Institutionalizing the Schools of Living Traditions (Slt)

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session SENATE S. No. 1507 PREPARED AND SUBMITTED JOINTLY BY THE COMMITTEES ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS, AND FINANCE, WITH SENATOR LEGARDA AS AUTHOR THEREOF AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE SCHOOLS OF LIVING TRADITIONS AMENDING (SLT), REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10066, OR THE "NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT OF 2009," AS AMENDED AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Article X of Republic Act No. 10066 or the

"National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: "ARTICLE X CULTURAL EDUCATION XXX

SEC. 42. Cultural Heritage Education

Program. - The DepEd, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the CHED, in consultation with the Commission, shall integrate into their respective curricula the teaching of Philippine Cultural Heritage, and ensure that the same is earnestly pursued by all schools and at all education modes and levels. xxx XXX SEC. SCHOOL OF LIVING 42-A. TRADITIONS. - THE SCHOOL OF LIVING IS HEREBY TRADITIONS (SLT) INSTITUTIONALIZED AS A COMMUNITY- BASED, NON-FORMAL INTERGENERATIONAL CULTURAL EDUCATION MECHANISM WHERE CULTURAL MASTERS, ELDERS, OR PRACTITIONERS TRANSMIT LIVING TRADITIONS, SKILLS, AND VALUES TO YOUNGER GENERATIONS THROUGH

AND DEMONSTRATION, PRACTICE, IMMERSION IN THE LIVING CONTEXT OF THE COMMUNITY. THE SLT SHALL BE THE NATIONAL PROGRAM AND FRAMEWORK UNDER THE COMMISSION TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY, VIABILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF TRADITIONAL AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES. THE SLT SHALL FORM PART OF THE HERITAGE NATIONAL CULTURAL SAFEGUARDING SYSTEM, TO ENSURE THE VIABILITY, CONTINUITY, AND TRANSMISSION OF LIVING TRADITIONS AND OTHER FORMS OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE, INCLUDING ITS IDENTIFICATION, DOCUMENTATION, RESEARCH, PRESERVATION, PROTECTION, PROMOTION, ENHANCEMENT, TRANSMISSION, AND REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORMAL AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION.

ACTIVITIES ALL SAFEGUARDING SHALL BE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND UNDERTAKEN WITH THE FREE AND PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT (FPIC) OF RELEVANT CULTURAL GROUPS AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. AS USED IN THIS ACT, A CULTURAL MASTER REFERS TO A RECOGNIZED INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP WHO HAS MASTERED A LIVING TRADITION AND IS RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMUNITY TO TRANSMIT SUCH KNOWLEDGE OR PRACTICE. LIVING TRADITIONS SHALL REFER TO CONTINUING SYSTEMS OF KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES, AND EXPRESSIONS ENCOMPASSING ORAL TRADITIONS, LANGUAGES, PERFORMING ARTS, SOCIAL PRACTICES, RITUALS, FESTIVE EVENTS, TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP, INDIGENOUS LIVELIHOOD SYSTEMS, AND OTHER

COMMUNITY-BASED CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT ARE CONTINUALLY TRANSMITTED, ADAPTED, AND RECREATED BY COMMUNITIES OVER TIME.

SEC. 42-B. CENTER FOR SCHOOLS OF

LIVING TRADITION. - A CENTER FOR SCHOOLS OF LIVING TRADITIONS (CSLT) IS HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE COMMISSION, TO BE HEADED BY A CHIEF. THE CSLT SHALL SERVE AS THE TECHNICAL, COORDINATION, AND RESEARCH, MONITORING ARM OF THE SLT PROGRAM. THE CSLT SHALL: (A) DEVELOP AND UPDATE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES, MANUALS, AND MONITORING TOOLS FOR SLT IMPLEMENTATION; (B) CONDUCT RESEARCH, DOCUMENTATION, AND TRAINING FOR CULTURAL MASTERS,

AND COMMUNITY CUSTODIANS, LOCAL PARTNERS; (C) MAINTAIN AND REGULARLY UPDATE THE NATIONAL SLT DATABASE AND ARCHIVES; (D) COORDINATE AND MONITOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION WITH TESDA, DEPED, CHED, NCIP, AND LGUS; (E) ADMINISTER GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR CULTURAL MASTERS AND SLT COORDINATORS; AND INTER-REGIONAL (E) FACILITATE EXCHANGE AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS AMONG SLTS NATIONWIDE.

SEC. 42-C. SLT PROGRAM LEAD

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY. THE COMMISSION SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL COORDINATION, POLICY DIRECTION, AND SUPERVISION

OF THE SLT PROGRAM. IN THIS CAPACITY, IT SHALL: (A) FORMULATE AND ADOPT NATIONAL POLICIES, GUIDELINES, AND STANDARDS FOR THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF SLTs; (B) ENSURE ALIGNMENT OF SLT PROGRAMS WITH NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE SAFEGUARDING FRAMEWORKS; (C) ALLOCATE AND ADMINISTER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANTS FOR ACCREDITED SLTS AND THEIR CULTURAL MASTERS; INTER-AGENCY (D) OVERSEE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL; (E) ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FPIC OF INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, IN COORDINATION WITH THE NCIP;

(E) MONITOR AND EVALUATE THE IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT OF SLT PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE; AND (G) PREPARE THE STAFFING PATTERN OF THE CSLT, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

SEC. 42-D. SLT INTER-AGENCY AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT COLLABORATION. - COORDINATION WITH THE IN THE FOLLOWING COMMISSION, AGENCIES SHALL: (A) NCIP - FACILITATE COMMUNITY CONSENT AND SAFEGUARD THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES; (B) DEPED INTEGRATE SLT METHODOLOGIES AND COMMUNITY

KNOWLEDGE INTO THE CULTURE-BASED LEARNING SYSTEMS; (C) CHED - ENCOURAGE RESEARCH, ACADEMIC LINKAGES, AND PROGRAMS SUPPORTING LIVING TRADITIONS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PEDAGOGY; D) TESDA - HARMONIZE SLT CRAFT AND SKILLS TRAINING WITH TESDA'S CULTURE-BASED TRAINING REGULATIONS, ENSURING RESPECT FOR CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY WHILE SUPPORTING COMMUNITY LIVELIHOODS; TO (E) DILG - DIRECT LGUS INTEGRATE SLT PROGRAMS INTO LOCAL CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND PROVIDE LOGISTICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT; AND (F) LGUS - ALLOCATE FUNDS, DESIGNATE COMMUNITY CUSTODIANS OR LOCAL PARTNERS, AND PROVIDE SPACES

OR FACILITIES FOR SLT ACTIVITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CULTURE AND ARTS COUNCILS. XXX"

SEC. 2. Appropriations.

The initial amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Commission. Thereafter, such • amount necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The concerned LGUs shall likewise allocate and charge the amounts necessary for the implementation of this Act against their respective local funds.

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The

15 Commission, in consultation with other agencies and representatives of indigenous and local communities shall, 17 within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations effectively 19 implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this

Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential

decrees, executive orders, letters of instruction, proclamations, administrative orders, rules, or regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after

fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,