Marcos declares 2023-2033 as ‘Dekada ng Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared the year 2023 to 2033 as "Dekada ng Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas" which translates to "Decade of Philippine History."

Marcos' announcement came ahead of the centennial anniversary celebration of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in October 2033.

In Proclamation 386, inked by Marcos on 7 November, the NHCP is directed to lead, coordinate, and supervise the observance of the Dekada ng Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, as well as identify the programs, projects, and activities for its celebration.

"The Filipino nation joins the NHCP in celebrating this milestone in Philippine bureaucracy and in highlighting the role of history in nation-building," the proclamation read.

All other national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and state universities and colleges, are urged to provide support to the NHCP and participate in the observance of the Dekada ng Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

Proclamation 396 also encourages all local government units, non-government organizations, and the private sector to assist the NHCP in the celebration of the Dekada ng Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

Marcos' proclamation serves as an expression of the Filipino nation's greatly value "almost a century of contributions of the dedicated individuals who make up the NHCP—including historians, researchers, curators, architects, engineers, chemists, conservators, artists, planners, managers, and many others—who all work tirelessly to advance historical research, promote the legacy of esteemed Filipino figures through commemorative events, safeguard and restore historic sites, structures, objects, and properties, show reverence for national symbols, and educate the public about their rich history and heritage."

Executive Order 451 issued on 23 October 1933 created the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee—a body in charge of identifying, designating, and marking cultural and historical antiquities in the Philippines and preserving them for posterity.

Over the years, various presidential issuances were promulgated in response to the need for a historical body with broader functions.

The Republic Act 10086, signed into law in 2010 turned the NHCP into an independent government agency responsible for the restoration, conservation, and protection of the country's historical objects, as well as the determination of all factual matters relating to official Philippine history.

The NHCP is set to celebrate its centennial anniversary on 23 October 2033, marking 100 years since the establishment of its predecessor, the PHRMC.