NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Represt
House
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was filed during the 18° Congress where it was approved by the House of
Representatives.

Cultural Heritage is defined as “an expression of the ways of living developed by a community
and passed on from generation to generation, including customs, practices, places, objects,
artistic expressions and values".

Article XIV Section 15 of the Constitution provides:
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

The Philippines has a rich National Cultural Heritage and it is our duty to ensure that our cultural
heritage is strengthened and never forgotten by future generations,

As such, this bill is filed to amend Republic Act No. 10066 to revise, include, and adapt terms
and provisions as deemed fit to the current landscape of the cultural industry. It also mandates
local government units (LGUs) to conduct a cultural mapping program for their respective areas
for both tangible and intangible and natural and built heritage, utilizing the results of the program
as a framework for culture based governance. And it revises and enhances the scope of Cultural
education in the country.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

RUFUS B. |GUEZ


NINETEENTH CONGRESS: )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 4200

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF PHILIPPINE
CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH CULTURAL MAPPING AND AN ENHANCED
CULTURAL HERITAGE EDUCATION PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10066, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “NATIONAL CULTURAL
HERITAGE ACT OF 2009”

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

SECTION 1. Article II, Section 3 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10066, otherwise known as the
“National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009,” is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
be defined as follows:

(a) "Adaptive reuse" shall refer to the utilization of buildings, other built-structures
and sites of value for purposes other than that for which they were intended originally,
in order to conserve the [site, their engineering integrity and authenticity of design. ]
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SITE AND EXTEND ITS USE AND VALUE IN
CONTEMPORARY AND FUTURE CONTEXT.

XXX

(OQ) “CULTURAL MAPPING” SHALL REFER TO THE APPROACHES EMPLOYED
TO IDENTIFY, RECORD AND USE CULTURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES AND
ACTIVITIES FOR BUILDING AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES. IT IS A
SYSTEMATIC SET OF ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGICAL PROCESSES FOR
EXPLORING, DISCOVERING, DOCUMENTING, EXAMINING, ANALYZING,
INTERPRETING, PRESENTING, AND SHARING INFORMATION RELATED TO
PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, SOCIETIES, PLACES, AND THEIR MATERIAL
PRODUCTS, PRACTICES, AND NARRATIVES.

XXX

(EE) “NATURAL HERITAGE” SHALL REFER TO FLORA AND FAUNA, PHYSICAL,
GEOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOGRAPHICAL FORMATIONS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT, AND OTHER RELATED ECOSYSTEMS, WHETHER
TERRESTRIAL, WETLAND OR MARINE, AND THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
THEY PROVIDE.

[(d¢)] (FF) "Natural property of cultural significance" shall refer to [areas possessing
outstanding ecosystem with flora and fauna of national scientific importance]
NATURAL HERITAGE CHARACTERIZED BY INTENSE BEAUTY, ENDEMICITY,
AND UNIQUE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY under the National Integrated Protected
Areas System[,] PURSUANT TO R.A. 7586, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE

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“NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM ACT OF 1992,” AS
AMENDED, INCLUDING OTHER PROTECTED AREAS RECOGNIZED
INTERNATIONALLY UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PHILIPPINE
GOVERNMENT, SUCH AS HERITAGE PARKS, BIOSPHERE RESERVES, AND
RAMSAR SITES, AMONG OTHERS. IT SHALL LIKEWISE INCLUDE
THREATENED SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS IDENTIFIED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF R.A. 9147, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “WILDLIFE RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION ACT.”

{(ee)] (GG) "NCCA Portal Cultural Databank’ shall refer to the specific domain in the
Commission's [intranet for cultural information that is accessed only internally with
control and confidentiality.] ONLINE DATABASE WHERE DIGITIZED CULTURAL
MAPS ARE LODGED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC AND FOR
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC PURPOSES. It includes the registry of
national cultural property. THE INFORMATION ON PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF
THE REGISTERED CULTURAL PROPERTIES IN THIS DATABANK SHALL
REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 14 OF R.A. NO.
10066 AND R.A. 10173, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘DATA PRIVACY ACT
OF 2012."

