Senator Loren Legarda has filed Senate Bill No. 1860 to repeal Presidential Decree No. 1726-A, the Martial Law-era decree that set government guidelines for treasure hunting in the Philippines, and to delete the treasure hunting permit provision in the Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

“Our cultural heritage is not a commodity to be traded or exploited. It is a shared legacy that defines who we are and gives tangible expression to the historical experiences, ideas, and exchanges that have shaped our communities. It demands our collective effort to protect, preserve, and pass on to future generations,” Legarda said.

She emphasized that the treasure-hunting permit system, first introduced during Martial Law and later retained in the National Cultural Heritage Act, has led to the destruction of archaeological sites and facilitated commercial exploitation of the nation’s patrimony.

“When the very law meant to protect our heritage becomes an instrument for its exploitation, we must act decisively to repeal it,” Legarda stressed.

The bill mandates the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to develop comprehensive rules and regulations and govern all archaeological activities in the country, both on land and underwater.

Legarda noted that the system is incompatible with the Philippines’ obligations under the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention and the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. She said repealing the treasure-hunting law will align Philippine legislation with international best practices in cultural heritage protection.

The measure provides that no excavation or digging shall be permitted without the supervision of a certified archaeologist, ensuring all activities are conducted scientifically, properly documented, and for public benefit rather than private gain.

“Every artifact, every historical site, every archaeological find tells the story of who we are as a people. When these are destroyed or taken for profit, we lose more than objects; we lose our identity, our history, and our shared heritage,” Legarda said.

“You cannot defend cultural heritage with one hand and sign off on treasure hunting permits with the other. This bill closes that contradiction and asserts that our laws stand firmly on the side of protection, not extraction for profit,” she concluded.

Legarda chairs the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts and previously championed measures such as the National Cultural Heritage Act (RA 10066) and the Cultural Mapping Law (RA 11961), which mandates a comprehensive inventory of Filipino heritage.