National Archives of the Philippines
The National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) is a government agency that collects, stores, preserves, and shares the country’s official records and other important historical sources. It is the main agency responsible for records management, creating schedules for government records and protecting vital government records.
The NAP was created by Republic Act No. 9470 in 2007. Its roots go back to the Spanish colonial era, when archives were kept in various places. Over time, the archive moved through several government offices before becoming the National Archives.
The agency is headquartered in the National Library of the Philippines in Manila and also has offices in Cebu and Davao. It has about 123 employees and a reported budget of around ₱85 million (in 2012). The current director is Victorino Manalo, who has led the agency since 2012.
The Archives hold millions of records, including about 13 million Spanish-era documents and 60 million cataloged public records. Some of the oldest materials date back to the 16th century. Note that some famous Katipunan records, such as the Philippine Declaration of Independence, are kept by the National Library in its Philippine Insurgency Records collection.
The NAP runs the National Inventory of Records and Archives and maintains the General Records Schedule for the government. It also provides reference services, technical assistance, and continuing education to the public.
In 2018, a fire nearby damaged a building, injuring two people, but the Archives’ holdings were not harmed. UNESCO has encouraged nominating important documents from the archives to the Memory of the World Register.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 01:57 (CET).