Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1335 
Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo 
. EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend Republic Act no. 7356, the law that created the 
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), by expanding and updating the 
composition of its Board to include key government officials and additional private 
sector representatives from cultural subcommissions. 
This bill mandates the establishment and operation of cultural facilities such as 
theaters and galleries, as well as regional offices across Luzon, Visayas, and 
Mindanao, to enhance public access and support the Commission's programs 
nationwide. It also seeks to elevate the ranks of the Chairperson and key officials to 
align with equivalent government positions, strengthening the Commission's authority 
and protocol. 
These changes aim to improve coordination, promote Filipino culture more 
effectively, and expand the Commission's reach across the country. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly 
sought. 
1 
ROMAN T. ROMULO 
Lone District, Pasig City 
July 7, 2025
8:15 am


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1335 
Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo 
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 OFFICERS THEREOF, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 9 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7356, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “LAW CREATING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION 
FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7356 is hereby amended to read as follows:
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“SEC. 9. Composition. - x x x. 
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a. the [Undersecretary] SECRETARY of the Department of Education [, Culture
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and Sports];
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B. THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS;
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C. THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT;
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D. THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
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[b] E. the [Undersecretary] SECRETARY of the Department of Tourism;
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[c] F. the [Chairman] CHAIRPERSON of the House Committee on Basic
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Education and Culture;
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[d] G. the [Chairman] CHAIRPERSON of the Senate Committee on Culture;
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[e] H. the [President] CHAIRPERSON of the Cultural Center of the Philippines;
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I. THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION;
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[f] J. the Executive Director of the National Historical [Institute] COMMISSION
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OF THE PHILIPPINES;
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[g] K. the Director GENERAL of the National Museum OF THE PHILIPPINES; 
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[h] L. the Director of the National Library OF THE PHILIPPINES; 
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[i] M. the Director of the [Institute of Philippine Languages] COMMISSION ON 
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THE FILIPINO LANGUAGE; 
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[j] N. the Director of the [Records Management and Archives Office] NATIONAL 
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ARCHIVES OF THE PHILIPPINES; 
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O. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND 
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SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; 
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[k. the Executive Director of the Commission;] 
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[l. the Head of the Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional 
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Arts;] 
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[m] -. The [three (3)] FOUR (4) representatives from the private sector who shall 
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be the elected heads of the  [three (3)] FOUR (4) Subcommissions, namely: 
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the Subcommission on Cultural Heritage, the Subcommission on the Arts, 
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and 
the 
Subcommission 
on 
Cultural 
Dissemination, 
AND 
THE 
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SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND TRADITIONAL 
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ARTS. [They shall be elected by the chairpersons of the national committees 
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under their respective Subcommissions.] 
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THE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS MAY DESIGNATE A REPRESENTATIVE 
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WHO SHALL NOT BE LOWER THAN AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OR A 
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DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR A DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, 
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OR THEIR EQUIVALENT. SUCH REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE VESTED 
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WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ACT IN THE NAME OF THEIR PRINCIPAL. 
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SEC. 2. - Insert a new Section 14-A which shall read: 
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“SEC. 14-A. RANK OF THE CHAIRPERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND 
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THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. - THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE 
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COMMISSION, ELECTED FROM AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE 
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COMMISSION TO SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION, AS PROVIDED BY 
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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7356, SHALL HAVE THE RANK OF A SECRETARY. 
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THE CHAIRPERSON MAY, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PRESIDENT OF 
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THE PHILIPPINES AND PURSUANT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 
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ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE, BE DESIGNATED AS A MEMBER OF THE 
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CABINET. 
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         THE 
EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR 
SHALL 
HAVE 
A 
RANK 
OF 
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UNDERSECRETARY 
WHILE 
THE 
TWO 
(2) 
DEPUTY 
EXECUTIVE 
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DIRECTORS SHALL HAVE THE RANKS OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 
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         FOR PURPOSES OF PROTOCOL, THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE 
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COMMISSION 
SHALL 
BE 
ASSIGNED 
THE 
RANK 
OF 
AN 
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UNDERSECRETARY 
WHEN 
DESIGNATED 
TO 
REPRESENT 
THE 
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COMMISSION OFFICIALLY ABROAD.” 
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SEC. 3. - Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7356 is hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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SEC. 16. [Local, Provincial or Regional Councils. - The Commission may 
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establish or coordinate with local, provincial or regional government or non-
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government councils/groups to promote, develop and implement programs and 
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plans of the Commission.] CULTURAL FACILITIES; REGIONAL, SATELLITE, 
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AND FIELD OFFICES. - TO SUPPORT ITS GENERAL OPERATIONS, 
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REGULATORY 
FUNCTIONS, 
AND 
PROGRAMS, 
ACTIVITIES 
AND 
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PROJECTS, AS WELL AS ENHANCE PUBLIC ACCESS TO ITS SERVICES, 
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THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS SHALL 
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ESTABLISH AND OPERATE CULTURAL FACILITIES WHICH SHALL 
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INCLUDE CULTURAL CENTERS, THEATERS, GALLERIES, AND OTHER 
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PHYSICAL FACILITIES THAT ALLOW THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO CULTURE 
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AND THE ARTS, AS WELL AS REGIONAL OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE 
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ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES. 
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THE ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING OF EACH CULTURAL FACILITY 
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SHALL BE APPROPRIATE TO ITS PHYSICAL SIZE AND SCOPE OF 
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OPERATIONS. THE METROPOLITAN THEATER IN THE CITY OF MANILA 
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OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE COMMISSION, SHALL BE HEADED BY 
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A THEATER DIRECTOR. LIKEWISE, EACH REGIONAL OFFICE SHALL BE 
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HEADED BY A REGIONAL DIRECTOR. 
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AT LEAST TWO (2) REGIONAL OFFICES IN LUZON, ONE (1) REGIONAL 
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OFFICE IN VISAYAS, AND TWO (2) REGIONAL OFFICES IN MINDANAO 
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SHALL BE ESTABLISHED, ORGANIZED, AND STAFFED WITHIN A PERIOD 
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OF TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT. 
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SATELLITE OFFICES AND FIELD OFFICES MAY LIKEWISE BE 
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ESTABLISHED 
BY 
THE 
NCCA, 
PARTICULARLY 
IN 
AREAS 
OF 
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EXCEPTIONAL CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND, IN COORDINATION WITH 
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THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZED AND 
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STAFFED AS APPROPRIATE.” 
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SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the immediate 
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implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current year’s appropriation of the 
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NCCA (Proper). Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation 
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of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 5. Separability Clause. – If for any reason a provision or section of this 
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Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other sections or provisions not affected 
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thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. – Section 9 and other pertinent sections of 
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Republic Act No. 7356, otherwise known as the “Law Creating the National 
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Commission for Culture and the Arts”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, 
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are hereby amended accordingly. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, 
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proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 7. Effectivity. – Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR, this Act 
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shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a 
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newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,