinate with local governments, other agencies and public and private 
13 
interests groups, including non-government organizations (NGOs) and people's 
14 
organizations (POs) on Department policies and initiatives; 
15 
h. Advise the President of the Philippines and make recommendations on the 
16 
promulgation of executive and administrative orders and regulatory and 
17 
legislative proposals on matters pertaining to culture, cultural heritage, and arts; 
18 
i. 
Formulate such rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers as may be 
19 
required to implement the objectives of this Act; 
20 
j. 
Perform such other tasks as may be provided by law or assigned by the President 
21 
ofthe Philippines. 
22 
23 
SEC. 8.Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall be assisted by at least 
24 
four (4) Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon 
25 
the recommendation of the Secretary, at least two (2) of whom shall be career officers. The 
26 
Undersecretaries shall be responsible for a) finance and administration, b) legal and 
27 
regulatory affairs, c) policy and planning, and d) development and promotion, among other 
28 
areas of responsibility as may be established by the Secretary. 
29 
30 
Likewise, the Secretary shall be assisted by at least four (4) Assistant Secretaries, who shall 
31 
be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary, 
32 
at least three (3) of whom shall be career officers. The Assistant Secretaries shall be 
33 
responsible for management and coordination functions, particularly among attached and 
5 


1 
other concerned agencies and local governments, external and public affairs and 
2 
information, among other areas of responsibility as may be established by the Secretary. 
3 
4 
SEC. 9. Qualifications. No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary or Assistant 
5 
Secretary of the Department unless he or she is a citizen of the Philippines of good moral 
6 
character, and of proven integrity. 
7 
8 
The Secretary of the Department, in particular, shall be a person recognized as an 
9 
accomplished culture or cultural heritage manager or advocate, or a distinguished scholar or 
10 
practitioner in the fields of arts, anthropology, history, cultural diplomacy and other fields 
11 
of endeavor related to culture orcultural heritage and the mandate and functions of the 
12 
Department. 
13 
14 
ARTICLE III 
15 
BUREAUX, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OFFICES 
16 
AND ATTACHED AGENCIES 
17 
18 
SEC. 10.Bureaux of the Department. The following five (5) Bureaux shall be established 
. 
19 
within the Deparhnent: 
20 
a. Bureau of Cultural Protection and Regulation. 
21 
b. Bureau of Cultural Management and Development. 
22 
c.Bureau of Cultural Information, Education and Training, to incorporate within its 
23 
structure a National Institute of Culture, Heritage and Arts (NICHA), the primary 
24 
educational, training and certification center of the National Government for 
25 
cultural officers and personnel in the public sector. 
26 
d. Bureau of Cultural Institutions, Industries and Practitioners. 
27 
e. Bureau of Rizal Centers (KawanihanngSentro Rizal), as provided for in Article XII of 
28 
Republic Act No. 10066, and as amended by this Act. 
29 
30 
SEC. 11. Regional and International Offices of the Department. The Department shall 
31 
establish regional offices in all the administrative regions of the Philippines. It shaH also 
32 
establish provincial, satellite, extension and field offices when and wherever necessary, 
33 
particularly in locations where significant cultural and heritage properties and concerns are 
34 
identified to exist, and to support the operations, programs and projects of its attached and 
6 


