'1i
gjcnate
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
F/rst Regular Session
•22 JUL13 P5 20
)
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SENATE
S. No. 552
RECEIVES Sy;
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY f JOTE
The Constitution mandates that the State shall "conserve, promote and popularize 
the nation's historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations."1 
It further emphasizes that "all the country's artistic and historic wealth constitutes the 
cultural treasure of the nation and shall be under the protection of the State which may 
regulate its disposition."2
The culture and heritage of our country play an important role in the lives of every 
Filipino, as it provides a sense of national identib/ which binds us together as a nation. 
However, in the past years, we have seen a lack of appreciation and wanton disregard 
for our cultural properties — important historical and heritage sites are not properly 
preserved and protected. The limited regional presence of cultural offices also became a 
huge hindrance in the implementation of various cultural programs. In order to address 
these perennial problems, the need for strong policies and effective enforcement of 
relevant laws on the protection of our culture is immediate and necessary.
Sec. 15, Art. XIV of the 1987 Constitution 
Sec. 16, Art. XIV of the 1987 Constitution


This bill was filed by the undersigned last 18th Congress, in collaboration with the 
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). It proposes to reorganize NCCA to 
a Department of Culture, in order to create a national body, with the corresponding 
personnel and budgetary requirement that will be responsible for the implementation of 
policy and strategic direction for the protection, regulation, preservation, and 
management of the country's culture. The Department will also have quasi-judicial 
functions which will allow it to ci fectively safeguard the cultural properties of the country.
The Department will likewise ensure support for the development of our cultural, 
artistic, and creative industries and assist in the implementation of culture and arts 
initiatives. In line with this, the said Department will help in the attainment of our 
Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal No. 11, Target 11. 4, which calls for 
strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage.
For these reasons, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
%
’ PIA sTca'Te^NO/^


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g>cnate
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Ses<;ion
)
)
SENATE
S. No. 552
a&ffitp of Uif feetrmrp
•22 J113 P5 20
■' 7:DBY:
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAvETANO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate anJ House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembied:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Department of Cuiture Act" 
Sec. 2. Deciaration of Poiicy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State:
a) To recognize that culture is a unifying, humanizing and modernizing 
agent/instrument of any society, and the patrimony and right of every citizen 
of the Philippines;
b) To recognize the vital role of culture in nation-building;
c) To incorporate considerations of culture in the formulation of appropriate 
and significant political and economic policy that will better serve Filipinos and 
ensure that all Filipinos enjoy full cultural rights, take full advantage of a 
dynamic cultural experience, and be inspired, sustained by, draw from, 
contribute to and celebrate the country's culture;
d) To create a national body which will develop, manage and be responsible 
for the implementation of policy, legislation and strategic direction for the 
protection, regulation, preservation, development, management, 
dissemination and promotion of the country's culture, relative to the immense


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national resources; patrimony and wealth engendered and amassed through 
countless generations and centuries of distinctive Filipino ways of life and 
experiences in spec;r1c natural and social en\1ronments that this represents, 
and to facilitate the convergence of various agencies with cultural mandates 
and rationalize their organizations and functions;
e) To foster, strengthen, and accelerate the convergence of various cultural 
offices agencies, and rationalize their organizations and functions;
f) To recognize that cultural education is the right of every citizen and 
therefore ensure that cultural literacy is inculcated in the development and 
education of all Filipinos;
g) To promote the national language of the country while enhancing the 
linguistic diversity of the Philippines; and,
h) To secure and improve the welfare of Filipino artists and cultural workers.
