National Museum gives Pres. Duterte best wishes; announces permanent free entrance

Photo courtesy of the National Museum of the Philippines

MANILA—The National Museum has congratulated President Rodrigo Duterte on the occasion of his inauguration, expressing hope that his being the new Patron and Honorary Chairman of the museum will further progress.

On its official page, the National Museum said that under the National Museum Act of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8492), the President of the Philippines is the official Patron of the National Museum and the Honorary Chairman of its Board of Trustees.

“We hope that this special relationship with the Presidency will progress further under President Duterte, with the National Museum, in Manila and nationwide, striving to further strengthen its work and contributions, to the best of its institutional capabilities as a preeminent institution of education, science and culture of the national government, in benefit of the lives of the Filipino people and to the enhanced appreciation of the heritage, patrimony and legacy to which the Filipino people are heir to by our friends from around the world,” the statement read.

The same day Pres. Duterte was officially sworn in, the National Museum also announced that admission in all its museums nationwide will be permanently free of charge for all visitors starting today, July 1.

With the free entrance, the National Museum encouraged people to visit the museum and “bring” its programs and resources to communities throughout Manila and all regions.

“A policy of free general admission has been established, effective July 1, 2016… in order to build upon significant spikes in viewership, especially among younger Filipinos, that have been observed in 2013-2015 and to date in 2016, when general admission has been made free of charge for various traditional reasons such as National Arts Month in February, National Heritage Month in May, and National Museums and Galleries Month in October,” the National Museum said.