HOUSE 0F #EPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

DATE Q5
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS tie IY 37

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1177 REGISTRATION UNIT
= BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE PIA S. CAYETANO

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The National Museum is the government institution responsible for acquiring,
documenting, preserving, exhibiting, and fostering scholarly study and public
appreciation of works of art, specimens, and cultural and historical artifacts
representative of our unique cultural heritage and natural history. It has a three-
dimensional goal covering education, scientific, and cultural activities in diverse fields
of study.’

This measure seeks to amend the Charter of the National Museum in order to
enable it to fulfill its mandate more effectively.

First, this bill proposes that the National Museum retain seventy-five percent
(75%) of its income. This increase is aimed to augment its annual appropriations for
operational expenditures and capital outlays, particularly the enhancement of its
public facilities, amenities and programs, and the management of its collections,
including the acquisition of works of art, artifacts, specimens, equipment, and real
properties.

Second, in the interest of promoting scientific development and the
preservation of Filipino culture and heritage, this bill proposes that regular admission
to any of the Museum's public facilities, or permanent or regular exhibitions, be free
of charge.

Lastly, the Commission on Audit and Department of Budget and Management
shall coordinate with the National Museum to draw up special rules that will allow the
latter complete and full flexibility and fiscal autonomy, in light of its unique status and
special needs.

Our Constitution recognizes the duty of the State to conserve and promote the
nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources. This bill enables the National
Museum to fulfil its role and carry out its noble mandate of instilling a unified sense
of pride in our national identity, culture, and history.

As such, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought

bé & Cauphane
PIA S. CAYEVANO

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mi



SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES.
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1177

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE PIA S. CAYETANO,

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8492, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN
ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MUSEUM SYSTEM, PROVIDING FOR
ITS PERMANENT HOME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

1 SECTION 1. Paragraph 2 of Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8492 is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“Section 3. Conversion of the National Museum. — X X X

6 The Museum, as established under this Act shall be
a known by the name of ‘National Museum OF THE
8 PHILIPPINES’, OR IN FILIPINO AS ‘PAMBANSANG MUSEO
9 NG PILIPINAS’, and by that name IN EITHER ENGLISH OR

10 FILIPINO shall be known and have perpetual succession with
MW the power, limitations, and restriction hereafter contained and no
12 other.

13 XXX"

15 SEC. 2. Sections 13, 16, 17 and 24 of Republic Act No, 8492 are hereby
16 deleted.

18 SEC. 3. Section 26 of Republic Act No. 8492 is hereby amended to read as
19 follows:
20


16

29

45

“Section 26. RETENTION OF INCOME AND Revolving
fund.-The [income of the] Museum SHALL RETAIN
SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT (75%) OF ITS INCOME, [not
exceeding the amount of Two million pesos (P2,000,000)]
derived from SERVICES ARISING FROM ITS EDUCATIONAL,
SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL MANDATE, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO THOSE PERTAINING TO TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, RENTAL INCOME FROM THE USE OF ITS
FACILITIES, TEMPORARY OR SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS,
PROGRAMMED OR SPECIAL EVENTS, AND BUSINESS
OPERATIONS, AND [the proceeds of the sales of reproductions,
cultural items, publications, creation, restoration, conservation,
identification, authentication, earnings from _ planetarium
programs, and other auxiliary services] shall be constituted as a
revolving fund [for the use of the Museum] IN ORDER TO
AUGMENT ITS ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR
OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES AND CAPITAL OUTLAYS,
PARTICULARLY IN THE ENHANCEMENT OF ITS PUBLIC
FACILITIES, AMENITIES AND PROGRAMS, AND THE
MANAGEMENT OF ITS COLLECTIONS, INCLUDING THE
ACQUISITION OF WORKS OF ARTS, ARTIFACTS,
SPECIMENS, EQUIPMENT AND REAL PROPERTIES, AS
DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR
IMPLEMENTATION BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE
MUSEUM.

UNEXPENDED PORTION OF THE ABOVEMENTIONED
AMOUNT GENERATED DURING A PARTICULAR FISCAL
YEAR SHALL BE EITHER CARRIED OVER TO THE
SUCCEEDING FISCAL YEAR FOR USE AS PROVIDED IN
THIS SECTION OR CREDITED TO THE MUSEUM
ENDOWMENT FUND FOR USE AS PROVIDED IN SECTION
23 OF THIS ACT, AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.”

SEC. 4, Section 33 of Republic Act No. 8492 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Section 33. ADMISSION FEES AND VISITING HOURS.
= [The National Museum shall be allowed to charge admission
fees. It shall also be open on Saturdays, Sundays and public
holidays] REGULAR ADMISSION TO ANY OF THE PUBLIC
FACILITIES, OR PERMANENT OR REGULAR EXHIBITIONS,
OF THE MUSEUM SHALL BE FREE OF CHARGE. THE
MUSEUM SHALL BE ALLOWED TO CHARGE FEES FOR

2


ADMISSION TO TEMPORARY OR SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS,

I

2 PROGRAMMED OR SPECIAL EVENTS, AND PLANETARIUM
3 SCREENINGS OF FILMS AND SUCH SIMILAR ACTIVITIES
4 THROUGHOUT THE INSTITUTION. IN LIEU OF COLLECTING
5 REGULAR ADMISSION FEES, THE MUSEUM SHALL BE
6 ALLOWED TO APPROPRIATELY SOLICIT AND COLLECT

7 DONATIONS FROM ITS VISITORS, AND FOR THIS
PURPOSE ADVERTISE AND PROMOTE A RECOMMENDED
SCHEDULE OF SUCH DONATIONS. THE MUSEUM SHALL
BE OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, INCLUDING PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE
ASSOCIATED WITH RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE EITHER
NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY, PROVIDING FOR

REASONABLE VISITING HOURS FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC.”

17 SEC. 5. Section 34 of Republic Act No. 8492 is hereby reiterated with
18 amendment to read as follows.

19

20 “Section 34. Special budget and audit rules

21 applicable to the Museum. ~ Recognizing the unique status

22 and special needs of the Museum, the Commission on Audit,

23 Department of Budget and Management and the National
24 Museum shall draw up special rules enhancing and
25 implementing the legislative intention to provide the Museum
26 complete and full flexibility and fiscal autonomy in accordance
27 with generally accepted rules and practices applicable to similar
28 institutions. Said rules shall be drafted and promulgated within
29 NINETY (90) [sixty (60)] days from the effectivity of this Act.”

30

31. SEC. 6. Procurement of Collections. - Republic Act No, 9184 and its
Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations and any other government
33 procurement laws which may be subsequently passed, shall not apply in the
34 procurementacquisition of cultural materials, objects of arts, archaeological
35 artifacts, ecofacts, relics and other materials embodying the cultural and
36 natural heritage of the Filipino nation, including those of foreign origin, and
37 materials relevant to the recent history of the Philippines, which will form part
38 of its collections. In the procurement of items of this nature, the National
39 Museum of the Philippines shall have the authority to directly contract with

40 artists, craftsmen and owners of materials/items which it seeks to acquire.


6

SEC. 7. Separability clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the parts or provisions not affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Effectivity clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official,

Approved,