MANILA (November 4)—The House Committee on Ways and Means has approved a substitute bill seeking to strengthen the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) by moving forward to exempt it from the payment of taxes, fees and other charges imposed by the national government.
The committee led by Nueva Ecija first district Rep. Estrellita Suansing made the approval after it amended the bill’s tax provisions including Section 21. on the exemption of taxes, including donor’s tax and customs duties the importation of scientific, philosophical, historical and cultural books, supplies and materials to be used in its conservation or preservation work.
The National Museum will also be renamed as “National Museum of the Philippines” (NMP) or alternatively as, “Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas, and remains in its classification as a national government agency.
The NMP will continue to establish, manage and develop the National Museum Complex in Rizal Park in Manila, central museums, regional museums, and other facilities; promote the principle of universal access by the public; manage and develop the national collections of the Republic of the Philippines in the areas of science of arts, cultural heritage, and natural history and carry out permanent research programs combining integrated laboratory and fieldwork 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.- Jiann Padillo/ NewsLine
