QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11333)
RA 11333 is known as the “National Museum of the Philippines Act.” The “National Museum” is renamed as the “National Museum of the Philippines” (Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas). The shortened name “National Museum” or “Pambansang Museo” must exclusively refer to the same agency and cannot be used for any other institution in the Philippines.
The State pursues and supports cultural development of Filipinos through preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of national culture, based on unity in diversity and free artistic and intellectual expression.
It is the primary State institution for managing and developing museums and collections of national scope in arts, cultural heritage, and natural history—aimed at protecting, preserving, studying, and promoting national patrimony for current and future generations. It is a permanent institution accessible to the public and is not intended for profit.
Examples include: (1) acquiring, preserving, exhibiting, and fostering scholarly study and public appreciation of relevant works/specimens/artifacts; (2) establishing/managing the National Museum Complex at Rizal Park and regional museums; (3) managing national collections in arts/cultural heritage/natural history; (4) conducting permanent research (e.g., biodiversity, geology, archaeology, maritime and underwater heritage, ethnology, art history); (5) disseminating technical/museological skills and supporting museum development; (6) extending technical assistance for preservation/restoration of cultural properties; and (7) performing other public collecting and research museum functions consistent with international principles.
It is to ensure independence and autonomy. It is attached solely for budgetary coordination and related purposes to the Department of Education.
It remains a National Government Agency for administrative purposes, but is “higher in level than a Bureau or Bureau-level agency but beneath that of a Department or Department-level agency,” mainly for staffing pattern and compensation scales.
The whole Executive House (former Congress/Legislative Building) plus the former Department of Finance Building and former Department of Tourism (originally Agriculture and Commerce Building) at Agrifina Circle in Rizal Park become the permanent and exclusive site of the National Museum and the core of its National Museum Complex. The existing National Planetarium building operated by the National Museum since 1975 and its lot are included. These buildings/lands are deemed appropriated to the National Museum, and certified records of description/boundaries by the Director-General are evidence in courts.
The National Museum must formulate a Master Plan (if none yet exists) within one (1) year. The Master Plan must be approved by the Board of Trustees and financed by its Endowment Fund and other allowable sources.
No development within the area of the National Museum Complex, or which will directly affect the same, shall be permitted without approval of the National Museum.
Central museums include the National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, and the National Planetarium. It also aims to establish additional central museums dedicated to archaeology, maritime and underwater cultural heritage, architectural arts and built heritage, and political and social history; plus an institute for professional education/training in museology and allied fields, and a conservation center for movable cultural properties of national significance.
The Board has 15 members: 8 representatives of the private sector (all Filipino citizens) with relevant expertise/commitments (including at least one distinguished Filipino artist/architect/cultural worker, one anthropologist or historian, and one scientist in natural history); and 7 ex officio government officials (including Senate and House culture committee chairpersons, the Secretaries of Education, DENR, Tourism, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Director-General of the National Museum).
They are appointed by the President for four (4) years and are eligible for reappointment for succeeding four-year terms based on merit and performance. If appointment is vacated, it is for the unexpired term only. Upon expiration, they remain in a holdover capacity if reappointment or replacement has not yet been made—unless the member is unwilling or the President declares the position vacant. They may not appoint a proxy for matters concerning the Museum.
The Board of Trustees appoints the Director-General as Head of Agency and Agency Management. The Director-General has the rank and emoluments of an Undersecretary.
The general public are granted free admission to all public museums and national historical shrines and landmarks, subject to capacity and availability as determined by the National Museum or the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Income from operations nationwide/overseas may be retained in a dedicated National Museum Income Fund and may accumulate for future disbursement if not used within the fiscal year. Donations under deeds go to a dedicated National Museum Donations Fund and are disbursed per deed terms or as authorized by the Board if no specific purpose is stated. Anonymous donations are treated as voluntary gratuities credited to Donations Fund, handled subject to CoA rules. The National Museum Endowment Fund is sourced from specified annual net earnings of PCSO and PAGCOR (continued remittances over a 5-year period after effectivity), administered by the Board, and only the interest may be expended.
For procurement of unique/special/original items: the Act exempts such acquisitions from applicable government procurement laws/rules if allowed/authorized as provided. The Museum can negotiate directly with owners/agents with required certifications (significance, reasonableness, no conflicts, and no illegal acquisition/trafficking), with Board resolutions for items above ₱1,000,000. It includes documentation, posting requirements, CoA and other agency transmittals. Alternatively, for special cases approved by the Board, it allows procurement through public auction (including online), with the Museum disclosing its interest and having a right of first refusal to match the highest bid within seven days.
All regulatory functions of the National Museum under prior laws are transferred to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts within two years after RA 11333’s effectivity. The policy is that the National Museum should not be mandated to engage in regulatory functions (except those related to National Government collections under Section 24), and should focus on developing as a premier museum repository and developing expertise rather than regulating.