Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1505)
Presidential Decree No. 1505 amends Presidential Decree No. 260 by prohibiting the unauthorized modification, alteration, repair, and destruction of original features of all national shrines, monuments, landmarks, and other important historic edifices in the Philippines.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) is tasked with the preservation, restoration, and reconstruction of national shrines, monuments, and landmarks, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism.
A prior written permission from the Chairman of the National Historical Institute is required before making any modifications, alterations, repairs, or destruction of the original features of any national shrine, monument, landmark, or historic edifice.
Any person who violates the decree shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years or a fine of not less than one thousand pesos nor more than ten thousand pesos or both, at the discretion of the court or tribunal concerned.
Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 260 specifically vests the National Historical Institute with the right to declare historical and cultural sites and edifices as national shrines, monuments, and/or landmarks.
No, private individuals or entities cannot modify, alter, repair, or destroy the original features of these places without prior written permission from the Chairman of the National Historical Institute.
Presidential Decree No. 1505 took effect immediately upon its signing on June 11, 1978.
The amendment was made to prevent unauthorized modifications or destruction of the original features of national shrines, monuments, landmarks, and historic edifices, which adversely affected the efforts to preserve the Philippines' cultural heritage.
Sections 5 and 6 of Presidential Decree No. 260 were renumbered as Sections 6 and 7, respectively.