other concerned agencies and institutions. International offices may be established through 
2 
the creation of Rizal Centers (Senlro Rizal) abroad, in collaboration with the Department of 
3 
Foreign Affairs. Likewise, officers and personnel of the Department may be posted as 
4 
cultural officers or attaches in overseas Philippine posts as appropriate. 
5 
6 
SEC. 12. Attached Agencies of the Department. The following agencies shall be attached to 
7 
the Department, with their organizations, mandate, powers, functions and responsibilities 
8 
established or otherwise amended, modified, rationalized and strengthened as provided for 
9 
in this Act: 
10 
II 
a. National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts (NEFCA) 
12 
b. National Academy of Culture and Arts (NACA) 
13 
c. 
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) 
14 
d. National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) 
15 
e. National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) 
16 
f. 
National Library of the Philippines (NLP) 
17 
g. Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) 
18 
h. KomisyormgWikang Filipino (KWF) 
19 
i. 
Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) 
20 
j. 
National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) 
21 
k. Intramuros Administration (IA) 
22 
I. 
Nayong Pilipino (NP) 
23 
24 
SEC. 13. Supervision and Coordination of Attached Agencies. The Department shall exercise 
25 
overall supervision and coordinate for budget, policy and strategic purposes the operations 
26 
of its attached agencies, which shall otherwise continue to operate and function in 
27 
accordance with the charters, laws or orders creating them, insofar as they are not 
28 
inconsistent with this Act, and that the independence of the attached agencies, and the 
29 
involvement of private-sector and non-governmental representatives appointed thereto, if 
3,0 
any, is maintained as strongly as possible as a matter of principle and policy. 
31 
32 
33 
34 
7 


I 
ARTICLE IV 
2 
ESTABLISHMENT, AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, RATIONALIZATION AND 
3 
STRENGTHENING OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, MANDATE, POWERS, FUNCTIONS 
4 
AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATTACHED AGENCIES 
5 
6 
SEC. 14. Establishment of the National Endowment Fund for Culture and Heritage from the 
7 
Existing National Commission for Culture and the Arts.The existing National Commission 
8 
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), established by virtue of Republic Act No. 7356, is hereby 
9 
renamed the National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts (NEFCA), and reestablished 
10 
by this Act as an independent Commission attached to the Department for the funding of 
II 
programs and projects approved by it in support of the mandate of the Department and the 
12 
objectives of this Act and other existing laws. 
13 
14 
The Secretary of the Department shall be ex-officio Chair of the Board of Commissioners of 
.' 
IS 
the NEFCA. The Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Tourism, the heads of all attached 
16 
agencies of the Department and the Executive Director of the NEFCH shall be ex-officio 
17 
Commissioners of the NEFCH. The existing representation as Commissioners by the four (4) 
18 
NCCA Subcommissions shall be retained. Likewise, the existing organizational structure of 
19 
the NCCA comprising the Subcommissions, Committees, and Secretariat shall be retained 
20 
and incorporated into the NEFCA, insofar as they directly pertain to the administration of 
21 
the existing National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts within the NCCA known as 
22 
the and the administration of the projects and programs funded by it. All other functions 
23 
and persOlmel of the NCCA shall be transferred to the Department as provided within this 
24 
Act. 
25 
26 
The Executive Director of the NEFCA shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines 
27 
upon recommendation of the Commission, and shall be coterminous with the appointing 
28 
authority. The Deputy Executive Director of the NEFCA shall likewise be appointed by the 
29 
President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Commission, but the position 
30 
shall be covered by the Career Executive Service. The incumbents in the existing 
31 
management structure of the NCCA shall be automatically appointed to the equivalent 
32 
positions of the NEFCA provided for in this Act. 
33 
8 


