Sentro Rizal Act

Senate Difice of the Derrary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 AUG -4 P1:36 SENATE RECEIVED S. No. 819 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE SENTRO RIZAL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10066, OR THE "NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT OF 2009" AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11961 EXPLANATORY NOTE The Sentro Rizal, established pursuant to Republic Act No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009), serves as the Philippines' primary instrument for cultural diplomacy. It takes the lead in organizing the country's cultural events and activities as the Philippines' cultural center abroad catering to overseas Filipinos and anyone interested in anything Filipino.! As of 2024, there are over 30 active Sentro Rizal hubs worldwide, yet many remain underutilized due to operational constraints, limited funding, and the absence of a centralized strategic framework. The Philippines ranked 53rd globally among 193 nations, and 18th in the "People and Values" pillar of the 2025 Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index.? This pillar includes perceptions of friendliness, hospitality, and warmth, all of which are traits central to cultural identity and national branding, and align with the mission of Sentro Rizal to promote Philippine culture and soft power globally. The Philippines' global perception as a country of friendly, hospitable people is a key soft power asset that can be amplified through Sentro Rizal hubs. The fact that the Philippines performs well in people-centric soft power dimensions, rather than in 1 https://sentrorizal.ncca.gov.ph/ 2 Brand Finance. (2025, March 13). People power of Philippines ranked 18th globally for friendly people. Brand Finance retrieved 31 July 2025 https://brandfinance.com/press-releases/people-power- of-philippines-ranked-18th-globally-for-friendly-people

military or economic power, highlights the importance of non-coercive, culture-based engagement. This is precisely what the Sentro Rizal system is designed to institutionalize. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are approximately 10 million Filipinos living abroad, and more than 1 million Filipinos leave the country each year to work overseas. 3 This immense global presence highlights the urgent need for the Philippines to deepen its cultural engagement, not merely to preserve heritage but to harness it as a strategic instrument of soft power. Through this measure, the Sentro Rizal system will be transformed into a cohesive and dynamic network of cultural diplomacy hubs, guided by a centralized Sentro Rizal Council tasked with advancing the Philippines' cultural footprint and influence worldwide. The primary objective of this bill is to strengthen Sentro Rizal's role in cultural diplomacy by enhancing its functions and expanding its capacity to promote the Philippines' cultural identity and soft power globally. The bill envisions a comprehensive approach to cultural diplomacy, incorporating a wide range of programs and activities that will ensure Sentro Rizal effectively represents the Philippines globally. This includes broadening the institution's functions through partnerships with foreign government agencies and local entities, and establishing a Sentro Rizal Council to oversee strategic planning and policy formulation. These measures will provide Sentro Rizal with greater authority and flexibility, aligning its operations with current international standards in cultural diplomacy. Furthermore, the bill proposes to streamline and modernize Sentro Rizals mandate. The new provisions will enable Sentro Rizal to operate more effectively and adapt to contemporary needs. The bill also includes provisions for the establishment of a Secretariat to support the Sentro Rizal Council in executing its functions, as well as for the appropriation of funds, grants, and financial assistance to ensure the sustainability and impact of its cultural diplomacy initiatives. By strengthening institutional linkages and fostering coordination with various government agencies and stakeholders, the bill aims to enhance resource-sharing and 3 International Labour Organization. (2025). Labour migration in the Philippines. ILO. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/regions-and-countries/asia-and-pacific/philippines/areas-work/labour-migration- philippines.

ensure that Sentro Rizal's activities are aligned with national and international objectives. The bill envisions a reformed Sentro Rizal that will be better equipped to promote the Philippines' rich cultural heritage, foster international relationships, and enhance global appreciation of Filipino culture. Ultimately, through these reforms, Sentro Rizal will be empowered to effectively contribute to the country's cultural and diplomatic goals. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. LOREN LEGARDA

Offite of the scarrary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session AUG -4 P1:36 SENATE RECEIVED B': S. No._ Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE SENTRO RIZAL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10066, OR THE "NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT OF 2009" AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11961 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Sentro Rizal Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy and State Principles. - The State shall foster the

preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based 6 on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual 7 expression. The State shall likewise ensure equal access to cultural opportunities through the educational system, public or private cultural entities, scholarships, grants 9 and other rewards, community cultural centers, and other public venues. It is thus declared the policy of the State to provide global knowledge of the 11 Philippines and Filipino culture through cultural, historical, scientific, creative, 12 educational, and economic programs and activities and cooperative exchanges, partnerships, and collaborations with and among foreign government agencies, nongovernmental agencies, and community organizations; as well as utilize cultural diplomacy as a tool to advance Philippine foreign policy through the Sentro Rizal system.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a) Culture - refers to a set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features that characterize a society or social group which includes not only arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of human beings, value systems, traditions, and beliefs. Coverage on its definition may be referred to in RA 7356. b) Cultural diplomacy - refers to using culture as a tool for diplomacy and an instrument of foreign policy, differentiating it from promoting culture for culture's sake. It is a strategic use of culture to pursue national interest, foster mutual understanding and cultural relations with other countries, and protect and enhance the image of the Philippines abroad. c) Cultural diplomacy hub - refers to the physical space for the repository of materials and implementation venue of programs for cultural diplomacy. d) Sentro Rizal - refers to the system whose main purpose is to provide global knowledge of the Philippines and promote Philippine culture, history, arts, language, and creative output throughout the world through cultural diplomacy and scientific, cultural, historical, creative, educational, and economic programs, projects, and activities as well as cooperative exchanges and partnerships with and among local and foreign government agencies, and non-government organizations. The Sentro Rizal shall cater to both the Filipino diaspora and foreign nationals in the host country. e) Sentro Rizal hubs - also referred to as "Sentros Rizal" or "Centers", refer to the physical institution tasked to carry out the objectives of the Sentro Rizal System through the delivery of various services and programs in other countries that are carefully adapted according to the differing socio-cultural and political environments of the host country. f) Soft power - refers to enhancing the Philippines' global standing and influence through appeal, persuasion, and other non-coercive means. In the context of the Sentro Rizal and its proposed cultural diplomacy hubs,

it is the use of the following in pursuit of cultural diplomacy objectives: culture, history, language, Filipino content, One Town, One Product (OTOP), tourism and trade and investment, and other means related to the promotion of soft power.

Sec. 4. Strengthening the Sentro Rizal as a Cultural Diplomacy Hub. - The

6 Sentro Rizal, established under Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the 7 "National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009", is hereby converted into a cultural diplomacy hub whose main purpose, as a government instrumentality, is to promote the country's brand and enhance the image of the Philippines throughout the world through cultural 10 diplomacy.

Sec. 5. Functions. — The Sentro Rizal shall have the following duties and

functions: (a) Function as the center for Philippine cultural diplomacy and implement cultural, historical, scientific, creative, educational, and economic programs and activities; (b) Establish and sustain cooperative exchanges, partnerships, and collaborations with and among foreign government agencies in coordination with the DFA, creative entities, organizations, and associations, locally and overseas, whether from the public or private sector, for purposes of promoting Philippine culture, history, arts, language, and creative output in the global stage; (c) Collaborate with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs), foreign academic institutions, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), National Archives of the Philippines (NAP), National Library of the Philippines (NLP), Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Design Center of the

Philippines (DCP), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and other pertinent government agencies in providing tourism, educational, trade and investment, cultural, and historical materials, including information, education, and communication materials (IECs) to all Sentro Rizal hubs; (d) Assist the private sector in marketing and promoting Filipino content overseas with the DTI, DOT, PCIDC created under Republic Act No. 11904, otherwise known as the "Philippine Creative Industries Development Act", DCP, Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, CCP, and other pertinent government agencies; (e) Collaborate with the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Management Committee to assist in supporting the beneficiaries of the OTOP Program and promote products through the Sentro Rizal hubs for OTOP Philippines products pursuant to the provisions and objectives of Republic Act No. 11960, otherwise known as the "OTOP Philippines Act"; (f) Be the repository of cultural materials by acquiring, organizing, servicing, and preserving resource materials on Philippine arts, culture, languages, and other related fields; organize cultural events and activities for Filipinos, hold fora on Indigenous traditions and practices along with cultural heritage campaigns; coordinate the activities of visiting artists and performing groups from the Philippines to ensure maximum participation and community impact with the Filipino diaspora; and offer courses on Philippine culture, history, languages, arts, and other related fields; and (g) Adopt a whole-of-nation approach in the promotion of Philippine culture, history, arts, language, and creative output throughout the world.

Sec. 6. Sentro Rizal Council. - The Sentro Rizal Council, herein referred to as the

Council, is hereby created to strengthen the State's institutional capacity to carry out the above-declared policy. The Council shall be composed of eleven (11) ex officio members: (1) The Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as Chairperson (2) The Chairperson of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, as co-Chairperson;

(3) The Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP); (4) The Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev); (5) The Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT); (6) The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); (7) The Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW); (8) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); (9) The Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd); (10) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); and (11) The Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) The ex-officio members of the Council may designate their respective next-in- rank officials as their alternate representatives to the Council. The Council for budgetary and administrative purposes, shall be attached to the NCCA.

Sec 7. Powers and Functions of the Council. - The Council shall serve as the

policy and advisory body to the President on matters pertaining to cultural diplomacy and shall, adopting a whole-of-nation approach, formulate policies and programs aimed at promoting Philippine culture, history, arts, language, and creative output throughout the world. To this end, the Council shall exercise the following powers and functions: (a) Formulate a Sentro Rizal Development Plan that shall define Philippine cultural diplomacy goals and the following key performance indicators, including, but not limited to: (1) influence of cultural diplomacy on foreign policy decisions; (2) monitoring and evaluation of media coverage and public perception; (3) cross-cultural understanding; (4) conduct of cultural exchange activities including cultural exchange programs, cultural festivals, co-production, touring exhibitions, and academic exchanges; (5) partnerships and collaborations established with international organizations, cultural institutions, and government agencies; (6) economic benefits generated by cultural diplomacy initiatives including tourism, trade, investment, and job creation; (7) addressing

long-term resource needs and exploring diverse funding models for the Sentro Rizal programs; (8) culturally-literate and participative communities of Filipinos overseas and foreign nationals; and (9) other soft power indicators as may be defined by the Council; (b) Assess the effectiveness of cultural diplomacy in enhancing the country's soft power and global reputation through indices like the Soft Power Index, global opinion polls, and cultural influence rankings, among others; (c) Devise strategies in utilizing, among others, online platforms, digital tools, and social media to expand its reach and engage global audiences for the marketing and promotion of Philippine culture, history, arts, language, and creative output throughout the world; (d) Review and approve programs, projects, and activities of the Sentro Rizal hubs pursuant to the general purposes of this Act; (e) Provide rewards and awards to top-performing Sentro Rizal hubs, as well as opportunities for the private sector to assist and collaborate with the Sentro Rizal in the conduct of cultural diplomacy pursuant to the objectives of this Act, and financial and/or logistical support to Sentro Rizal hubs in the performance of their official duties and responsibilities; (f) Identify potential sites for the Sentro Rizal hubs and formally propose, through the DFA, the establishment of said centers in host countries. The DFA shall take the lead in negotiating the appropriate bilateral agreements with the host countries, pursuant to its mandate under Republic Act No. 7157; (g) Lease, purchase, or otherwise acquire, construct, improve, furnish, or maintain a suitable permanent headquarters for the Sentro Rizal hubs; (h) Accept grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions from local or foreign sources made to the Sentro Rizal, to be used actually, directly and exclusively by the Sentro Rizal for purposes relevant to its functions: Provided, That such grants, in cash or in kind, from government of foreign countries, their agencies and instrumentalities or multilateral institutions or organizations, acceptance thereof shall be subject to the prior clearance and approval by the President or his authorized representative based on the recommendation of the Secretary of Finance; Provided, further, That other donations, in cash or in kind,

from foreign governments shall require prior clearance and approval by the President or his authorized representative based on the recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Provided, finally, That such grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance with the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended; (i) Create ad hoc committees or technical working groups which shall include the private sector to discuss specific issues pertaining to soft power, cultural diplomacy, and the promotion of Filipino content; and (i) Exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to effectively carry out the attainment of the purposes and objectives of this Act.

