Republic of the Philippines 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 Quezon City, Metro Manila 
 TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
 First Regular Session  
House Bill NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates that “Arts and letters shall enjoy the 
patronage of the State. xxx” (Sec. 15, Art. XIV). Further, it requires that “The State 
shall ensure equal access to cultural opportunities through the educational system, 
public or private cultural entities, scholarships, grants and other incentives, and 
community cultural centers, and other public venues.” (Sec. 18, par [1]) [italics 
supplied]. 
It may be asked, what is the purpose of art? According to Leo Tolstoy, “An artist’s 
mission must not be to produce an irrefutable solution to a problem, but to compel us 
to love life in all its countless and inexhaustible manifestations.” For Chesterton, “The 
dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world.” 
Henry Ward Beecher, for his part, stated that “Every artist dips his brush in his own 
soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” In agreement, George Bernard Shaw 
wrote, “You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.” 
Thus, the arts and culture may be said to embody the soul of the nation. And yet, in 
terms of governmental support, they are usually regarded merely as “poor cousins” of 
education and sports. These latter areas of human activity always enjoy emphasis by 
way of budgetary priority, incentives and other grants way above those being accorded 
to the former. There is, however, no ample reason why artists should be denied the 
benefits and incentives given to our athletes as provided for under Republic Act No. 
9064 and the statute which expanded said benefits, namely, Republic Act No. 10699. 
From the earlier discussion, after knowing the purpose of art, it may legitimately be 
asked, what is the main problem that besets it? Kurt Vonnegut puts it succinctly, “The 
practice of art isn’t to make a living. It’s to make your soul grow.” Veritably, most 
artists could not survive, let alone prosper, by practicing their craft. A lot of parents 
discourage their children from choosing the arts as their career arguing that there is no 
future in such endeavors. It has been said that Van Gogh, one of Holland’s greatest 
artists, sold only one painting in his lifetime although his works are now worth a 
July 30, 2025
3:15 pm
2669


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fortune. Mozart, on his part (although much through fault of his own), had to beg for 
money from his already overextended creditors. And the list goes on. It is therefore a 
question for our times, how could we make the arts flourish?   
This measure seeks to rectify, to a limited extent, the decades of neglect, discrimination 
and sometimes even opprobrium suffered by artists in a society which prides itself as 
being democratic and labels itself as humane. By providing cash incentives and other 
non-monetary benefits to Filipino artists who have won international competitions thus 
earning honor and pride for our country, this proposed legislation would be a step closer 
in the right direction in making the arts a respectable and decent source of livelihood 
for our artists. At the very least, it is strongly hoped that this bill would provide the 
much-needed spark for the Filipino artists to excel in their own chosen field.  
In view thereof, the early approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 


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 Republic of the Philippines 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 Quezon City, Metro Manila 
 TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
 First Regular Session  
House Bill NO. 2669 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
AN ACT 
GRANTING CASH AND OTHER NON-MONETARY BENEFITS AND 
INCENTIVES TO FILIPINO ARTISTS WHO HAVE BROUGHT HONOR AND 
RECOGNITION 
TO 
THE 
COUNTRY 
BY 
WINNING 
IN 
AN 
INTERNATIONAL 
COMPETITIONS, 
APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Filipino Artists Benefits 
and Incentives Act.”  
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. – The State promotes excellence in the arts and richness 
of culture by looking after the welfare of Filipino artists competing for the country and 
by providing benefits and incentives for artists who win in international competitions 
and bring honor and recognition to the country. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows: 
(a). Filipino artists shall refer to Filipino citizen artists, including persons with 
disabilities, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna 
Carta for Disabled Persons,” as amended, recognized and accredited in their respective 
fields of art, and who have won in international arts competitions; 
(b) International arts competitions shall refer to international arts competitions under
the following categories, as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)
of this Act:
1. Architecture, Design and Allied Arts – include architecture design, interior design,
industrial arts design, landscape architecture and fashion design;


 
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2. Dance – includes choreography, direction and/or performance; 
3. Film and Broadcasting / Broadcast Arts – include direction, writing, production 
design, cinematography, editing, camera work, and/or performance; 
4. Literature – includes poetry, fiction, essay, playwriting, historical literature, 
journalism, and/or literary criticism; 
5. Music – includes singing, composition, direction, and/or performance; 
6. Theater – includes direction, performance and/or production design; and 
7. Visual Arts – includes painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation art, 
mixed media works, illustration, graphic arts, performance art and/or imaging.; and 
 
SEC. 4. Benefits and Privileges for Filipino Artists. – Any Filipino artist, as defined 
herein, shall be entitled to the following: 
(a). The grant of twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments relative to the 
utilization of transportation services, hotels and other lodging establishments, 
restaurants and recreation centers and purchase of medicine and art equipment 
anywhere in the country for the actual and exclusive use or enjoyment of the Filipino 
artist; 
(b) Minimum of twenty percent (20%) discount on admission fees charged by theatres, 
cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, 
leisure and amusement for the actual and exclusive use and enjoyment of the Filipino 
artist; 
(c) Free medical and dental consultations in government hospitals and similar 
establishments anywhere in the country; 
(d) Coverage in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the Philippine Health 
Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH); 
(e) A comprehensive social security program to be formulated by the Social Security 
System (SSS) within one hundred eighty (180) days from the approval of this Act; 
(f) Priority in existing livelihood programs being undertaken by various government 
agencies subject to the guidelines and qualifications by the implementing body; 
(g) Priority in national housing programs, affordable “pabahay” loans and other housing 
opportunities subject to the guidelines and qualifications set by the National Housing 
Authority (NHA) or the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), and  
(h) Use of living quarters and training centers to be set up by the National Commission 
on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for the exclusive use of Filipino artists while preparing 
and training for international competitions. 
Such privately-owned establishments shall enjoy tax deductions equivalent to the 
discounts extended to the Filipino artists under paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof, subject 
to the rules and regulations to be issued by the Secretary of Finance, as recommended 
by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (BIR), within ninety (90) days upon the 
effectivity of this Act; provided, that the failure of the Secretary of Finance to 
promulgate the rules and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of 
aforementioned benefits. 
 