The Department shall continually review the state and needs of culture and arts in
the context of the country's developmental goals.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows:
a) "Art" shall refer to the expression or application of human creative skill and 
imagination.
b) "Conservation" shall refer to all process and measures of maintaining 
cultural significance of a cultural property, including but not limited to, 
preservation, restoration, reconstruction, protection, adaptive re-use any 
combination thereof.
c) "Cultural agencies" shall refer to any of the following national government 
agencies with their specific areas of responsibility: National Museum of the 
Philippines (cultural property), the National Library of the Philippines 
books). National Historical Commission of the Philippines (Philippine 
history), the National Archives of the Philippines (documents) the Cultural 
Center of the Philippines (culture and arts) and the Komisyon sa Wikang 
Filipino (language)
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d) "Cultural Education" shall refer to the teaching and learning of cultural 
concepts and processes.
e) "Cultural Heritage" shall refer to the totality of cultural property preser/ed 
through time and passed on to posterity,
f) "Cultural Property" shall refer to all products of human creativity by which 
people and nation reveal their identity, including architecture and sites or 
human activity (churches, mosques and other places of religious worship, 
schools) and natural history specimens and sites, whether public or privately 
owned, movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible.
g) "Culture" shall refer to the broad spectrum of people's beliefs, practices, 
customs and traditions, material culture, arts, and other forms of actual and 
symbolic expressions and representations which are handed down from one 
generation to the next in the process of interaction.
h) "History"' shall refer to a written record of past events relating to Philippine 
history.
i) "Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples" shall refer to a 
group of people oi homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and 
ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community 
on communally bounded and defined territory, and who have, under claims 
of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such 
territories, sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions and 
other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to political, 
social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and 
cultures, became historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. 
ICCs/IPs shall likewise include peoples who are regarded as indigenous on 
account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, 
at the time of conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non- 
indigenous religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state 
boundaries, who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural 
and political Institutions, but who may have been displaced from their
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traditional domains or who may have resettled outside 
their ancestral
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domains;
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j) "Intangible Cultural Heritage" shal! refer to practices, representations,
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expressions, knowledge, skills, as well as instrument, objects and artifacts
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associated therewith, that communities, groups and individual recognize as
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part of their cultural heritage, such as: (1) oral traditions, usages, customs,
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languages and other expressions; (2) performing arts; 
(3) social practices,
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religious rites, rituals, culinary traditions, and festive events; (4) knowledge
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and practices concerning nature and the universe, worship and (5)
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traditional craftsmanship.
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ARTICLE II
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The Department of Culture
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Sec. 4. Creation of the Department of Culture. - There is hereby created the
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Department of Culture (Kagawaran ng Kultura), hereinafter referred to as the
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Department, which shall be the primary policy-formulating, planning, coordinating,
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implementing, and administra^-ive entity of the executive branch of the National
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Government that will implement the pertinent provisions of the Constitution regarding
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culture and arts as well as the aforementioned policy of the State.
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The Department with its attached agencies shall be responsible for the protection,
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preservation, regulation, development, management, dissemination and promotion of the
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cultural, historical and artistic neritage and resources, tangible and intangible, of the
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Philippines and the Filipino people, all of which, with their physical and social contexts
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and environments, are understood as together constituting and pertaining to Philippine
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culture for purposes of this Act.
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The Department shall continually review the state and needs of culture and the
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arts in the context of the country's developmental goals.
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Sec. 5. Genera!Mandates. - The Department shall exercise the following
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mandates:


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a) To protect and promote the diversity of cultural and artistic expressions and 
foster the development of creative industries;
b) To conserve, safeguard, and develop the country's historical and cultural 
heritage; and,
c) To ensure the widest dissemination of the artistic and cultural products 
among the greatest number across the country and overseas.
Sec. 6. Powers and Functions. - The Department shall exercise the following 
powers and functions:
a) Formulate and Implement national policies, plans, programs, and guidelines 
for the protection, preservation, safeguarding, regulation, development, 
management, dissemination and promotion of culture, to ensure overall 
consistency, effectiveness, efficiency, and conformity with the policies of 
the State articula'ed in the Constitution as well as in this Act and other 
pertinent laws and issuances;
b) Assume and exercise all existing regulatory and quasi-judicial functions 
established under Republic Act No. 4846, or "The Cultural Properties 
Preservation and Protection Act/' Presidential Decree No. 374, or 
"Amending the Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act;" 
Republic Act No. 8491, or" The Hag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines;" 
Republic Act No. 9105, or "Art and Forgery Act of2001" Republic Act No. 