((f)] (HH) xxx

(\!) “PHILIPPINE CULTURAL STATISTICS FRAMEWORK’ SHALL REFER TO THE
CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR DEFINING CULTURE FOR STATISTICAL
PURPOSES THAT WAS JOINTLY ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION AND THE
PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA) UNDER PSA BOARD
RESOLUTION NO. 2, SERIES OF 2016, ENTITLED, "APPROVING AND
ADOPTING THE PHILIPPINE CULTURAL STATISTICS FRAMEWORK." IT IS A
TOOL FOR ORGANIZING CULTURAL STATISTICS NATIONALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY THAT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATA
COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS AND INDICATORS AND A METHODOLOGY FOR
THE PRODUCTION OF HARMONIZED DATA AND INDICATORS.

(JJ) “RECONSTRUCTION” SHALL REFER TO AN ACTION OF REPAIR
WHEREBY THE STRUCTURE IS RETURNED TO ITS EARLIER STATE BY
INTRODUCING NEW MATERIALS, FORM, AND TECHNOLOGY.

{(g9)] (KK) "Registry" shall refer to the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property [which
is the registry of all cultural property of the country deemed of significant importance
to our cultural heritage.) WHICH IS A REPOSITORY OF THE LISTING,
DOCUMENTATION, AND STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE OF ALL CULTURAL
PROPERTIES OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED LOCALLY AND
NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT.

[(hh)] (LL) "Restoration" shall refer to [the action taken or the technical intervention
to correct deterioration and alterations. THE ACT OF REPAIRING A STRUCTURE
WHEREBY IT IS RETURNED TO ITS EARLIER STATE BY USING ORIGINAL
MATERIALS, FORMS, AND APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY.
[Gi] (MM) xxx"
SEC. 2. Article V, Section 14 of R.A. 10066 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 14. Establishment of a Philippine Registry of Cultural Property. - All cultural

properties of the country deemed important to cultural heritage shall be registered
in the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property.

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“The Commission, through the appropriate cultural agencies and local government
units, shall establish and maintain this Registry [within three (3) years from the
effectivity of this Act]. The guidelines in the registration of cultural property are as
follows:

XXX

(c) [Both] THE cultural agencies concemed and local government units shall
continuously coordinate in [making entries and in] monitoring AND UPDATING [the
various cultural properties in] their respective [inventory] CULTURAL PROPERTY
INVENTORIES. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LGUs FOR THE INVENTORY AND UPDATING OF
LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY-DECLARED CULTURAL PROPERTIES, AND
TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE HERITAGE.

XxX

“THE INCLUSION OF CULTURAL PROPERTIES BELONGING TO THE
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES OR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
(ICCs/Ps) IN THE REGISTRY SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PRIOR CONSULTATION
WITH THE ICCs/IPs AND THEIR FREE, PRIOR, AND INFORMED CONSENT.”

SEC. 3. Anew Section 14A is hereby inserted after Section 14 of Republic Act No. 10066 to read
as follows:

“SEC. 14. CULTURAL MAPPING BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS. - LOCAL.
GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs) ARE HEREBY MANDATED TO CONDUCT A
COMPREHENSIVE CULTURAL MAPPING OF THEIR AREAS OF JURISDICTION.
THEY SHALL MOBILIZE AND ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH CONCERNED
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE PROMPT AND EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISION OF THIS ACT. THEY MAY SEEK
ASSISTANCE FROM NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS, ACADEMIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS IN THE
UNDERTAKING OF CULTURAL MAPPING ACTIVITIES: PROVIDED, THAT SAID
INSTITUTIONS ADHERE TO THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY THE
COMMISSION. ALL FINDINGS AND OUTPUTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED IN THE
PHILIPPINE REGISTRY OF CULTURAL PROPERTY.

“LGUs SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES FOR THE
CONDUCT OF CULTURAL MAPPING:

(A) COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE INSTITUTION OF
CULTURAL AWARENESS IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, AND
STRENGTHENING OF CULTURE, HERITAGE, ARTS AND HISTORY
RESEARCHES THAT IMPACT ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT;

(B) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE DOCUMENTATION OF
HERITAGE CROPS, PRODUCTS, TECHNOLOGIES, AGRICULTURAL
HERITAGE SYSTEMS, AND FOOD SOURCES THAT SUSTAIN THE
INDIGENOUS LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND INVENTORY OF NATURAL AND
NON-TRADITIONAL FIBERS AND ITS PROCESSES AND UTILIZATION;

(C) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE INSTITUTION OF CULTURAL

AWARENESS IN BASIC EDUCATION; CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAM FOR
TEACHERS IN MAPPING HERITAGE RESOURCES OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES

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AND CULTURAL PEDAGOGY; AND LOCALIZATION AND
CONTEXTUALIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL AND CONTENT BASED
ON THE LOCALITIES’ CULTURAL PROFILES TO CULTIVATE AWARENESS
AND PRIDE IN COMMUNITY IDENTITY;

(D) DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE
INVENTORY OF NATIONAL PARKS AND AREAS THAT ARE HABITATS OF
ENDEMIC SPECIES AND UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY, ENFORCEMENT FOR THE
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF NATURAL HERITAGE SITES;
RESEARCH ON THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF THE ENVIRONMENT TO THE
LIVES OF THE PEOPLE; AND PROMOTION OF THE CONCEPT OF CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT;

(E) DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF
PHILIPPINE CULTURAL DIPLOMACY, AND PARTICIPATION IN THE
PROGRAMS OF UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND
CULTURAL ORGRANIZATION (UNESCO) CONVENTIONS AND OTHER
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS;

(F) DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY APPROPRIATED FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS,
RESOURCE SHARING, AND DISSEMINATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
INFORMATION;

(G) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE
STRENGTHENING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT
PLAN THAT RESPECT THE VALUE OF HERITAGE SITES AND ZONES, AND
CAPACITY BUILDING OF LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND THE SANGGUNIAN
ON CULTURE-BASED GOVERNANCE;

(H) DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE FOR AWARENESS BUILDING ON
THE CULTURE, HERITAGE, AND HISTORY AS BASIS FOR CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT, CULTURE-BASED APPROACH IN TRAUMA COUNSELING
PROCESS, AND DOCUMENTATION OF RESILIENCY MECHANISM OF
COMMUNITIES DURING DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES;

(1) DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS FOR AWARENESS
BUILDING ON CULTURAL HERITAGE SENSITIVITY, AND INSTITUTION OF
GUIDELINES FOR ITS PROGRAMS AS THEY IMPACT HERITAGE ZONES AND
SITES, IN COORDINATION WITH THE COMMISSION;

(J) DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR APPLICATION OF
RESEARCH IN CONSERVATION OF MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES,
INVENTORY ON NATURAL RESOURCES OF DYES; TRADITIONAL TEXTILES
AND APPAREL MATERIALS, DESIGNS, TECHNIQUES, PROCESSES AND
MACHINES, OTHER PERTINENT RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT AND
INNOVATION FOR THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY SECTOR IN THE COUNTRY;

(K) DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM FOR THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
AND CULTURE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR TOURISM SITES AND NATIONAL
AND WORLD HERITAGE DECLARED SITES, AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
AND TOURISM CAPACITY BUILDING;

(L) DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY FOR THE INVENTORY AND
DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE-BASED PRODUCTS AND

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS, AND THE ADOPTION OF CULTURALLY
SENSITIVE TRADE FAIR PROMOTIONS AND PROGRAMS;

(M) FILM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES (FDCP) FOR
PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, AND DIGITALIZATION OF FILM NEGATIVES
AND PRINTS, AUDIOVISUAL CONTENTS AND ELEMENTS AND NON-FILM
ARCHIVE, INCLUDING STORY OUTLINES, SCREENPLAYS, SET AND STILLS
PHOTOS, POSTERS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS ON THE CREATION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF CINEMATIC WORKS;

