Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 374)
The State policy is to preserve and protect the important cultural properties and National Cultural Treasures of the nation and to safeguard their intrinsic value.
Cultural properties include old buildings, monuments, shrines, documents, antiques, relics, artifacts, landmarks, anthropological and historical sites, and natural history specimens which are of cultural, historical, anthropological, or scientific value.
A National Cultural Treasure is a unique object found locally with outstanding historical, cultural, artistic, and/or scientific value highly significant to the nation. Important cultural properties are those with exceptional historical and cultural significance but not outstanding enough to be classified as National Cultural Treasures.
The National Museum is the government agency tasked with implementing the provisions of this Act.
They must register their collections with the National Museum when required by the Director and report new acquisitions, sales, or transfers to the Museum when required.
The owner must be notified 15 days prior to designation, invited to a deliberation, given a chance to be heard, and may seek reconsideration within 30 days. The designation becomes final if no reconsideration is filed or after appeal decisions are made.
No. They cannot change ownership except by inheritance or sale approved by the Director of the National Museum, and they may only be taken out of the country with a written permit from the Director for specific purposes like exchange programs or scientific study.
Violators are subject to a fine of up to ten thousand pesos (P10,000), imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Attempted concealment or illegal export or excavation of cultural properties results in confiscation and forfeiture to the National Museum. Managers or representatives of juridical persons responsible may also be liable.
Only the National Museum or institutions duly authorized by the Director of the National Museum may conduct such activities, and these must be supervised by a certified archaeologist or competent person approved by the Director.
The Director is empowered to promulgate implementing rules and regulations for the Act, which must be approved by the Secretary of Education and widely publicized to affected parties.