President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order creating an advisory board and a management center that will be in charge of promoting and conserving Philippine historical and cultural heritage sites.
Executive Order No. 26, signed on Friday, May 12, stated that the advisory board will be tasked to formulate "policies, projects, and programs for the efficient management" of heritage sites like Malacañang Heritage Mansions, Kalayaan Museum, and other government assets under the management and maintenance of the Office of the President (OP).
"There is a need to maintain, preserve, and utilize the aforementioned properties in recognition of its potential to promote the country's history and culture," the order reads.
The advisory board shall be chaired by the Social Secretary and shall be composed of three OP representatives who will serve in an ex-officio capacity and three from the private sector who will be tapped by Marcos.
The issuance also ordered the transfer of the Kalayaan Museum to the supervision of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration to the Social Secretary's Office (SoSec).
The management center, meanwhile, is responsible for providing "technical and administrative support to the advisory board."
"The MHMMC will be headed by an Executive Director who will ensure the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the subject properties and see to it that those properties are being managed effectively, efficiently, and economically, as well as oversee operational activities," the EO reads.
According to the order, the proceeds of the Malacañang Heritage Mansions will go into the revolving fund that will be utilized for "the maintenance, operation, preservation, restoration, and beautification" of the said properties.
