The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) has transferred some of its regulatory functions to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) following a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed last Oct.  23. 

In a joint public announcement, the NMP said it will transfer its important regulatory functions to the NCCA which covers the following: 

· Registration of Cultural Property

· Declaration and delisting of National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties

· Regulation of declared National Cultural Treasures, declared Important Cultural Properties, and presumed Important Cultural Properties

·  Removal of the presumption of Important Cultural Property

· Issuance of permits and certificates for the temporary or permanent exportation and importation of cultural properties where applicable

· Licensing and regulation of dealers and exporters of cultural properties

·  Designation of Heritage Zones

· Regulation to assist indigenous peoples in the preservation of their respective cultural and historical properties

· Implementation of Republic Act No. 9105, the “Art Forgery Act of 2001,” involving the creation and support of the Art Authentication Panel mandated therein

This is in line with Republic Act No. 11333, the National Museum of the Philippines Act, that, in mandating this transfer of functions, aims to consolidate and strengthen the regulatory framework for cultural property governed by Republic Act No. 10066, the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, and other pertinent prevailing laws.

The NMP and NCCA also signed an agreement last Oct. 23 to carry out the transfer which will be effective on Jan 1.

But they clarified that all other regulatory functions covered by the NMP not listed, such as those covering archaeological and anthropological research and treasure hunting, will continue to be carried out by the NMP until further notice. 

Further, all petitions, requests, and matters pertaining to the aforementioned functions that were filed or submitted in 2020 remain with NMP through its Cultural Properties Regulation Division.