Philippine Heritage Laws

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

Specialization Course – Heritage Conservation

Lorelei D.C. de Viana, PhD

PHILIPPINE LAWS ON THE CONSERVATION OF MONUMENTS AND SITES

Philippine Commission Act No. 243, 1901

The Philippine Commission approved the right to use public land on the Luneta for the
construction of a monument to Jose Rizal to commemorate him and house his remains.

Public Act N0. 2494, 1915

Appropriation of funds for the construction of public works and monuments.

Public Act No. 2760, 1918

Approved the building of a monument to Andres Bonifacio and the creation of a national
committee to oversee its construction.

Executive Order No. 451, 1933

Creation of the Historical Markers and Research Committee to undertake the identification and
permanent marking of historic antiquities in the country

Commonwealth Act No. 169, 1936

Reorganization of the Historical Markers and Research Committee and authorized it to preserve
historic sites and antiquities.

Executive Order No. 91, 1937

Creation of the Philippines Historical Committee to acquire, purchase and repair antiquities.

Republic Act No. 4368, 1965

Creation of the National Historical Commission tasked to identify, designate and mark historic
places in the Philippines and to undertake the construction or reconstruction of these sites or
structures

Presidential Decree No. 1, 1972

Creation of the National Historical Institute (NHI) tasked to preserve, restore and maintain
national shrines and monuments

Presidential Decree No. 260, 1973

Could be considered as the country’s national historic act for recognizing the broad and complex
requirements of historic preservation programs. It declared eight historic sites and structures as
of national importance and their preservation, restoration or reconstruction. It mandated the NHI
to declare historic sites and structures for preservation purposes as National Shrine, National
Historical Landmark, and National Monument.

Republic Act No. 4846, 1966

The Philippines’ Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act defining “cultural property,
National Cultural Treasure and Important Cultural Property.”

Presidential Decree No. 374, 1975

Amends RA 4846 and designates the National Museum to take care of the supervision,
preservation, conservation and restoration of outstanding structures, buildings, monuments, towns
and sites declared as national cultural treasures and properties. It defines the following:
1. National Cultural Treasures – unique sites or objects found locally possessing outstanding
cultural, artistic, and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the
Philippines

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2. Important Cultural Properties – cultural properties which have been singled out from among
the innumerable cultural properties as having exceptional cultural and scientific significance
to the Philippines

Presidential Decree No. 1505, 1978

Prohibits the modification, alteration, repair or destruction of the original features of any
designated and classified historic edifice without the permission from the Chairman of the NHI,
and provides penal sanctions for violations

1987 Constitution of the Philippines, Article 14 on Arts and Culture

The State shall foster the preservation, enrichment and dynamic evolution of a Filipino national
culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual
expression. The country’s artistic and historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasures of the
nation and shall be under the protection of the State.

Republic Act 7356, 1992

Creation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to promote Filipino
national culture and arts, with a Sub-commission on Cultural Heritage, and under it the National
Committee on Monuments and Sites that takes charge of heritage conservation

National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures

Maintained by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines

Republic Act No. 10066, 2009

Known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. It provides for the protection and
conservation of national cultural heritage, strengthening the National Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA) and its affiliated agencies.