NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regidnr Session 
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SENATE
S. No. 2663
i jSf'PU.'iU' 
of ilif.
24 MAY-7 P5-49
Ri-:c£r'L
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
MODIFYING AND EXPANDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF 
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND ARTS, MANDATING 
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF CULTURAL FACILITIES AND 
REGIONAL OFFICES THEREFOR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Since the establishment of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts 
(NCCA) in 1992, a lot of developments have taken place that require revisiting its 
Charter under Republic Act No. 7356, to ensure that the NCCA is well-equipped to 
carry out its duties and fulfill its mandates. In particular, recently enacted laws, such 
as the Cultural Mapping Act, One Town One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act, 
Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, and local cultural centers and 
museums laws, among others, have expanded the mandates of the NCCA. The 
implementation of these laws necessitates collaboration with other national 
government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA). The representation of these government agencies in the NCCA Board will 
cultivate strengthened working relationships necessary to achieve a coordinated 
approach in policy and program implementation.


Furthermore, there is a demand for access to NCCA's resources and programs 
by the different regions in the country. 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.
EN LEGARDA


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s.No. 2G63
•••■'(Dfi'icr of li.r i;7 i ^
24 may-7 P5 :49
ftHCtlVLOu'.
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
MODIFYING AND EXPANDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF 
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND 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:
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SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 7356, otherwise known as the "Law Creating the
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National Commission for Culture and the Arts," is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
"Section 1. Title. - x x x
Title I
Declaration of Principles
Section 2. Culture as a Human Right. - x x x
Section 3. National Identity. - x x x
Section 4. Culture of the People. - x x x
Section 5. Culture by the People. - x x x
Section 6. Culture for the People. - x x x
Section 7. Preservation of the Filipino Heritage. - x x x


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Title II
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Organization of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Establishment of
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the National Endowment Fund
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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;
iii. 
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:
i. 
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
viii. 
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


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and the arts:
i. 
Chairperson of Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts;
ii. 
Chairperson of 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.
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Section 11. Term Office and Compensation. 
Section 12. Membership Restrictions. - x x x
-XXX
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Section 13. Mandate. - x x x
Section 14. Powers and Functions. - x x x


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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. - x x x
Section 17. The Subcommissions. - x x x
Section 18. Local, Provincial or Regional Councils. - x x x
Section 19. National Advisory Board. - x x x
Section 20. The National Cultural Agencies. - x x x
Section 21. Program Plans. - x x x
Section 22. National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts. - x x x 
Section 23. Tax Exemption. - x x x 
Section 24. Revolving Fund. - x x x
TITLE III
Miscellaneous Provisions
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Section 25. Transitory Provisions. - x x x


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Section 26. Notice or Consent Requirement. - x x x
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Section 27. Separability Clause. - x x x
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Section 28. Saving Clause. - x x x
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Section 29. Effectivity. - x x x"
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SEC 2. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the immediate
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implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current year's appropriations of
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the NCCA (Proper). Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued
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implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
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Act.
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SEC 3. Separability Clause. - If for any reason a provision or section of this Act
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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 4. Repealing Clause. - Section 9 and other pertinent sections of Republic Act
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No. 7356, otherwise known as the "Law Creating the National Commission for
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Culture and the Arts, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, are hereby
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amended accordingly. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules
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and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions
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of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
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SEC 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,