10066, or" The National Cultural Heritage Act of2009;" and. Republic Act 
No. 10083 or "Strengthening Peoples' Nationalism Through Philippine 
History Act," and all regulatory functions transferred to the National 
Commission for Culture and the Arts through Republic Act No. 11333 or
"National Museum of the PhUippines Act" as well as such functions 
promulgated through executive issuances that pertain to the agencies of 
the National Government covered ijnder this Act, which are all hereby 
transferred in tototo the Department from the said agencies;


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c) Be responsible for disaster risk reduction and management relative to 
culture and cultural property, both through its own programs and projects 
as well as through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
Council and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, on 
which it shall have full membership, representation and participation;
d) Recommend to the President of the Philippines the designation, through 
Presidential Proclamation, with appropriate published guidelines pertaining 
thereto, of a cultural property, whether immovable or movable, tangible or 
intangible, as a National Cultural Monumenr, a category hereby established 
which incorporates the previously-established legal definitions of, criteria 
pertaining to, and all cultural property previously declared by authorized 
agencies as National Cultural Treasure, National Historical Landmark, 
National Historical Shrine, Nationa Historical Monument, and National 
Historical Site;
e) Designate, through Department Order, and with appropriate published 
guidelines pertaining thereto, cultural property, whether immovable or 
movable, tangible or intangible, as National Cultural Property, a category 
hereby established which incorporates the previously-established legal 
definitions of, criteria pertaining to, and all cultural property previously 
declared by authorized agencies as Important Cultural Property and 
Heritage House;
f) Administer the qualification and selection, with appropriate published 
guidelines pertaining thereto, of the Award for National Living Treasures 
(Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan), which is hereby renamed as the Order of 
National Living Treasures (Orden ng mga Pambansang Manlilikha ng 
Bayan), and the Order of National Artists (Orden ng mga Pambansang 
Alagad ng Sining), and recommend those nominees to either Order who 
have been qualified and selected to the President of the Philippines for 
proclamation as such and conferral of the same;


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g) Administer the qualification, selection and conferral of such other awards 
as it may establish in support of its mandate;
h) Undertake the education, training and certification of cultural officers and 
personnel as a necessary qualification for employment and promotion in the 
National Government and in local governments where such might be 
required by the Department in coordination with the Civil Service 
Commission and the Career Executive Service Board, at the career sub- 
professional, career professional, and career executive levels, to include 
appropriate cour-as and programs towards certificates, diplomas, and 
undergraduate and graduate degrees, through the establishment of the 
following, but not limited to. National Institutes:
1. National Institute of Language and Translation
2. National Institute of Living Traditions
3. National Institute of Cultural Heritage Conservation
4. National Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries
i) Support the development of the cultural, artistic and creative industries of 
the country, in all particulars and at all levels;
j) Administer the endowment funds established separately under Section 20 
of Republic Act No. 7356, The Law Creating the National Commission for 
culture and the Arts: "and Section 50 of Republic Act No. 10066, which are 
herein consolidated into a single National Endowment Fund for Culture and 
Arts (NEFCA) that shall continue to be sourced and augmiented as provided 
by the aforementioned provisions, and provide financial support from this 
fund for various national programs through a system of grants drawing from 
the proceeds, including both principal and interest, of the same, subject to 
the approval of the Department of Budget and Management.
k) Create a National Culture and Arts Advisory Council, and Regional Culture 
and Arts Committees, to assist the Department in the implementation of 
culture and arts initiatives.


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I) The Department may create sectoral and industry task forces, technical
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working groups, advisory bodies or committees for the furtherance of its
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objectives. Additional private sector representatives, such as from the
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academe, COs, and federation of private industries directly involved in
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culture and the arts as well as representatives of other LGs, and GOCCs
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may be appointed to these working groups.
