QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 8371)
RA 10086 is titled the “Strengthening Peoples' Nationalism Through Philippine History Act.” The policy is to conserve, promote, and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage; reinforce historical research and popularization; sustain protection, preservation, and conservation of historical resources; and build a Philippine national identity based on unity and pride in diversity held together by common history.
It changes the National Historical Institute (NHI) into the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and provides that the NHCP is an independent agency attached to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
The NHCP is the primary government agency responsible for history and has authority to determine all factual matters relating to official Philippine history.
The NHCP may: (1) conduct and support research on national and local history; (2) develop educational materials and implement historical educational activities for popularization; (3) undertake and prescribe restoration, conservation, and protection of historical movable and immovable objects; (4) manage and administer national shrines, monuments, historical sites, edifices, and landmarks of significant historico-cultural value; and (5) engage in settlement/resolution of controversies involving historical personages, places, dates, and events.
The NHCP is governed by a nine (9)-member Board. It is composed of five (5) distinguished historians from the private sector as regular members (who vote on historical research and academic concerns). Ex officio members are: the Director of the National Library of the Philippines, the Director of the National Museum, the Executive Director of the National Archives of the Philippines, and the Executive Director of the NHCP.
Must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, of good moral character, distinguished in the field of Philippine history, and has published works in Philippine history and other academic fields recognized by scholars and the reading public.
Regular members serve for four (4) years. They may not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. Vacancies are filled only for the unexpired portion of the term, and no temporary/acting appointments are allowed.
The first five (5) appointees are given staggered terms: two (2) for four (4) years, two (2) for three (3) years, and one (1) for two (2) years. The Chairman is elected from among regular members for a term of three (3) years and may not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.
The Chairman leads the NHCP’s vision and mission, advises the President and Congress on Philippine history matters, presides over Board meetings and proposes agendas, exercises oversight over the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Directors to ensure implementation of Board decisions, represents the NHCP on official matters and in the NCCA and other agencies, and performs other delegated duties.
The Executive Director is appointed by the President. He/She implements Board-approved policies and programs, administers day-to-day operations, represents the NHCP in meetings when authorized/delegated by the Board, and performs other functions assigned by the Board.
They must be natural-born citizens and of good moral character. They must hold at least a four (4)-year college degree. The Executive Director must have at least five (5) years’ relevant experience managing a government agency; Deputy Executive Directors must have at least three (3) years’ such experience, and they must have CESO eligibility only for the Deputy Executive Director position.
It authorizes the Board to conduct public hearings and ocular inspections or initiate factual investigations on disputed historical issues for the purpose of declaring official historical dates, places, personages, and events.
A Historic Sites and Structures Documentation Center is established within the NHCP, replacing the existing Survey and Documentation Section. It is tasked with undertaking survey, identification, documentation, and recommending declarations for historic structures/edifices (national shrines, monuments, landmarks, heritage houses) and maintaining the National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures.
The Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN) is constituted from the agency’s existing historical society affiliations, to monitor/coordinate/support affiliates and record oral histories. The Materials Research Conservation Center is renamed as the Materials Research Conservation Division (MRCD), which provides consultancy services using accepted international standards, enriches restoration/preservation knowledge through scientific research, and links with international conservation bodies.
NHCP is exempt from all taxes on its income; donations to NHCP are exempt from donor’s tax and are allowable deductions from gross income under the National Internal Revenue Code; and importation of scientific/philosophical/historical/cultural books, supplies, and materials for NHCP conservation/preservation work, duly certified by the Board, is exempt from customs duties.
Income of NHCP not exceeding P1,000,000 derived from publications, park entrance fees, donations, technical services, conferences, workshops, and similar income shall be constituted as a revolving fund to augment projects where income was derived, subject to government auditing rules. Income beyond P1,000,000 must be remitted to the National Treasury and accrues to the General Fund.
The incumbent Chairman, Executive Director, and Deputy Executive Directors of the NHI continue for one (1) year or until new appointments are made. Assets (fixed and movable), contracts, records, and documents of the NHI are transferred to the NHCP. Existing agreements and contracts remain in force unless terminated/modified/amended. Employees are absorbed by NHCP based on merit and fitness, with separation benefits for those separated due to abolition of divisions.