Question & AnswerQ&A (NMP OFFICE ORDER NO. 2011- 108)
The State shall promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage resources, and it is the policy of the State to preserve and protect Important Cultural Properties and National Cultural Treasures and safeguard their intrinsic value.
These guidelines govern the categorization and dealings of archaeological and traditional ethnographic materials to protect and regulate the export, transit, import, and repatriation of cultural property.
Archaeological materials are fossils, artifacts, relics, antiques, and other cultural, geological, botanical, zoological materials collected from any place depicting and documenting culturally relevant paleontological, prehistoric, and/or historic events.
An antique is a cultural property found locally which is approximately one hundred (100) years old, where its production has ceased.
Important Cultural Property refers to cultural properties having exceptional cultural, artistic, historical, and/or scientific significance to the Philippines, determined by the National Museum.
The grades are: Grade I - National Cultural Treasure; Grade II - Important Cultural Property; and Grade III - Cultural Properties listed in the Registry of National Museum Data Bank other than Grade I and II.
The National Museum is given the right of first refusal in the purchase of archaeological and traditional ethnographic materials declared as National Cultural Treasures.
No. They cannot be sold, resold, or taken out of the country without clearance from the National Museum except by inheritance or duly approved sale, and export requires a Permit to Export and conditions such as exhibition or scientific study with immediate return.
Grade III materials may be taken out of the country only with a Permit to Export from the National Museum.
The other provisions shall continue to be in force as if the provision so annulled or voided had never been incorporated (Separability Clause).