1 
SEC. 15. Establishmeut of the Natioual Academy of Culture aud Arts. There is hereby 
2 
created a National Academy of Culture and Arts (NACA), attached to the Department, the 
3 
primary function of which shall be to serve as an independent body numbering no more 
4 
than thirty (30) persons at anyone time that will advise the Department and the Secretary in 
5 
all matters of culture and the arts, with the mandate of preserving the patrimony, preserving 
6 
the integrity, and fostering appropriately the lasting progress of national culture and 
7 
cultural heritage within and throughout local, regional and global contexts. 
8 
9 
The specific functions and operations of the NACA shall be governed by rules to be 
10 
established by the Deparhnent and promulgated by the President of the Philippines, as well 
11 
as an appropriate organizational sh'ucture to serve as the Secretariat of the NACA. 
12 
13 
All members of the NACA, to be known as Academicians, shall be citizens of the Philippines 
14 
recognized for their contributions to culture and heritage, including but not limited to as 
15 
practitioners, scholars and managers. Academicians shall be appOinted by the President of 
16 
the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary, shall be appointed for life, 
17 
subject to the rules to be established by the Department, and shall be entitled to an 
18 
appropriate per diem for attendance at meetings and for otl1er functions to be determined. 
19 
20 
Upon the creation of the Department, living recipients of the Order of National Artists,living 
21 
recipients of otl1er national honors (as defined in the Honors Code of the Philippines, 
22 
established by virhle of Executive Order No. 236, series of 2003, as amended) for 
23 
contributions to culture and heritage, and living fOimer Chairs of the National Commission 
24 
for Culture and the Arts, shall be given priority for consideration to be recommended by the 
25 
Secretary of the Department for appointmentby the President of the Philippines as founding 
29 
members of tlle NACA. 
27 
28 
SEC. 16. Attachmeut ~f the Natioual Parks Developmeut Committee.The existing National 
29 
Parks Development Committee (NPDC) is hereby transferred to the Department from the 
30 
Department of Tourism. 
31 
32 
The Committee proper of the NPDC shall be headed by the Secretary of the Department as 
33 
ex-officio Chair, the Secretary of Tourism as ex-officio Co-Vice Chair. Other members shall 
34 
comprise the Chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the Director-
9 


I 
General of the National Museum of the Philippines, the Executive Director of the National 
2 
Library of the Philippines, the Administrator of the Intramuros Administration, the Mayor 
3 
of the City of Manila, and the Executive Director of the NPDC. The members shall be 
4 
entitled to an appropriate per diem for attendance at meetings. 
5 
6 
The Executive Director shall be appointed to a three (3) year term by the President of the 
7 
Philippines upon the recommendation of the Committee proper of the NPDC, renewable for 
8 
a maximum of four (4) consecutive terms. The Deputy Executive Director shall likewise be 
9 
appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Committee 
10 
proper of the NPDC, but the position shall be covered by the Career Executive Service. 
11 
12 
The Executive Director as Head of Agency shall be in charge of the overall operations of the 
13 
NPDC and implement the policies set by the Committee proper and programs approved by 
14 
it. The incumbents in the existing management structure of the NPDC shall be automatically 
15 
appointed to the equivalent positions provided foJ' in this Act. 
16 
17 
SEC. 17. Attachment of the Intramuros Administration. The Intramuros Administration 
18 
(IA) shall be detached from the Department of Tourism and attached to the Department of 
19 
Culture. The Secretary of the Department shall be an ex-officio member and Chair of the IA. 
20 
The Secretary of Tourism shall likewise be an ex-officio member and Co-Vice Chair. 
21 
22 
SEC. 18. Attachment of Nayong Pilipino.Nayong Pilipino (NP) shall be detached from the 
23 
Department of Tourism and attached to the Department of Culture. The Secretary of the 
24 
Department shall be an ex-offiCiO member and Chair of NP. The Secretary of Tourism shall 
25 
likewise be an ex-officiO member and Vice Chair. 
26 
27 
SEC. 19. Strengthening of the National Archives of the Philippines.To enhance its visibility, 
28 
dynamism, resources and governance, and to broaden and strengthen the base of its support 
29 
through society, a Board of Trnstees of the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) is 
30 
hereby created, to comprise the following eleven (11) members: the Chair (Private-Sector 
31 
Representative), the Secretary of the Department as ex-officio member and Vice Chair, five (5) 
32 
Private-Sector Representatives as members, the Chair of the NHCP, the Director-General of 
33 
the NMP, the Executive Director of the NLP as ex-officio members, and the Executive 
34 
Director, NAP as ex-officio member. 
10 