SEC. 5. Scholarship Benefits for Filipino Artists. – A Filipino artist who wins in an 
international arts competition shall be entitled to scholarship benefits in the form of full 


 
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tuition fees from state colleges or universities for a college or university degree. The 
winning artist shall likewise be given priority in the availment of state college or 
university scholarship grants. 
Likewise, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education 
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall give priority to winning Filipino 
artists who seek scholarship grants and study under their programs subject to the CHED 
and TESDA regulations and policies and qualifications for all applicants. 
Private colleges and universities shall likewise be encouraged to adopt a similar 
program in their institutions for winning Filipino artists. 
 
SEC. 6. Retirement Benefits for Filipino Artists. – Any Filipino artist who has won an 
international competition shall receive a lump sum amount equivalent to twenty-five 
percent (25%) of his/her total cash incentives computed from the start of his/her active 
arts career up to the last day of retirement from active competition or training as 
certified by the NCCA. Such lump sum amount shall be released sixty (60) days from 
the filing of the retirement papers. 
 
SEC. 7. Death Benefits. – Upon the death of any Filipino artist, the primary 
beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum benefit of thirty thousand pesos 
(P30,000.00) to cover for the funeral services; Provided, That if the artist has no 
primary beneficiaries, the secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled to said benefits. 
For purposes of this Act, primary beneficiaries shall refer to the legitimate spouse, 
legitimate or illegitimate children. Secondary beneficiaries shall refer to the parents and 
in their absence, to the brothers or sisters of such artist. 
The benefits provided under this section shall be without prejudice to other similar 
benefits that may be received by the Filipino artist from other sources.  
 
SEC. 8. Cash Incentives for Artists. – Filipino artists who win gold, silver and bronze 
medals in international arts competitions compliant to this Act’s IRR, shall be entitled 
to cash incentives in the following amounts: 
(a). Individual Competitions 
1. For Gold Medalists, ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) and a Presidential Award for 
Filipino Artists; 
2. For Silver Medalists, five million pesos (P5,000,000.00); and 
3. For Bronze Medalists, two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) 
(b). Group Competitions 
1. For competitions with less than five (5) participants per group, the group shall receive 
the same cash incentives for individual medal winners as herein provided, to be divided 
equally among the group members actually present during the competition; 
2. For competitions with five (5) or more participants per group, each group member 
shall receive twenty-five percent (25%) of the cash incentives for individual medal 
winners as herein provided; 
3. Provided that all cash incentives herein stated may be adjusted by the NCCA, based 
on studies, consultations and public hearings with relevant agencies to reflect the 


 
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economic needs of the artists, not later than three (3) years after the effectivity of this 
Act and every three (3) years thereafter.  
 
SEC. 9. Availment of Benefits and Privileges. – The abovementioned benefits and 
privileges shall be availed by Filipino artists upon presentation of a valid identification 
card, renewable every year, to be issued by the NCCA; Provided, that artists shall not 
avail of said benefits and privileges under Section 4 of this Act in combination with 
similar benefits and privileges under other existing laws. 
 
SEC. 10. Penalties. –  
(a). Any person violating the provisions of Section 4 (a) and (b) of this Act shall suffer 
the following penalties: 
1. For the first violation, a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but 
not exceeding one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less 
than six (6) months but not more than two (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the 
court; and 
2. For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos 
(P100,000.00) but not exceeding two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or 
imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more than six (6) years, or both, at 
the discretion of the court. 
(b). Any Filipino artist who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished with 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months or a fine of not less than five thousand 
pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or both, at the 
discretion of the court; 
(c). If the violator is a corporation, partnership or any juridical person, the penalty shall 
be imposed upon the president, owner or any responsible officer; and 
(d).  If the violator is an alien or a foreigner, the person shall be deported immediately 
after service of sentence without further deportation proceedings. 
Upon filing of an appropriate complaint, and after due notice and hearing, the proper 
authorities may also cause the cancellation or revocation of the business permit, permit 
to operate, franchise and other similar privileges granted to any business entity that fails 
to abide by the provisions of this Act.  
 
SEC. 11. Funding. – The amount necessary for the implementation of the cash 
incentives and retirement benefits under this Act shall be sourced from the current 
appropriation of the NCAA. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act as part of the budget of the NCCA. 
 
SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The NCCA, in consultation with the 
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Department of Education (DepEd), the 
CHED, the TESDA, the Department of Finance (DOF) and the BIR, shall promulgate 
and issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) within sixty (60) days upon 
approval of this Act; provided, that the failure of the NCCA to promulgate the rules and 
regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity. 


 
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SEC. 13. Monitoring and Reportorial Requirements. – The NCCA shall submit a 
report on the benefits, privileges and incentives granted under this Act to Filipino 
artists, to the DOF, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Senate and 
the House of Representatives for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of this 
Act. The submission shall not be later than three (3) years from the effectivity of this 
Act and every three (3) years thereafter.   
 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected shall remain in 
full force and effect.  
SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
 Approved,