Manila Times (11 May 2015)
Introduced by Councilors JESUS MANUEL C. SUNTAY, RODERICK M. PAULATE, FRANCISCO A. CALALAY, JR., DOROTHY A. DELARMENTE, ANTHONY PETER D. CRISOLOGO, RICARDO T. BELMONTE, JR., JOSEPH P. JUICO, ALEXIS R. HERRERA, PRECIOUS HIPOLITO CASTELO, ALFREDO D. VARGAS III, EDEN "CANDY" A. MEDINA, JULIENNE ALYSON RAM V. MEDALLA, GODOFREDO T. LIBAN II, JULIAN ML. COSETENG, ALLAN BENEDICT S. REYES, JAIME F. BORRES, JOSE MARIO DON S. DE LEON, GIAN CARLO G. SOTTO, EUFEMIO C. LAGUMBAY, JESSICA CASTELO DAZA, RAQUEL S. MALAÑGEN, VINCENT DG. BELMONTE, MARVIN C. RILLO, IVY LIM-LAGMAN, RANULFO Z. LUDOVICA and JOHN ANSELL R. DE GU2MAN.
SECTION 4. POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES - The Quezon City Heritage Council shall have the following powers and responsibility.
a. Honorary Chairman: - The City Mayorb. Honorary Chairman: - The City Vice Mayorc. Chairman - Head, CPDO d. Vice Chairman - Chairperson of the Committee on Cultural and Tourism Affair, Quezon City Council e. Secretariat - Cultural and Tourism Affairs Office (CTAO) - a. City Administrator b. City Planning c. Engineering d. Parks e. Budget f. BOC g. NHCP h. Academe specializing in history and culture, art studies and history, fine arts, archaeology, anthropology and architecture,
SECTION 5. MEETINGS - The Council shall conduct regular meetings as scheduled by the majority of the Council and/or be may be required by the City Government.
- Shall have the power to define what Quezon City Treasures and set parameters in connection thereof;
- Shall have the power to investigate, conduct, research and gather data on historical events, places, objects and personalities believed to be from, part of or has shaped the history of Quezon City that can be identified as potential City Treasures;
- Shall have the power to formulate plans and strategies to develop, protect and promote City Treasures:
- Shall have the power to declare Historical, Cultural and Heritage sites, structures, events, objects and personalities as, City Treasures, once it has passed the Council's investigation;
- Shall have the power to Inspect City Treasures and essential cultural properties and QC landmarks, sites or monuments at any time to ensure the protection and integrity of the aforementioned. It may also inspect public or private collections or objects that may be categorized as cultural property, provided that in case of private collections or objects, the prior written consent of the owner shall be obtained;
- Shall have the power to issue Cease and Desist Order, suspending all activities that will effect the integrity of the cultural property, whenever the physical structure of the City Treasure or essential cultural properties are found to be in danger of destruction or significant alteration from its original state. The Council shall give notice to the owner or occupants of the cultural property and conduct a hearing on the propriety of the Issuance of the Ceases and Desist order. The suspension of activities shall be lifted only upon the written authority of the City Mayor pending the recommendation for the Council;
- Shall have the power to serve orders to repair or maintain cultural properties to owners or occupants of privately owned heritage treasures that has fallen into disrepair through neglect to such an extent that it will lose its potential for conservation. If the owner fails to comply with said order within forty (40) days, repairs may be undertaken by the appropriate department or office for the account of the owner;
- Shall have the power to deputize the Quezon City Police Department and the Department of Public Order and Safely and other departments and offices in relation to this Ordinance, to enforce and assist measures pertaining to the enactment of this legislation;
- Shall have the power to recommend the acquisition or a partnership scheme with the owners of privately owned City Treasures;
- Shall be responsible to document and create an inventory of the City's historic heritage properties recording them in the QC Heritage Local Registry of Historic Structures, Personalities, Objects and Events and provide protective and fiscal measures; and
- Shall be responsible for updating and submitting reports to the City Mayor, City Council and National Agencies or Departments related to History, Culture, Heritage and Tourism;
SECTION 8. APPROPRIATIONS - There is hereby appropriated the sum of Five Million Pesos (PhP5,000,000.00) or so much thereof as may to deemed necessary, for the establishment of the Quezon City Heritage Council. Such amount shall be taken from any available funds of the City Treasury.
- Tax Exemption on Donations —All donations in any form to the Committee or City shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income in the computation of the income tax of the donor, In accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 as amended.
- Tax Credits — Tax Credits will be given to owners of privately owned cultural structures.
- Priority Funding — Priority funding for protection, conservation and restoration win be given to City Treasures.
- Incentives Program — Incentives for private support of conservation and restoration through National Agencies for City Cultural Treasures.
- Quezon City Treasure Marker — will be placed by the Quezon City Heritage Council indicating that the immovable cultural property has been identified as a City Treasure.
SECTION 10. PENALTY - In addition to or aside from the penalty under applicable National Laws, Rules and Regulations, violation of any of the above sections as well as any provision/s hereof shall be punished as follows:
- Destroy, demolish or damage any cultural and/or City Treasure;
- Modify, alter or destroy the original feature or undertake construction or real estate development in any Heritage or Historical Shrine, monument, land mark and any other historic edifices and structures, declared, classified and marked by the Council, without prior written consent. This Includes the designated security or buffer zone, extending five (5) meters from the visible perimeter of the monument or site; and
- Import, sell, distribute, procure, acquire or export stolen cultural treasures, or otherwise lost against the will of the lawful owner.
SECTION 11. FORMULATION OF IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS -
- First Offense - Warning and fine of three thousand pesos (Php3,000)
- Second Offense - Pine of four thousand pesos (Php4,000) and imprisonment not less that two (2) years
- Third Offense - Fine of five thousand pesos (PhP5,000) and Imprisonment of not more than Six (6) years.
SECTION 12. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE - The provisions of this Ordinance an separable. In the event that any of the provision/s is declared invalid by a competent court, the validity of atl other provisions shall not be affected thereby.
- Within one (1) month after the approval of this Ordinance, the City Mayor shall convene the Council as herein provided for. The Council shall formulate and issue the appropriate rules and regulation necessary for the efficient and effective implementation of all provisions of this Ordinance.
- The Council shall submit its report and recommendation to the City Mayor within one (1) month after its organization. If the City Mayor fails to act within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof, the recommendation of the Quezon City Heritage Council shall be deemed approved. Thereafter, the council shall then exercise their mandate as the execution and implementation of the Ordinance and its IRR.