BillBuddy
Back to bill feed
HealthEducationSocial Welfare
BillSBN-188320th Congress

Art in Public Places Program

In committee Filed Feb 23, 2026
◷ Where it standsIn Committee
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on February 23, 2026, and referred to the Committees on Culture and the Arts and Finance; it has been pending in the committee since then with no recorded action.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

The bill supports local artists by providing venues for their work, enhancing community engagement with the arts.

Local artistsPublic audiencesLocal government units
Timeliness
Timely

The bill responds to ongoing challenges faced by local artists in finding exhibition spaces.

Affects you ifLocal artistsArt enthusiastsCommunity membersCultural organizations
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
5.8/ 10
Long title

Art in Public Places Program

Plain-language summary
AI Summary

This bill allows local artists to use public places for art exhibits at no cost, promoting local art and culture.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresThe Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) must secure permission from local government offices for public art exhibits.
FundsCongress shall allocate an amount necessary to carry out the aims of this Act annually, managed by the NCCA.
DeadlineThe DOT and NCCA must formulate implementing rules and regulations within 60 days of the bill's approval.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

Local artists struggle to find venues for art exhibits.

This bill

Local artists can use public places for free art exhibits.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The bill aims to allow local artists to use public places for art exhibits at no cost, promoting local art and culture.

Source · full text
Issue areas
HealthEducationSocial WelfareCultural organizationsLocal artistsCommunity engagementArt exhibitionsPublic Spaces

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Feb 23, 2026Senate
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR;
Feb 28, 2026Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committees on CULTURE AND THE ARTS and FINANCE;
✦ AI insight

Stalled: the bill has sat in committee for over 7 months with no action since its referral on February 28, 2026.

Tap a term to decode it
Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
SBN-1883 — verbatim textAs filed

Senate Offier of the i rep REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REFULE OF THE RELIPPINES First Regular Session SENATE S. No. 1883 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT ALLOWING THE FREE USE OF PUBLIC PLACES AVAILABLE FOR ART EXHIBITS OF LOCAL ARTISTS EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 17, Article 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that, "The

State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports, to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development." Like the nation itself, Philippine Art has a rich and diverse history. Filipino Art has developed into a variety of distinctive styles from the prehistoric Philippines up to the present. As to date, talented and gifted local artists remain on the scene. These local artists have been persistent in seeking the support of the government for their industry to survive. Unfortunately, the lack of support from the government to provide venues for art exhibits discourages the local artists. Communities lacked events that would allow artists to interact with the public and promote arts and culture in every community. Thus, this bill seeks to allow the free use of public places for art exhibits of the local artists. The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), shall secure permission from the regional and local government offices to use the public places, upon consultation with the respective local government officials, as the place of exhibits for the artworks of the local artists. This can be a win-win solution for the local artists and for the community. The local

artists will be able to showcase their artworks, and will cultivate public awareness, understanding and appreciation of Arts. Given the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR

Senate WOlfite of the s-marp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) 26 FEB 23 P2:31 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1883 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT ALLOWING THE FREE USE OF PUBLIC PLACES AVAILABLE FOR ART EXHIBITS OF LOCAL ARTISTS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as "Art in Public Places

2 Program."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to promote and support

the talents of the Filipino people in arts, aiming to cultivate creativity and enhance the 5 cultural identity of the nation. The State shall accordingly facilitate and provide support and opportunities for the establishment of regional and local platforms showcasing 7 such talents and allowing the public to have access to local arts.

Sec. 2. Permission to Use Public Places - The Department of Tourism (DOT)

9 and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), shall secure permission from the regional and local government offices to use the public places, upon consultation with the respective local government officials, as the place of exhibits for 12 the artworks of the local artists.

Sec. 3. Venues and Schedule - The DOT and the NCCA shall identify suitable

14 venues within each region and locality for the conduct of the art exhibits. The schedule of exhibits shall be determined by the DOT and NCCA upon consultation with the 16 respective local government officials.

Sec. 4. Funding - An amount necessary to carry out the aims and purposes of

2 this Act shall be allocated by Congress annually and shall be managed and disbursed 3 by the NCCA. The Fund shall serve the purpose of funding talent development initiatives and providing logistical support to the Regional and Local Art Exhibits 5 organized under this Act.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within sixty (60) days from the

7 approval of this Act, the DOT and NCCA shall formulate and promulgate the necessary 8 implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to ensure the effective implementation of 9 this Act.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is

11 subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are 12 not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive

14 orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof 15 which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby 16 repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act takes effect after fifteen (15) days following its

18 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.