An Act Creating a Bureau on Cultural Heritage, Appropriating Funds Thereof and for Other Purposes

RLA BILL NO. 02 Rpublic of Philippines REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Cotabato City SECOND LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (SECOND REGULAR SESSION) Begun and held in Cotabato City, the twenty- fifth day of April, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Four. - oOo - [ MUSLIM MINDANAO AUTONOMY ACT NO . 31] AN ACT CREATING A BUREAU ON CULTURAL HERITAGE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES . SECTION 1 . Creation. - There is hereby created a Bureau on Cultural Heritage in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao pursuant to the provisions of Article XV, Section 16 of the Organic Act, Republic Act No. 6734. SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to recognize as an integral component of regional development the transcedental importance of collecting , preserving, reviving, protecting and harnessing the cultural heritage of the people in the Autonomous Region. SEC. 3 . Purposes and Functions. - The Bureau of Cultural Heritage, hereinafter referred to as the Bureau, shall have the following purposes and functions: a) To recognize, respect, protect, preserve, revive, and harness, develop, promote and enhance the culture, customs, traditions, beliefs and practices of the people in the area of autonomy; b) It shall encourage and undertake the recovery, collection, collation, restoration and protection of historical landmarks and cultural properties of the Autonomous Region including the identification and t - 2 - establishment of landmarks thereof to reconstruct the grandeur of the past for posterity; c) To plan, initiate, implement, coordinate and monitor cultural programs, projects and activities that shall institutionalize the preservation and enhancement of the positive elements of the indigenous culture of the inhabitants of the Autonomous Region; d) To utilize the audio- visual, performing and communication arts in the education campaign, promotion and information dissemination of the cultural heritage of the people of the Autonomous Region; e) To establish a Museum, archive, and library to house all important historical and cultural artifacts reflecting the cultural heritage of the people of the Autonomous Region; f) To coordinate with other concerned private and government agencies engaged in similar and related activities; and g) To perform other related functions as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act . SEC. 4. Dir ector and Assistant Directors. The Bur·eau shall be headed by a Director and two Assistant Directors who shall each receive an annual compensation of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND (P120,000 . 00) Pesos and NINETY SIX THOUSAND (P96,000.00) Pesos, respectively , to be appointed by the Regional Governor; Provided that all assets, liabilities and funds including the personnel of the existing Office on Cultural Affairs shall be absorbed by the Bureau . SEC. 5 . Provincial Off i ces. - The Bureau shall establish provincial offices in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanae del Sur, Sulu and Tawi- Tawi. SEC. 6 . Appropriation. - The Amount of ONE MILLION 1 (Pl,000,000.00) Pesos is hereby appropriated, out of any funds of the Regional Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, in order to carry out the purpose~ of this Act . - 3 - SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All regional laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and all other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are her·eby repealed or modified accordingly. SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval. APPROVED:

Speaker This Act was passed by the Regional Legislative Assembly on October 11, 1994. APPROVED: