NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
of tije
23 JUL 26 PI :11
SENA]
S.B. No. ^^64
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE SPECIAL PROGRAM IN CREATIVE ARTS FOR JUNIOR 
AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the creative economy 
amounted to PhP 1.60 Trillion, with a contribution of 7.3% to the country’s Gross 
Domestic Product (GDP). For the same year, the PSA also showed that 6.8 million 
Filipinos were employed in the creative industries.
These numbers alone highlight the big role that creative arts play in our 
economy. Thus, this bill seeks to strengthen the Special Program in the Creative Arts 
(SPCA) to continuously promote creative arts education towards a more developed 
creative industries. Training for students admitted in this program will be under a 
special curriculum to cater for their unique needs as learners in the creative arts.
This bill also aims to complement the enactment of the Creative Industries 
Charter which this congress has passed recently. It underscores the importance of the 
creative industries in the society and in the daily lives of the Filipinos who not only 
express themselves through art, but whose consumption trend, as well as activities, 
are also driven by art. After all, the recent changes that the global pandemic has 
necessitated, mirror just how much people rely on creative arts not only in their day- 
to-day needs, but as well as in maintaining the balance in their mental health and well­
being.
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For the sake of our world-class artists with firm academic foundation and strong 
patriotic ideals, consideration of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 2364
' :>a,
23 JUL 26 PI'-ll
m-caveoBY:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE SPECIAL PROGRAM IN CREATIVE ARTS FOR JUNIOR 
AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress assembied:
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Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Special Program In
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the Creative Arts Act of 2023."
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Sec. 2. Deciaration of Poiicy. - The State recognizes the vital role of the youth
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in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual,
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intellectual, and social well-being. Moreover, the government is committed to fulfill Its
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constitutional mandate to foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution
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of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of
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free artistic and Intellectual expression and to place arts, design and other intellectual
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creative creation under the patronage of the State.
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To this end, the State shall promote creative arts education, encourage arts
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programs, support national art competitions, and strengthen education for the
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development of creative industries. The State shall provide adequate training for
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students with artistic abilities, with the end in view of producing world-class artists
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with firm academic foundation and strong patriotic ideals.


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Sec. 3. Objective. - The Special Program in the Creative Arts (SPCA) is hereby 
strengthened to provide a continuing source of artists of excellence and leaders in the 
preservation and promotion of culture, arts, and the creative industry in the 
Philippines. Admitted students shall be trained under a special curriculum oriented In 
the fields of architecture and allied arts, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, literary arts, 
music, visual arts, design, digital fabrication and new media, along with financial 
literacy, entrepreneurship skills, and basic knowledge on intellectual property rights, 
with the end in view of providing quality education to students while giving way to 
opportunities for a sustainable profession.
Sec. 4. The SPCA Council. - The SPCA Council, herein referred to as the 
Council, is hereby created which shall be under the administrative supervision of the 
Department of Education (DepEd), and composed of seven (7) members, namely: (1) 
Secretary of DepEd, as Chairperson; (2) Chairperson of the National Commission for 
Culture and the Arts (NCCA), as Vice-Chairperson; (3) Secretary of the Department of 
Trade and Industry (DTI); (4) President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); 
(5) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); (6) Executive 
Director of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC); and (7) 
President of the Creative Economy Council of the Philippines (CECP).
Members may designate a representative who shall be of rank no lower than 
that of an Undersecretary.
Members of the Council shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled 
to reimbursement for expenses related to their participation in the official activities of 
the Council, in accordance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
The Council shall regularly meet at least once every quarter of the academic 
year. The Chairperson or a majority of the Council's members may call a special 
meeting whenever necessary.


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A meeting may be conducted virtually only in circumstances when meeting in
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person is impossible or impractical, and all the Council members are able to
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communicate adequately during the meeting.
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Sec. 5. Duties and Functions of the Councii. - The Council shall have the
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following duties and functions:
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a. 
Periodically consult with various creative industries to ensure that the
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programs, curriculum, courses, and other activities of the SPCA respond to the
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current and future trends to secure opportunities for the commercial success
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of SPCA graduates;
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b. 
Guarantee that the Curriculum in the SPCA shall be in accordance with
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the qualification levels in terms of the three (3) Philippine Qualifications
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Framework domains: knowledge, skills, and values; application; and degree of
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independence;
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c. 
Design and implement plans, programs, and activities that will
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encourage experienced and well-established talented artists to mentor the
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learners under the SPCA;
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d. 
Provide guidance on the career path of the SPCA learners through the
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conduct of programs and activities apprising the learners of the opportunities,
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including those in higher education, and the state of the various creative
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industries;
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e. 
Urge higher education institutions to offer programs for scholarships and
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grants in creative arts courses, and inform the schools with SPCA of such
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programs;
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f. 
Encourage various creative industries to employ graduates of the SPCA
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through information campaigns and different programs that shall showcase
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their talents and abilities;
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g. 
Maintain a pool of instructors composed of experts In various creative
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arts domains who are willing to teach the SPCA learners and assign them to
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various schools with SPCA;
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h. 
Call on the local government units (LGUs), their respective local school
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boards and other agencies, especially where the schools with SPCA are located.


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for assistance, coordination and coliaboration for alignment, synchronicity and
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complementarity of plans, resources and efforts of the schools and the
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pertinent LCDs; and
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Other duties and functions that may be necessary or incidental for the
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effective Implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 6. Roles of Government Agencies. - To achieve the objectives of this Act,
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the following government agencies shall carry out their respective roles:
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a. DepEd - The DepEd shall formulate the academic curriculum to ensure
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that learners under the SPCA possess the knowledge and competencies that
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can lead to a successful professional career and to be eligible for higher
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education In the event that graduates choose the pathway. It shall set the
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standards in the selection or qualification of schools with SPCA, and shall
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appoint and designate the qualified instructors who shall train the learners in
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accordance with the curriculum set by the NCCA and the CCP.
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b. 
NCCA and CCP - The NCCA and the CCP shall formulate the creative arts
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curriculum for the SPCA to train the learners and hone their skills and abilities
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to achieve their full potential. They shall provide the qualifications of instructors
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for the effective implementation of this Act.
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c. DTI, CECP, and PCIDC - The DTI, CECP, and PCIDC shall advocate for
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the employment of SPCA graduates by linking the schools with SPCA with
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different creative industries for work immersion and eventual job posts. They
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shall further conduct programs and activities in schools with SPCA to inform the
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learners of the current and future trends they may engage in for their careers
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In creative arts.
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d. 
CHED - The CHED shall promote the further studies of SPCA graduates
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by constantly ensuring that its policies, standards, and guidelines for college
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courses in creative arts are responsive to the current and future trend and
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urging higher education institutions to provide scholarships and grants.


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Sec. 7. Partnerships with the Private Sector. - The DepEd and the schools with 
SPCA may enter into agreements with the private sector for the training and 
development of the skills and talents of its SPCA learners.
Sec. 8. Hiring of Speciai Instructors for SPCA. - Notwithstanding the relevant 
provisions of Republic Act No. 7836, as amended by Republic Act No. 9293, otherwise 
known as the Phi Up pine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994', the DepEd shall 
hire and retain experts in the various creative arts domains, without the additional 
requirements of completing teaching units and passing the board exam for teachers, 
to teach the pertinent subjects In the curriculum: Provided, That they shall teach only 
the subjects of their expertise: Provided further, That they satisfy the qualification 
standards set by the DepEd, NCCA and CCP: Provided fmaiiy, That they shall receive 
salaries and benefits befitting their status, distinctions, and achievements.
Sec. 9. Tax Exemptions. - The importation of equipment relating to creative 
Industry, books, art related supplies, musical instruments, materials and goods, 
including those donated to the SPCA shall, upon certification by the DepEd be exempt 
from customs duties in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10863, 
otherwise known as the ''Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)'\ Provided, 
That these are of International standards and are not available from local 
manufacturers: Provided, further. That the importation shall only be in such numbers 
as may be required in the development programs and/or training of the students: 
Provided, finaiiy. That all importations shall be made in the name of SPCA as recipient 
and shall be immediately registered In the name of SPCA.
Sec. 10. Tax Exemption on Donations. - All grants, bequests, endowments, 
donations and contributions made to the SPCA, to be used actually, directly and 
exclusively by the SPCA shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be 
considered as allowable deduction from gross Income for purposes of computing the 
taxable income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal 
Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.


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Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The Secretary of the DepEd shall include in the 
Department's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be 
Included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 12. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The DepEd shall, in 
consultation with the NCCA, CCP, DTI, CHED, PCIDC, and CECP, promulgate not later 
than thirty (30) days upon the effectivity of this Act, the rules and regulations for its 
effective Implementation: Provided, That the failure to promulgate the rules and 
regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or part hereof 
be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts not affected thereby shall 
remain valid and effective.
Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances or 
portions thereof, which are Inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 15. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved.