National Commission for Culture and the Arts

senato no Office of the ta tarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session AUG -4 P1:36 SENATE RECENED BY S. No._ Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT MODIFYING AND EXPANDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS, MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF CULTURAL FACILITIES AND REGIONAL OFFICES THEREFOR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Republic Act No. 7356 established the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as the principal government agency for policy formulation, coordination, and implementation in the fields of culture and the arts. Since its enactment in 1992, evolving cultural mandates and institutional developments necessitate the revision of the law to reflect contemporary challenges and goals. The enactment of the Cultural Mapping Act, the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act, and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, among other laws, has expanded the mandates of the NCCA. These measures require sustained engagement with agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Their inclusion in the NCCA Board will institutionalize inter-agency coordination and ensure cohesive policy development and program implementation. Additionally, this bill transitions the NCCA from a Manila-based coordinating agency to a fully empowered cultural authority with nationwide presence, strengthened institutional linkages, and executive competence. It aligns the agency's internal structure with the scope of its expanding mandates, and it positions Philippine

culture as both a national development asset and a diplomatic tool. The establishment of regional offices aims to provide effective access to NCCA's services across the country, ensure consistent enforcement of cultural heritage regulations nationwide, and establish closer coordination and linkages with local government units and other organizations for the implementation of NCCA's plans and programs at the local and regional levels. Likewise, the creation of an organization and staffing for the Metropolitan Theater (MET) seeks to sustain its operations that will enable the NCCA to provide the public with free and continuous access to artistic and cultural performances. Currently, the NCCA operates the Metropolitan Theater with "contract of service" staff undertaking important tasks, including theater management. In view of this, there is a need to establish the MET Operations Office headed by a Theater Director. Finally, the proposed ranks of the NCCA officials aim to reflect the realities of their expanded duties and responsibilities carried out on a day-to-day basis as well as the establishment of regional offices. Through this measure, the NCCA hopes to strengthen interagency coordination, enforce cultural heritage regulations on a national scale, enhance closer engagement with the public, and become more responsive in the implementation of its policies and programs. In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. LOREN LEGARDA

Office of the Seriary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 25 AUG -4 P1:36 SENATE RECEIVED S. No._ Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT MODIFYING AND EXPANDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS, MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF CULTURAL FACILITIES AND REGIONAL OFFICES THEREFOR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Republic Act No. 7356, otherwise known as the "Law Creating the

National Commission for Culture and the Arts," is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 1. Title. - xxx Title I Declaration of Principles

Section 2. Culture as a Human Right. - xxx

Section 3. National Identity. - xxx

Section 4. Culture of the People. - xxx

Section 5. Culture by the People. - xxx

Section 6. Culture for the People. - xxx

Section 7. Preservation of the Filipino Heritage. - xxx

Title II Organization of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Establishment of the National Endowment Fund

Section 8. The Commission. - x x x

Section 9. Composition. - The Composition of the Board of

the National Commission for Culture and the Arts shall be modified and expanded to comprise nineteen (19) Commissioners, as follows: a) The Secretaries of the following four (4) Departments i. Secretary of the Department of Education; ii. Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs; ili. Secretary of the Department of Tourism; and iv. Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. b) The Heads of the following eight (8) National Government Agencies and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations: Chairman of the Commission on the Filipino Language; ii. President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines; iii. Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education; iv. Executive Director of the National Archives of the Philippines; v. Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines; vi. Director of the National Library of the Philippines; vii. Director-General of the National Museum of the Philippines; and vill. Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. c) To represent the Congress of the Philippines, the two (2) Chairpersons of the pertinent committees of the House of Representatives and the pertinent committee of the Senate of the Philippines covering culture and the arts: Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts; ii. Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Culture. d) The four (4) representatives from the private sector who shall be elected heads of the four (4) Subcommissions, namely: the Subcommission on Cultural Heritage, the Subcommission on the

Arts, the Subcommission on Cultural Dissemination, and the Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts; and e) The Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, as Head of its Secretariat. Provided, he/ she may not be elected as Chairperson of the Commission. The officials named may be represented by their duly designated representatives, who shall be vested with the authority to act in the name of their principal.

Section 10. Rank of the Chairperson, Executive Director, and

the Deputy Executive Director. The Chairperson of the Commission, elected from among the members of the Commission to serve without compensation, as provided by Republic Act No. 7356, shall have the rank of a Secretary. The Chairperson may, at the discretion of the President of the Philippines and pursuant to an administrative order issued for the purpose, be designated as a member of the Cabinet. The Executive Director shall have the rank of Undersecretary while the two (2) Deputy Executive Directors shall have the rank of Assistant Secretary. For purposes of protocol, Commissioners under Section 9 (b) and (d) of the Commission shall be regarded as an Undersecretary when designated to represent the Commission officially abroad.

Section 11. Term Office and Compensation. - x x x Section 12.

Membership Restrictions. - xxx

Section 13. Mandate. - xxx

Section 14. Powers and Functions. - x xx

Section 15. Cultural Facilities; Regional, Satellite and Field

Offices. - To support its general operations, regulatory functions, and programs, activities and projects, as well as enhance public access to its services, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts shall establish and operate Cultural Facilities, which shall include cultural centers, theaters, galleries, and other physical

facilities that allow the public access to culture and the arts, as well as Regional Offices throughout the administrative regions of the Philippines. The organization and staffing of each Cultural Facility shall be appropriate to its physical size and scope of operations. The Metropolitan Theater in the City of Manila owned and operated by the Commission, shall be headed by a Theater Director. Likewise, each Regional Office shall be headed by a Regional Director. At least two (2) Regional Offices in Luzon, one (1) Regional Office in Visayas, and two (2) Regional Offices in Mindanao shall be established, organized, staffed within a period of two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act. Satellite Offices and Field Offices may likewise be established by the NCCA, particularly in areas of exceptional cultural significance and, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, organized and staffed as appropriate.

Section 16. The Secretariat. - xxx

Section 17. The Subcommissions. - xxx

Section 18. Local, Provincial or Regional Councils. - xxx

Section 19. National Advisory Board. - x xx

Section 20. The National Cultural Agencies. - xxx

Section 21. Program Plans. - xxx

Section 22. National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts. - xx x

Section 23. Tax Exemption. - xxx

Section 24. Revolving Fund. - xxx

TITLE 111 Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 25. Transitory Provisions. - xxx

Section 26. Notice or Consent Requirement. - xxx

Section 27. Separability Clause. - xxx

Section 28. Saving Clause. - xxx

Section 29. Effectivity. - xxx"

Sec 2. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the immediate

implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current year's appropriations of 5 the NCCA (Proper. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued 6 implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec 3. Separability Clause. - If for any reason a provision or section of this Act

is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other sections or provisions not affected thereby 9 shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec 4. Repealing Clause. - Section 9 and other pertinent sections of Republic Act

No. 7356, otherwise known as the "Law Creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, are hereby amended accordingly. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

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