Senator Loren Legarda has filed legislation to ban treasure hunting in the Philippines, seeking to repeal a Martial Law-era decree that she says allows for the commercial exploitation of the nation’s archaeological sites.

Senate Bill No. 1860 aims to repeal Presidential Decree No. 1726-A, which established government guidelines for treasure hunting. The bill also seeks to remove a provision in the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 that allows for treasure-hunting permits.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, argued that the current permit system has led to the destruction of significant historical sites.

“Our cultural heritage is not a commodity to be traded or exploited,” Legarda said in a statement. “When the very law meant to protect our heritage becomes an instrument for its exploitation, we must act decisively to repeal it.”

The proposed measure mandates the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to develop comprehensive regulations governing all archaeological activities, both on land and underwater.

Under the bill, no excavation or digging would be permitted without the supervision of a certified archaeologist to ensure activities are conducted scientifically for public benefit rather than private gain.

Legarda noted that the existing system is incompatible with the Philippines’ international obligations and cited the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention and the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, both of which require member states to protect heritage sites from commercial extraction.

A four-term senator, Legarda has been a longtime advocate for heritage preservation, having previously championed the National Cultural Heritage Act and the Cultural Mapping Law.