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m) Other powers and functions as may be created, assigned or transferred by
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the President of the Philippines in accordance with law.
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Sec. 7. Composition. - The Department proper shall include the Office of
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the Secretary and the staff units directly under it, including the Services established
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herein. The Office of the Secretary shall consist of the Secretary, at least three (3)
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Undersecretaries, and at least five (5) Assistant Secretaries, together with the personnel
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in their immediate offices.
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Sec. 8. Secretary of Culture. - The authority and responsibility for the exercise of
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the mandate of the Department and for the discharge of its powers and functions shall
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be vested in the Secretary, who shall have supervision and control of the Department
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and shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, subject to the confirmation by
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the Commission on Appointments.
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Sec. 9. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. - The Secretary shall have
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the following powers and functions:
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a) Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations
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of the Department and exercise administrative supervision over its
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attached agencies;
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b) Establish policies and standards for the effective, efficient and
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economical operation of the Department, 
in accordance 
with the
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programs of government;
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c) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out department
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mandates, objectives, policies, functions, plans, programs and projects;
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d) Promulgate administrative Issuances necessary for the efficient
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administration of the offices under the Secretary and for proper
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execution of the laws relative thereto. These issuances shall not 
prescribe penalties for their violation, except when expressly authorized 
by law;
e) Rationalize delivery systems necessary for the effective attainment of 
the objectives of the Department, in accordance witii the programs of 
Government;
f) Appoint all officers and employees of the Department except those 
whose appointments are vested in the President or in some other 
appointing authority and shall appoint employees to positions in the 
second level in the regional; offices as defined in this Act and in 
accordance with the Civil Service laws, rules and regulations;
g) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees under the 
Secretary in accordance with law, including their investigation and the 
designation if p committee or officer to conduct such investigation;
h) Sit on the governing boards of attached agencies as provided in this Act, 
as well as any other agencies or organizations as may be appropriate or 
designated;
i) Coordinate with local governments, other agencies and public and 
private interest's groups, including non-government organizations 
(NGOs) and people's organizations (POs) on Department policies and 
initiatives;
j) Advise the President of the Philippines and make recommendations on 
the promulgation of executive and administrative orders and regulatory 
and legislative proposals on matters pertaining to culture;
k) Formulate and enforce a system of measuring and evaluating 
periodically and objectively the performance of the Department and 
submit the same annually to the President;
l) 
Prepare and suomit to the President through the Department of Budget 
and Management an estimate of the necessary expenditures of the


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department during the next fiscal year, on the basis of the reports and 
estimates submitted by bureaus and officers under the Department;
m) Exercise jurisdiction over all bureaus, offices, agencies and corporations 
under the Department as are provided by law; and,
n) Represent the Philippines in mailers pertaining to culture in overseas 
regional and International organizations and events.
o) Performs such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned 
by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Sec. 10. Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by three (3) 
Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the 
recommendation of the Secretary, two (2) of whom shall be appointed officers and 1 
(one) shall be a career officer. In general, the undersecretaries shall:
a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation 
of department objectives and poHdes;
b) Oversee all the operational activities of the bureau or units for which he 
shall be responsible as assigned by the Secretary;
c) Coordinate the programs and projects of the same and be responsible 
for its economical, efficient and effective administration;
d) Whenever necessary be designated to serve as deputy' to the Secretary 
in all matters relating to the operations of the department; the 
designated Undersecretary will temporarily discharge the duties of the 
Secretary in the latter's absence or inability to discharge his or her duties 
for any cause or case of vacancy of the said ofdce, unless otherwise 
provided by law; the President of the Philippines shall likewise make the 
temporary designation Acting Secretary to the same; and
e) Perform such other functions and duties as may be provided by law.
Sec. 11. Assistant Secretaries. - Each Undersecretary shall be assisted by an
Assistant Secretaiy shall be cai eer officers and shall perform duties assigned by the 
Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the 
recommendation of the Secretary.
