The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday said that the agency will move to Makati City as the National Museum is bent on possessing the building where the Tourism department is currently holding office.

Benito Bengzon Jr., Tourism assistant secretary and spokesman, said that the department will transfer to the JB Building in Makati.

Bengzon said that the building they are presently occupying on Agrifina Circle in Manila belongs to the National Museum.

“Pursuant to a law [Republic Act 8492 or the National Museum Act of 1988], the Department of Tourism needs to transfer their offices to a new and conducive workplace. The selected new location is the JB Building bordered by Gil Puyat Avenue, Buendia and Jupiter Street in Makati City. It is a mid-rise building with six-storeys of vacant office spaces,” Bengzon told the Manila Times.

Tourism undersecretary Ma. Theresa Martine of Special Concerns and Legislative Liaison Office and chairman of the DOT Inter-Agency Transfer Committee, said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allotted P3.3 million a month or P39.6 million a year for its five-year rental contract.

“Dati wala kaming binabayaran na rental pero ngayon nag-provide na ng budget ang DBM so if we don’t move out ma-stock ang mga plano. But we hope in the future we will have our own building,” she said.

Martinez disclosed that the museum expects them to move out in April so that it can start its renovation.

“The real target date is March but I really doubt that we can move on that date so we said baka second quarter na, which is April,” she said.

Martinez said that the department has occupied the building since 1974.

“It’s time for us to leave according to the National Museum because it will use the area for their artifacts kasi wala na sila lang paglagyan sa dami,” Martinez said.

The National Museum Act states: “the whole Executive House Building also known as the Old Congress Building, the Department of Finance Building and Department of Tourism Building on Agrifina Circle shall be the permanent and exclusive site of the National Museum. They shall be known as the National Museum Complex. The Executive House shall now be known as the ‘National Museum.’”

“The site and lands selected for the building for the Museum shall be deemed appropriated to the Museum and the record of the description of such site and lands, or a copy thereof, certified by the chairman and secretary of the Board of Trustees, shall be received as evidence in all courts of the extent and boundaries of the lands appropriated to the Museum,” it said.