1 
2 
Private-sector members of the Board of Trustees shall have a demonstrated interest in the 
3 
institution and its mandate, and shall be appointed to a three (3) year term by the President 
4 
of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary, renewable for a maximum of 
5 
four (4) consecutive terms. The Chair of the Board of Trustees of the NAP shall be 
6 
designated as such by the President of the Philippines from among the private-sector 
7 
members. 
8 
9 
The Executive Director shall be appointed to a three (3) year term by the President of the 
10 
Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, renewable for a maximum 
II 
of four (4) consecutive terms. The Deputy Executive Director shall likewise be appointed by 
12 
the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, but the 
13 
position shall be covered by the Career Executive Service. The incumbents in the existing 
14 
management structure of the NAP shall be automatically appOinted to the equivalent 
IS 
positions for the first three (3) year term as provided for in this Act. 
16 
17 
The Board of Trustees shall elect five (5) of their members as an executive committee, and 
18 
shall fix the time for the regular meetings of the Board. The Board of Trustees may function 
19 
notwithstanding vacancies, and, at any meeting of the Board, six (6) shall constitute a 
20 
. quorum to do business. Each member of the Board of Trustees shall serve gratuitously but 
21 
be paid an appropriate per diem in attending meetings of the Board. The Board of Trustees 
22 
may establish such other committees as it may deem proper. The Chairman of any 
23 
committee to be established must be a member of the Board of Trustees. 
24 
25 
The Board of Trustees of the NAP is authorized to adopt an official seal which shall be 
26 
judicially noticed and to make such bylaws, rules, and regulations, as it deems necessary for 
27 
the administration of its functions under this Act, including, among other matters, by laws, 
28 
rules and regulations relating to the acquisitions, exhibitions, and loans of, the 
29 
administration of its endowment fund, and the organization and procedure of the Board of 
30 
Trustees. 
31 
32 
The Executive Director as Head of Agency shall be in charge of the overall operations of the 
33 
NAP and implement the policies set by the Board of Trustees and programs approved by it. 
34 
II 


1 
SEC. 20. Strengthening of the National Libran) of the Philippines. To enhance its visibility, 
2 
dynamism, resources and governance, and to broaden and strengthen the base of its support 
3 
through society, a Board of Trustees of the National library of the Philippines is hereby 
4 
created, to comprise the following eleven (11) members: the Chair (Private-Sector 
5 
Representative), the Secretary of the Department as ex-officio member and Vice Chair, five (5) 
6 
Private-Sector Representatives as members, the Chair of the NHCP, the Director-General of 
7 
the NMP, the Executive Director of the NAP as ex-officio members, and the Executive 
8 
Director, NLP as eX-OfficIO member. 
9 
10 
Private-sector members of the Board of Trustees shall have a demonstrated interest in the 
11 
institution and its mandate, and shall be appointed to a three (3) year term by the President 
12 
of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary, renewable for a maximum of 
13 
four (4) consecutive terms. The Chair of the Board of Trustees of the NLP shall be designated 
14 
as such by the President of the Philippines from among the private-sector members. 
15 
16 
The Executive Director shall be appointed to a three (3) year term by the President of the 
17 
Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, renewable for a maximum 
18 
of four (4) consecutive terms. The Deputy Executive Director shall likewise be appointed by 
19 
the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, but the 
20 
position shall be covered by the Career Executive Service. The incumbents in the existing 
21 
management struchue of the NLP shall be automatically appointed to the equivalent 
22 
positions for the first three (3) year term as provided for in this Act. 
23 
24 
The Board of Trustees shall elect five (5) of their members as an executive committee, and 
25 
shall fix the time for the regular meetings of the Board. The Board of Trustees may function 
26 
notwithstanding vacancies, and, at any meeting of the Board, six (6) shall constitute a 
27 
quorum to do business. Each member of the Board of Trustees shall serve gratuitously but 
28 
be paid an appropriate per diem in atlEnding meetings of the Board. The Board of Trustees 
29 
may establish such other committees as it may deem proper. The Chairman of any 
30 
committee to be established must be a member of the Board of Trustees. 
31 
32 
The Board of Trustees of the NLP is authorized to adopt an official seal which shall be 
33 
judicially noticed and to make such bylaws, rules, and regulations, as it deems necessary for 
311 
the administration of its functions under this Act, including, among other matters, by laws, 
12 