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S6C. 12. Qualifications. No porson shall bs appointod SGcrotary, UndcrsGcrGtary, 
or Assistant Secretary of the Department unless he or she is a citizen and resident of the 
Philippines, of good moral character, and of proven integrity, and with at least seven (7) 
years of competence/ expertise/ experience as manager, advocate, scholar, or 
practitioner in fields of endeavor related to Philippine culture and the mandate and 
functions of the Department.
ARTICLE II
The Department Services
Sec. 13. Department Services. - Subject to the power of the Secretary, with the 
approval of the President, to reorganize, restructure, and redefine the functions of the 
services for the effective discharge of the powers and functions of the Department under 
this Act, the Department shall provide seven (7) initial services which include the (1) 
Internal Audit Service, (2) Administrative and Human Resources Development Service, 
(3) Financial Management Service, (4) Policy and Planning Service, (5) Legal Affairs 
Service, (6) Program Evaluation and Monitoring Sen/ice and (7) National Endowment and 
Grants Management Services.
Further, recognizing the possible increase of stakeholders served and areas 
covered, the Department shall, if deemed necessary, expand its services to include the 
General Administrative Service, Physical Facilities Management Service, Strategic 
Communications and Initiatives Service, Knowledge and Information Systems, and the 
Foreign Assisted and Special Project Service.
ARTICLE IV 
The Bureaus
Sec. 14. The Bureaus of the Department - The Department shall exercise 
supervision and control over the following six (6) Bureaus which are created under it:
a) Bureau of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts Development - shall 
formulate and Implement plans, programs and activities for the 
development of the different cultural communities all over the country, 
ensure the preservation and dissemination of the country's diverse cultures, 
establish schools/institute for living traditions, encourage the continued
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practice and development of traditional arts and crafts, document the 
Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP), and cause the 
recognition of outstanding traditional artists.
b) Bureau of Cultural Properties Protection and Regulation - shall be in-charge 
of the registration and documentation of the nation's historical and cultural 
properties, issue permits and license, conduct inspection and assessment 
on cultural properties, implement Disaster Risk Reduction program for the 
cultural assets, enforce laws on cultural heritage conservation and 
intellectual property protection for artists and cultural experts, and accredit 
and provide standards for the classification and professionalization of 
artists.
c) Bureau of Cultural Properties Preservation - shall formulate and implement 
plans, programs, and activities for the preservation of tangible and 
intangible cultural heritage, provide architectural, engineering, scientific, 
and conservation !aboratory services, provide support to monuments and 
sites, museums and galleries and libraries and archives all over the country.
d) Bureau of Artistic Resources Developmerlt - shall ensure the continuing and 
balance development of the nation's artistic heritage in its various forms; 
oerforming arts, film and media arts, visual arts, architecture and allied arts 
and literature, provide support to regional and local culture and arts centers, 
performing arts and exhibition venues, ensure the welfare of artists and 
cultural workers, undertake human resource development programs for 
artists.
e) Bureau of Philippine Languages, Cultural Research, Education, and 
Dissemination - shall undertake cultural research for policy and program 
development, publish cultural materials, especially on positive Filipino 
values for dissemination, manage the cultural education program for the 
country, ensure the development and promotion of Philippine languages, 
implement national translation program; and implement national promotion 
program in various forms of media,
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f) Bureau of Creative Industries- shall formulate plans and programs to ignite 
the innovative and entrepreneurial mindset of Filipino artists and establish 
industries in the various genre of arts; performing arts, cinema, books and 
publications, creative designs, culinary lifestyle and architecture and allied 
arts, and others.
Each bureau shall work m close coordination and provide support, if necessary, to 
the concerned attached agencies.
Each Bureau shall be headed by a Bureau Director, who shall be assisted by one 
(1) Assistant Bureau Director. The Bureau Director and Assistant Bureau Director shall 
be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary. Provided, that 
he or she is a citizen and resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, and of 
proven integrity. Provided, further, that the Assistant Bureau Director shall be either a 
career officer or with a relevant number of years of competence/expertise/experience as 
manager, advocate, scholar, or practitioner in fields of endeavor related to Philippine 
culture and the arts.
