National Museum as ‘keeper of Filipino heritage’
President Duterte signed Republic Act 11333 renaming the National Museum as the National Musuem of the Philippines, which would also strengthen its role of as keeper of Filipino heritage.
The new law repeals the Republic Act 8492 or the National Museum Act of 1889.
“It is the policy of the State to pursue and support the cultural development of the Filipino people, through the preservation, enrichment and dynamic evolution of Filipino culture, based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression,” the law read.
It will also be alternately known in Filipino as Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas.
Under the law, the National Museum shall be the primary institution of the state for the management and development of museums and collections of national scope or significance in the areas of arts, cultural heritage and natural history.
“The National Museum shall function as an education, cultural and scientific institution through its operations, projects and programs, documents, acquires, preserves, exhibits and foster scholarly study and public appreciation of works of art, specimens and cultural and historical artifacts,” it added.
To ensure its independence and autonomy, the National Museum shall be considered as a trust of the government, attached solely for budgetary coordination and related purposes to the Department of Education.
The law allows the National Museum to retain and use all of its income derived from all sources of its operations nationwide and overseas.