The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) celebrates the passage of Republic Act No. 11961, also known as “An Act Strengthening the Conservation and Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage through Cultural Mapping and an Enhanced Cultural Heritage Education Program, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the ‘National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.’” The bill was signed into national law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on August 24, 2023.

            The Commission expresses its deep appreciation for Senate President Pro Tempore and NCCA Board of Commissioners member Loren Legarda and NCCA Board of Commissioners member Rep. Roman Romulo, who led efforts for this important enactment. It is also grateful for several legislators for their invaluable support—Senator Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Binay, Senator Aquilino Martin “Koko” Pimentel, Rep. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia, Rep. Marie Bernadette “Dette” G. Escudero, and Rep. France L. Castro.

            The NCCA has participation in the crafting of the law and acknowledges the invaluable contributions of several agencies and organizations including the National Museum of the Philippines, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, UNESCO-Philippine National Commission, and the Heritage Conservation Society.

            Among other things, Republic Act No. 11961 institutionalizes the practice of cultural mapping among localities and the development of the Philippine Registry of Heritage, which are among the flagship programs of the NCCA. It also includes the protection of sites, properties and elements inscribed and recognized by UNESCO programs such as the World Heritage Site, Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (as well as the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent and the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices), Memory of the World Register, Global Geoparks and Man and the Biosphere Programme with its World Network of Biosphere Reserves, as well as ASEAN Heritage Parks, and Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance.