Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 6261

Introduced by Rep. Christopher V. P. De Venecia

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LINANGAN NG LIKHANG-BAYAN (INSTITUTE FOR LIVING
TRADITIONS) TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION, PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COUNTRY’S COMMUNAL TRADITIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
10066 OR THE NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT OF 2009, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

More than a century after the Philippines’ liberation from colonial rule, our country
continues to be a segmented entity, its people torn apart by political, economic, social, and
ethnic divisions. This disunity has prevented the country from achieving its potential as a
modern and progressive nation. These divisions have been aggravated by the absence of a
unifying culture.

Filipinos urgently need a sense of national identity. This is crucial to the nation’s future,
because only a sense of national identity - the sense of a common heritage and a shared past
~ creates a shared stake in the outcome of the country’s present strivings and struggles. And
a sense of national identity may only come about if there is a sense of national culture and a
recognition that culture is a unifying, humanizing, and modernizing agent.

Despite neglect by the government, the arts and culture have remained present, albeit
a minor player, in Philippine life and society. Literature, music, the visual and performing arts,
and other forms not only contribute to the development of Filipinos as a people and a nation.
However, the same is not true for our living traditions.

Living traditions are our intangible cultural heritage — practices, representations,
expressions, knowledge and skills handed down from generation to generation. This can be
anything from stories and legends, to music and dance, customs and festivals, traditional
know-how and skills. No doubt, the Philippine archipelago is rich in living traditions, from
ritual vessels to hunting tools, textiles to pottery, and epic poetry to rhythmic dances. But we
are slowly losing this wealth due to global modernization and Western material consumerism
permeating the psyche of the next generation. Our youth are no longer interested to learn
and practice the difficult and painstaking arts of our ancestors.

There is an urgent need to ensure the viability of our living traditions, since these
provide communities with a sense of identity. A unique country like ours should not look for
the image of its future in western countries, but in its own culture and ecology, because the
development of a community is rooted in the specific values and institutions of its culture.


Thus, the cultural identity of our country, rooted in our living traditions, is of
fundamental value which must be given importance by the government and not to relegate
it to the fringes of our nation’s development agenda.

This bill is filed as a counterpart of Senate Bill No. 1398 with the support of its author,
Senator Loren Legarda.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. CHA RV. P. DE VENECIA
Fourth Dibtrict, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill no. 6261

Introduced by Rep. Christopher V. P. De Venecia

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LINANGAN NG LIKHANG-BAYAN (INSTITUTE FOR LIVING
TRADITIONS) TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION, PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COUNTRY’S COMMUNAL TRADITIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
10066 OR THE NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT OF 2009, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the “National Cultural Heritage Act
of 2009” is hereby amended with the addition of a new Article after Section 47, in order to
read as follows:

ARTICLE XIII
LINANGAN NG LIKHANG-BAYAN

SECTION 48, CREATION OF LINANGAN NG LIKHANG-BAYAN (INSTITUTE FOR
LIVING TRADITIONS). — THERE IS HEREBY CREATED AND ESTABLISHED A
LINANGAN NG LIKHANG-BAYAN (INSTITUTE FOR LIVING TRADITIONS)
WHOSE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT CENTER AND
LABORATORY FOR THE PROTECTION, PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
PHILIPPINE COMMUNAL TRADITIONS.

SECTION 49. FUNCTION —AS THE SOLE INSTITUTE FOR TECHNICAL, BASIC AND
HIGHER EDUCATION, BOTH FORMAL AND NON-FORMAL, IT SHALL BE
ATTACHED TO THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
(NCCA) FOR POLICY AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION WITH SOLE
EMPHASIS ON THE TRADITIONAL AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS.

SECTION 50. CONVERGENCE WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS - IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE LINANGAN NG
LIKHANG-BAYAN INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
ITS CORE COURSES AND AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION, THE NCCA SHALL WORK
IN CLOSE COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY, AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION.


‘THE NCCA SHALL ENDEAVOR TO WORK WITH PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS IN THE
FULLFILLMENT OF ITS FUNCTION AS THE CENTER AND LABORATORY FOR
PHILIPPINES COMMUNAL TRADITIONS.

SECTION 51. MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS OF LIVING TRADITIONS AS AN
ATTACHED OFFICE OF THE NCCA, THE INSTITUTE FOR LIVING TRADITIONS
SHALL BE IN CHARGE IN THE CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOLS OF
LIVING TRADITIONS.

SECTION. 52. APPROPRIATIONS. ~ THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED MILLION
PESOS (P100,000,000.00) NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF
THE ACT SHALL BE APPROPRIATED IMMEDIATELY TO BE GENERATED FROM
WHATEVER SOURCE THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NATIONAL TREASURY.

SECTION 2. All succeeding sections after the insertion of the new provision are hereby
numbered accordingly.

SECTION 3. If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is declared as
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected
thereby.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause — All aws, ordinances, rules and regulations and other issuances
or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause ~ This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.