1 
rules and regulations relating to the acquisitions, exhibitions, and loans of, the 
2 
administration of its endowment fund, and the organization and procedure of the Board of 
3 
Trustees. 
4 
5 
The Executive Director as Head of Agency shall be in charge of the overall operations of the 
6 
NLP and implement the policies set by the Board of Trustees and programs approved by it. 
7 
8 
SEC. 21. Strengthening of the NaNonal Museum of the Philippines,The existing National 
9 
Museum, established by virtue of Republic Act No. 8492, is hereby renamed as the National 
10 
Museum of the Philippines (NMP). 
11 
12 
To commensurately reflect the scope of its mandate, operations, responsibilities and 
13 
accountabilities, the existing management structure established by virtue of Republic Act 
14 
No. 8492 shall be supplemented with the addition of five (5) Department Directors to the 
15 
existing positions of overall Director and two (2) Assistant Directors, which shall be 
16 
upgraded accordingly to Executive Director and Deputy Executive Directors. The Executive 
17 
Director and Deputy Executive Directors shall be appointed to a three (3) year term by the 
18 
President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, renewable 
19 
for a maximum of four (4) consecutive terms. Deparhnent Directors shall likewise be 
20 
appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of 
21 
Trustees, but the positions shall be covered by the Career Executive Service. The incumbents 
22 
in the existing management structure of the NMP shall be automatically appointed to the 
23 
equivalent positions for the first three (3) year term as provided for in this Act. 
24 
25 
The existing Board of Trustees of the NMP and its functions shall be preserved, and shall 
26 
comprise the existing eight private-sector representatives, including the Chair, together 
27 
with, as ex-officio members, the Secretary of the Department as Vice-Chair, the Secretary of 
28 
Education, the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the Secretary of Tourism, 
29 
the Chair of the designated Senate Committee, the Chair of the deSignated House 
30 
Committee, and the Director-General of the NMP. Private-sector members of the Board of 
31 
Trustees shall have a demonstrated interest in the institution and its mandate, and shall be 
32 
appOinted to a three (3) year term by the President of the Philippines upon the 
33 
recommendation of the Secretary, renewable for a maximum of four (4) consecutive terms. 
34 
The Chair of the Board of Trustees of the NMP shall be designated as such by the President 
13 


of the Philippines from among the private-sector members. The incumbentprivate-sector 
2 
members in the existing Board of Trustees shall be automatically appointed to the first three 
3 
(3) year term as provided for in this Act. 
4 
5 
In order to enhance public visibility and awarenesS of the NMP and its location, Finance 
6 
Road, between Taft Avenue and Padre Burgos Avenue, in the City of Manila, is hereby 
7 
renamed National Museum Avenue. 
8 
9 
SEC 22.Representation of tlte Department on other Attached Agencies. The Secretary of the 
10 
Department shall be an ex-officio member and Serve as Vice Chair of the Board of 
II 
Commissioners of the National Historical CommisSion of the Philippines, the Board of 
12 
Trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Board of Commissioners of the 
13 
KomisyonngWikang Filipino, and the Council of the Film Development Council of the 
14 
Philippines. 
IS 
16 
SEC 23. Transfer of Regulatory Functio.ns to the Department.Responsibility over all 
17 
regulatory functions currently vested in the agencies attached by virtue of this Act to the 
18 
Department, including registration, the issuances of all licenses and permits of any kind, and 
19 
the declaration of cultural and heritage properties of any kind as National Cultnral 
20 
Treasures, Important Cultural Properties and Heritage Zones as provided for under 
21 
Republic Act No. 10066, and hereby transferred to, and vested exclusively in the 
22 
Department, Witll the exception of:a) regulatory powers which are vested in the Intramuros 
23 
Administration by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1919, as amended; and b) National 
24 
Historical Shrines, National Historical Landmarks and National Historical Monuments, tlle 
25 
authority to declare which shall remain vested in the National Historical Commission of the 
26 
Philippines, but which shall require the affirmation of the Secretary of the Department 
27 
before tlle declaration enters into legal effect. 
28 
29 
SEC 24. Retention ~f Income and Establishment of Revolving Funds for Attached 
3.0 
Agencies.All agencies attached to the Department by virtue of this Act shall be allowed to 
31 
retain fully their income derived from operations and engage in commercial operations 
32 
appropriate to their mandates, objectives and functions. Likewise, the attached agencies 
33 
shall be allowed to establish, through their governing boards and in coordination with the 
14 


