DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                             2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                        Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-241-07                                                                                                                                                           18 April 2007

agreement signed between rp, holy see on cultural heritage of the catholic church
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo exchanges with H. E. Most Revere nd Fernando Filoni of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines the Agreement on the Cultural Heritage of the Catholic Church between the Philippines and the Holy See that aims for closer collaboration in regulating Church properties on areas such as inventory, restoration, trafficking custody and security, tourism, archiving and similar activities.  Secretary Romulo signed the Agreement on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines while H. E. Archbishop Filoni signed on behalf of the Holy See.

18 April 2007 — The Republic of the Philippines and the Holy See signed at the Department of Foreign Affairs the Agreement on the Cultural Heritage of the Catholic Church between the Philippines and the Holy See, wherein both parties hope to collaborate closely in regulating Church properties on areas such as inventory, restoration, trafficking custody and security, tourism, archiving and similar activities.  

The Agreement, jointly signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo on behalf of the Philippines and H. E. Most Reverend Fernando Filoni of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines on behalf of the Holy See, was an initiative of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on collections of significant value and considered unique in Asia .  

The Signing Ceremony was witnessed by CBCP President and Archbishop of Jaro Most Rev. Angel N. Lagdameo; Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales; Archbishop of Cebu Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal; NCCA Deputy Executive Director Emily Tiongco; officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines, the CBCP, the National Historical Institute, the National Museum, and representatives from the San Agustin Museum, the Manila Cathedral, the Parish of St. John the Baptist (Quiapo Church), the National Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Baclaran Church), the Santo Domingo Convent, and the Ateneo de Manila University. END

/jay

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