Presidential Decree No. 260

WHEREAS, Pursuant to Article XV, Section 9, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Philippines “Filipino culture shall be preserved and developed for national identity”;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 4846 declares that it is the policy of the state to preserve and protect the cultural properties of the nation;

WHEREAS, There is a necessity of preserving and utilizing the cultural properties of the nation for the furtherance of the people’s culture;

WHEREAS, The government recognizes the fact that the cultural properties of the country are necessary that indispensable for the correct understanding of its history and culture;

WHEREAS, There are cultural properties which are especially of high value from the viewpoint of world culture and are considered as irreplaceable treasures of the country;

WHEREAS, The development and preservation of cultural properties are also necessary in the promotion of tourism;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972 and General Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, do hereby decree, order and make as part of the law of the land, the following;

Section 1. The Sta. Ana Site Museum in Manila, the Roman Catholic Churches of Paoay and Bacarra in Ilocos Norte, the San Agustin Church and Liturgical objects therein in Intramuros, Manila, Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City, the Petroglyphs of the Rockshelter in Angono, Rizal, the Petroglyphs of Alab, Bontoc, the Stone Agricultural Calendars of Dap-ay Guiday in Besao, Bontoc, the Mummy Caves of Kabayan, Benguet and of Segada and Alab, Bontoc, the Ifugao Rice Terraces of Banaue are hereby declared as National Cultural Treasures along the lines of Sections 3 and 7 of R.A. 4846 defining cultural properties and treasures, and their preservation, restoration and/or reconstruction shall be under the supervision and control of the National Museum in collaboration with the Department of Tourism;

Section 2. The Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, Tirad Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, the Miagao Church in Miagao, Iloilo, the Site of the Battle of Mactan on Mactan Island in Cebu, the San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, Manila, and the Church and Convent of Sto. Niño in Cebu City are hereby declared as National Shrines, Monuments and/or Landmarks in accordance with the provisions of R.A. 4368 and their preservation, restoration and/or reconstruction shall be under the supervision and control of the National Historical Commission in collaboration with the Department of Tourism;

Section 3. To carry out the intents of this decree the sum of P500,000.00 for the National Museum and P500,000.00 for the National Historical Commission are hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the funds of the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated. Subsequent funds therefor shall be incorporated in the Annual Budget.

Section 4. The National Museum and the National Historical Commission are hereby vested with the right to declare other such historical and cultural sites as National Shrines, Monuments, and/or Landmarks, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in R.A. 4846 and the spirit of this Decree.

Section 5. The provisions of R.A. 4846 and R.A. 4368 and other laws which are inconsistent with this Decree are accordingly modified or repealed.

Section 6. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Approved: August 1, 1973