Sec. 8. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. - A Secretariat to the

Sentro Rizal Council, hereinafter referred to as the Secretariat, shall be established to be headed by an Executive Director (ED), who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from a list of at least five (5) nominees recommended by the Council. The ED shall be assisted by five (5) Division Chiefs for: (1) Research and Development; (2) Operations, (3) Policy & Planning Division, (4) Admin and Finance, (5) Assets and Management, (6) Communications and Public Affairs. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effectivity of this Act, the NCCA shall create the organizational structure and plantilla positions of the Secretariat and submit the same to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for approval. The formulation of qualification standards and the appointment to the newly-created positions shall be done in accordance with civil service laws, rules, and regulations. Pending the creation of the Secretariat's plantilla positions, the NCCA shall maintain its existing Secretariat. Each of the Council member agencies shall formally designate at least one (1) representative on temporary detail to the interim secretariat until such time that the plantilla positions of the Secretariat shall have been created. 29 The NCCA, in consultation with the DFA, shall likewise be authorized to engage the 30 services of consultants and enter into service contracts, as necessary.

Sec. 9. Functions of the Secretariat. - The Sentro Rizal Secretariat shall perform

the following duties and responsibilities:

(a) Implement plans, programs, and projects as approved by the Council; (b) Enter into and carry out contracts of every kind and description, save for the contracts contemplated by Sections 7(f) and 7(h) of which the contracting party is the Council, with any person, firm, association, or corporation, domestic or foreign, and sue or be sued relative to the contracts entered into; (c) Lease and utilize, in any manner recognized by law, real or personal property outside the Philippines or elsewhere necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act; (d) Adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal of the Sentro Rizal; (e) Serve as the lead in the promotion of Philippine arts, culture, languages, and other content throughout the world; and (f) Perform such other functions as vested by the Council to the Secretariat.

Sec. 10. Crafting the Filipino Brand. - To establish, manage, and enhance the

image of the Philippines throughout the world, the Council shall, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, develop and promote the "Filipino brand" which shall reflect the history, culture, image, and aspirations of the Philippines among other elements. The Filipino brand shall, as much as possible, be adopted by all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the national government, including government 20 owned and -controlled corporations, and local government units (LGUs) in the formulation and implementation of their programs, projects, and activities relative to the same. The Council shall undertake a whole-of-government approach in the crafting of the Filipino brand in partnership with the private sector towards a whole-of-society approach in fostering and championing the same.

Sec. 11. Sentro Rizal Assistance Program. - The Council may provide financial

assistance in the form of a grant to cultural, historical, scientific, educational, and creative organizations or entities for the promotion of Filipino culture throughout the world. No grant made pursuant to this Act shall be treated as taxable income.

Sec. 12. Awards and Citations. - To encourage the promotion of the Filipino

31 brand and enhancement of the image of the Philippines throughout the world, the 32 Council shall establish an annual recognition program under which monetary prizes,

1 awards and citations will be given by the President of the Philippines, upon the 2 recommendation of the Council, for special achievements and important contributions 3 and services in the area of cultural diplomacy efforts.

Sec. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation

5 of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DFA and 6 NCCA. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of this Act 7 shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 14. Annual Report. - The Council shall submit to the President of the

9 Philippines and to both Houses of Congress a report that provides a detailed account 10 of the implementation of this Act, including policy recommendations for legislation.

Sec. 15. Transitory Provision. - All existing Sentro Rizal hubs and facilities,

established pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10066 shall continue to operate pursuant to, and be regulated by, the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. The DFA and the NCCA shall, in coordination with the DBM and the Civil Service 16 Commission, ensure that the necessary changes in the plantilla items of the Sentro 17 Rizal Secretariat are reflected in the Revised Compensation and Position Classification 18 System and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

Sec 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the

20 approval of this Act, the Council shall, in consultation with the other concerned government agencies and stakeholders, formulate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 17. Separability Clause. - Should any portion or provision of this Act be

declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other not affected provisions hereof.

Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, and rules and

regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

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