(N) NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (NCIP) FOR THE IP-
DRIVEN DOCUMENTATION, INVENTORY AND PUBLICATION OF ALL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF ICCSIIPS,
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS AND ANCESTRAL DOMAINS, POPULATION AND
SOCIAL DIASPORA, GOVERNANCE AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING
CUSTOMARY LAWS, INDIGENOUS POLITICAL STRUCTURES, JUSTICE AND
PEACE PACT SYSTEMS, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND DECISION-
MAKING MECHANISMS, SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND KINSHIP, ECONOMY
AND TECHNOLOGY, SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND RITUALS, LIFE CYCLE
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, MATERIAL CULTURE, MEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE
AND SCIENCES, CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION, AND
OTHER ATTRIBUTES OF THEIR ETHNICITY, LIFE SITUATIONS AND
WORLDVIEWS ON THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CREATOR, LAND
AND ENVIRONMENT, AND OTHER PEOPLE; UTILIZATION OF CULTURAL
HERITAGE RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF
ICCS/IPS; AND MAINSTREAMING THE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS,
SKILLS AND PRACTICES IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

IN ALL CASES WHEN THE CULTURAL MAPPING ACTIVITY AFFECTS AN
ANCESTRAL DOMAIN, THE ICC/IP CONCERNED SHALL BE CONSULTED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS; AND

(QO) PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
CARE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE RESEARCH,
DOCUMENTATION, AND INVENTORY OF PHILIPPINE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
AND PRACTICES IN HEALTH; AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF
TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINE AND TRADITIONALLY USED HERBAL
PRODUCTS.”

SEC. 4. Article X, Section 38 of R.A. 10066 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 38. Incorporation of National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural
Property in the Basic Education System. — {Within one (1) year from the effectivity
of this Act, t]The Department of Education, in coordination with the Commission[’s
Philippine Cultural Education Program], shall formulate the cultural heritage
education programs both for local and overseas Filipinos to be incorporated into the
formal, alternative and informal education, with emphasis on the protection,
conservation and preservation of cultural heritage property.

xxx”
SEC. 5. Article X, Section 39 of R.A. 10066 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 39. Cultural Heritage Education Program. — [Within one (1) year from the

effectivity of this Act, t]The Department of Education, the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority, and the Commission on Higher Education, in

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consultation with the Commission, shall set forth in its teaching programs nationwide
the following cultural heritage education programs, WHICH SHALL BE PRIMARILY
CARRIED OUT [with emphasis] at the provincial, city and municipal levels:

(a) Protection, conservation and preservation of cultural heritage properties:
PROVIDED, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION OF SKILLS
TRAINING COURSES FOR VARIOUS FORMS OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
PRACTICES AND FORMULATIONS SHALL BE COORDINATED WITH THE
PITAHC;

(B) RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF HERITAGE IN VARIOUS
PLATFORMS,

(C) UTILIZATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELDS
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: PROVIDED, THAT MUSIC, SOUND,
AND AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVING SHALL BE COORDINATED WITH THE FDCP;

[(b)] (D) xxx

(E) INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS SKILLS AND PRACTICES THROUGH
THE APPROPRIATE SCHOOLS OF LIVING TRADITIONS MODELS, WITH THE
PARTICIPATION OF THE ICCs/IPs AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NCIP;

(o)] (F) xxx

(G) CAPACITY BUILDING OF AGENCIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH
CULTURE-BASED APPROACHES;

(H) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE FRAMEWORK FOR CULTURAL
HERITAGE COMPETENCY: PROVIDED, THAT COMPETENCIES FOR MUSIC,
SOUND, AND AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVING SHALL BE COORDINATED WITH THE
FDCP; AND

(l) CONTEXTUALIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND CONTENT
BASED ON LOCAL CULTURAL PROFILES.”

SEC. 6. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the rights of ICCs/IPs as provided for
by the Constitution, R.A. 8371, otherwise known as the “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997,”
and all related international agreements and covenants on their rights.

SEC. 7. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Commission shall, in
coordination with concerned agencies of the government, promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any
provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Sections 3, 14, 38, and 39 of R.A. 10066 are hereby amended. All other laws, executive
orders, presidential decrees, proclamations, rules, regulations, issuances, and enactments or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or
in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,