EXEMPTING FROM TAXATION ALL DONATIONS TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, THE NATIONAL LIBRARY AND THE ARCHIVES OF THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL INSTITUTE

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 373
• Sections: 5

Preamble

WHEREAS, museums, national libraries and archives depend

mostly on donations for the support of their projects or the acquisition

of items for their collections.

WHEREAS, in most countries donations to museums, national

libraries and archives are tax-exempt, like donations to charitable

institutions.

WHEREAS, many collectors have expressed willingness to

donate items to the National Museum, the National Library and our

archives under the National Historical Institute but are deterred by

present taxation policies.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested 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

part of the law of the land, the following:

Section 1

SECTION 1. All monetary contributions and the equivalent

monetary value of works of art, antiques, manuscripts, books or other

articles of cultural, historical or scientific significance, donated to

the National Museum, the National Library and the National Historical

Institute, are tax-exempt and deductible from the taxable income of the

donor.

Section 2

SEC. 2. The Director of the National Museum, the Director

of the National Library and the Chairman of the National Historical

Institute, in the case of the national archives, are each hereby

authorized to convene a panel of experts who shall pass on the merit of

the item or items offered as donation to their respective collections

and shall determine the valuation thereof.

Section 3

SEC. 3. All laws inconsistent with this Decree are hereby

repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 4

SEC. 4. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 9th day of January, in the year

of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President

Republic of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary