QuestionsQuestions (BIR REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 11-2008)
It is known as the “National Museum of the Philippines Act.”
The State supports cultural development of Filipinos through preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of national culture, grounded on unity in diversity and free artistic/intellectual expression.
It renames the “National Museum” as the “National Museum of the Philippines” (Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas). “National Museum” or “Pambansang Museo” refers exclusively to the same agency, and its use in names of other institutions in the Philippines is reserved to the Agency.
It is the primary State institution managing museums and collections of national scope/significance in arts, cultural heritage, and natural history—aimed at protecting, preserving, studying, and promoting national patrimony, supporting education and progress, and contributing to economic development (e.g., tourism and educational/scientific/cultural services).
It must coordinate with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), and the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) regarding important historical documents, collections, memorabilia, and objects with significant historical value.
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) on Agrifina Circle in Rizal Park, Manila, including the National Planetarium building and its lot as delineated.
A certified record/copy of the description of the site and lands, certified by the Director-General of the National Museum, is received as evidence in all courts of the extent and boundaries.
Without prejudice to their use in National Museum operations, the Museum must preserve the former session halls of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the former Legislative Building as a tribute to legislators and as historical sites.
It dedicates the National Museum Complex as part of Rizal Park to Rizal’s life, work, martyrdom, and memory, and requires imbibing his intellectual/professional/patriotic range into the Museum’s public operations—especially in history and literature, plus anthropology, fine arts, architecture, and natural sciences.
The National Museum must develop a Master Plan (within 1 year if none exists) approved by the Board of Trustees. No development within the National Museum Complex area, or directly affecting it, shall be permitted without the Museum’s approval.
It must include the existing National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, and the National Planetarium, and it should take steps to establish additional central museums (e.g., archaeology, maritime/underwater heritage, architectural/built heritage, political and social history), an institute for museology education/training, and a conservation center for movable cultural properties.
The Museum should maintain existing units and establish new ones in each administrative region beyond NCR, plus area/site museums/offices where necessary. It must coordinate with NHCP, NCCA, and other cultural agencies to prevent duplication, and site selection must consider geography, population, administrative efficiency, and heritage/tourism/education/environment considerations.
It has 15 members: 8 from the private sector (with specified expertise requirements) and 7 government officials as ex officio members (including Senate and House culture committee chairs, Secretary of Education, DENR, Tourism, Chair of NCCA, and the Director-General of the National Museum).
They are appointed by the President for a 4-year term, eligible for reappointment for successive 4-year terms. If a position is vacated due to death, disability, resignation, or similar causes, the appointment is only for the unexpired term.
To ensure independence and autonomy, the National Museum is uniquely considered a trust of the government, attached solely for budgetary coordination to the Department of Education. It remains a National Government Agency for administrative purposes (including receiving the annual budget), is higher than a bureau but beneath a department for administrative purposes (staffing/compensation), and is granted privileges/special rules characteristic of GOCC and SUC where possible.
The general public is entitled to free admission to all public museums and national historical shrines/landmarks, subject to capacity and availability as determined by the National Museum or NHCP. Fees may be charged for special activities/programs/temporary exhibitions with approval of the proper head.
The Museum may retain all income and expend it for its mandated purposes as authorized by the Board, placing it in a dedicated National Museum Income Fund (which may accumulate for future fiscal years). The existing Revolving Fund is abolished and its balance is transferred to the National Museum Income Fund.
Procurement of unique/special/original items for collections, charged to allowed funding sources and authorized by the Head of Agency and concurred to by the Board, is exempt from applicable government procurement laws/rules. As a general rule, it allows direct negotiation with owners/agents/representatives with required documents and approvals (e.g., written quotation, certification of significance and fairness/no conflict/no illegal acquisition; board resolutions for items above ₱1,000,000; Bids and Awards Committee verification; Notice of Award; Notice to Proceed; posting documents to COA, DBM, and related agencies).
All regulatory functions provided by RA 4846 and subsequent laws cited (as amended) are transferred to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) within two (2) years from effectivity. The Museum is enjoined to provide technical/expert assistance within its competencies. Policy: the Museum is not mandated to engage in regulatory functions except those in Sec. 24 regarding National Government collections.