MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a new measure strengthening the National Museum in support of the cultural development of Filipinos.

The National Museum of the Philippines Act or Republic Act No. 11333, signed on April 26, designates the National Museum as the country’s primary institution for the management and development of museums and collections of national importance in the areas of arts, cultural heritage, and natural history.

“It shall be a permanent institution in the service of the entire national community and its development, accessible to the public, and not intended for profit,” the new law stated.

The new law also renames the “National Museum” to “National Museum of the Philippines” alternatively in Filipino, “Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas.” It also continues to classify the museum as a national government agency.

This means that the museum shall be exempt from payment of taxes, fees and other charges imposed by the government. All donations to the museum, in any form, shall also be exempt from donor's tax.

Responsibilities of the museum under the new measure are:

* Function as an educational, cultural and scientific institution;

* Establish, manage and develop the National Museum Complex in Rizal Park in Manila, central museums, regional museums, and other facilities;

* Manage and develop the national collections of the Republic of the Philippines in the areas of science of arts, cultural heritage, and natural history;

* Carry out permanent research programs combining integrated laboratory and field work in biodiversity, geological history, human origins, pre-historical and historical archaeology, maritime and underwater cultural heritage, ethnology, art, history, immovable, movable and intangible cultural properties, and similar or associated fields;

* Disseminate technical and museological skills and support museum development in the country;

* Extend technical assistance in the preservation and restoration of cultural properties of national significance; and

* Carry out any and all other functions characteristic of public collecting and research museum institutions of similar mandate and national scope, in line with prevailing international principles and best practices.

Read the full measure here:

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