" 
I 
Department a revolving fund appropriate for the purpose of supporting and enhancing their 
2 
operations. 
3 
4 
SEC 25. Establishment of Endowment Funds for Attached Ageucies.AlI agencies attached to 
5 
the Department by virtue of this Act shall be allowed to establish, through their governing 
6 
boards and in coordination with the Department, an endowment fund appropriate for the 
7 
purpose of supporting and enhancing their operations, mandate, objectives and functions. 
8 
The governing boards of the attached agencies shall manage and direct the investment of 
9 
their respective endowment funds, in coordination with the Department and subject to rules 
10 
which the Deparhnent may establish. 
II 
12 
ARTICLE IV 
13 
REORGANIZATION 
14 
15 
SEC. 26. Reorganization.The laws and rules on government reorganization as provided for 
16 
in Republic Act No. 6656, otherwise known as the Reorganization Law, shall govern the 
17 
reorganization process of the Deparhnent and, where appropriate, its attached agencies. 
18 
19 
SEC. 27.0rganizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. The Departmentshall determine its 
20 
organizational structure and create divisions or units as it may deem necessary, and shall 
21 
appoint officers and employees of the Department in accordance with the Civil Service Law, 
22 
rules, and regulations. For this purpose the Department and the agencies attached to the 
23 
Department by virtue of this Act shall prepare a reorganization and staffing plan 
24 
implementing the provisions of this Act and all related considerations, which shall be 
25 
submitted to the Office of the President for approval within ninety (90) days of the 
26 
effectivity of this Act. 
27 
28 
SEC. 28.Separatioll from Service. Employees separated from the service as a result of this 
29 
reorganization shall, within ninety (90) days therefrom, receive the separation and 
30 
retirement benefits to which they may be entitled under Executive Order No. 366. Provided 
31 
tl,at such separation pay and retirement betlefits shall have priority of payment out of the 
32 
savings of the department or agency. 
33 
34 
ARTICLE V 
15 


" 
1 
PERMANENT BUILDINGSAND PROPERTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT 
2 
3 
SEC. 29Appropriation of the Post Office Building and Metropolitan Theater.The Post 
4 
Office Building and the former Metropolitan Theaterare hereby appropriatedfor the 
5 
exclusive use and office premises of the Deparhnent of Culture and its attached agencies. 
6 
7 
ARTICLE VI 
8 
APPROPRIATIONS AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
9 
10 
SEC. 30Appropriations.The amount needed for the initial implementation of this Act shall 
11 
be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation for the NCCA through the Office of the 
12 
President, and other appropriations available for the purpose. Thereafter, the amount 
13 
needed for the operation and maintenance of the Deparhnent proper shall be included in the 
14 
General Appropriations Act, provided that for the next fiscal year, the amount shall be no 
15 
less than One Billion Pesos (PHPl,OOO,OOO,OOO.OO), 
16 
17 
SEC. 31. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Office of the President, in consultation 
18 
with other government agencies mentioned in this Act, shall promulgate its implementing 
19 
rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
20 
21 
SEC. 32.Repealing Clause.All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations and 
22 
other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
23 
amended or modified accordingly. 
24 
25 
SEC. 33.Separabilittj Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional 
26 
or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
27 
SEC. 34. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in 
28 
at least two (2) papers of general circulation. 
29 
30 
Approved. 
16