Sec. 15. Powers and Duties of Bureau Director. -The Bureau Director shall be its 
chief executive officer. He shall exercise overall authority in matters within the jurisdiction 
of the bureau, including those relating to its operations, and enforce all laws and 
regulations pertaining to it. Shall appoint personnel to all positions in his bureau or office, 
in accordance with law. In the Cose of the line bureau or office, the head shall also appoint 
the second level personnel of the regional offices, unless such power has been delegated. 
He shall have the authority to discipline employees in accordance with the Civil Service 
Law.
ARTICLE V
The Regional and Field Offices
Sec. 16. Regionai Offices of the Department - The Department is hereby 
authorized to establish, operate and maintain a Regional Office, whenever appropriate, 
in each of the administrative regions of the country. Each regional office shall be headed 
by a Regional Director, who may be assisted by one (1) Assistant Regionai Director. The 
Regional Director and Assistant Regional Director shall be appointed by the President
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upon the recommendation of the Secretary: Provided, that they shall be persons 
recognized as an accomplished manager, advocate, scholar or practitioner in fields of 
endeavor related to Philippine culture in the region, or any suitably qualified person in 
accordance with Civil Service Commission (SC) rules and regulations.
It may also establish satellite, extension or field offices when and wherever 
necessary, particularly in locations where significant cultural and heritage properties and 
concerns are identified to exist, and to support the operations, programs and projects of 
its attached and other concerned agencies and institutions. A regional office shall have, 
within its administrative region, the following functions:
a) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, rules and regulations of the 
department or agency in the regional a^ ea;
b) Provide economical, efficient and effective service to the people in the area;
c) Undertake research and gather data on local culture and arts trends and other 
relevant cultural and artistic information;
d) Cause to establish and oversee the regional and local culture and arts councils 
(as far as the city and municipal level) to engage participation of local artists 
and cultural workers;
e) Create Regional Committees (RC) to expedite the implementation of plans and 
strategies for the furtherance of its objectives, which shall be composed of 
experts from various culture and arts disciplines. The rules and regulations of 
the Regional Committees shall be determined by the Regional Office. The 
Regional Director shall sit as an ex-officio member of the RCs.
f) Coordinate with regional offices of other departments, bureaus and agencies 
in the area;
g) Coordinate with local government units in the area;
h) Make recommendations to the Secretary on all matters relating to culture and 
arts in the region; and,
i) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law
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Sec. 17. Duties of a Regional Director. - The Regional Director shall perform duties 
and functions as may be provided by law or further delegated by the nead of agency or 
other proper authorities concerned.
ARTICLE VI
The Attached Agencies, Institutes, Advisory Councils, Overseas Offices
Sec. 18. The Attached Agencies.
a) The National Coinmission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is hereby 
abolished, and their powers and functions, applicable funds and 
appropriations, records, equipment, property, and personnel transferred to 
the Department for utilization in accordance with the Department's 
mandate.
b) All functions in accordance with the charters, laws, or orders of the attached 
agencies duplicated by this act shall be appropriately absorbed and 
assumed by the Department.
c) The following agencies, with the absorption of functions as stated by sub- 
paragraph b of :h\s section, shall accordingly perform the following 
functions and are hereby attached to the Department:
1. Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
The Cultural Center of the Philippines shall be in-charge of the 
administration of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex.
2. National Museum of the Philippines (NMP)
The National Museum of the Philippines shall be tasked with establishing, 
managing, and developing the National Museum Complex at the Rizal Park, 
Manila and promote the principles of universal access to the complex.
3. National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines shall be tasked with 
the conduct of research, the production of materials in various media and 
the publication and dissemination of historical works, and the resolution of 
historical controversies or issues.
4. National Library of the Philippines (NLP)
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The National Library of the Philippines shall be responsible for the 
administration of the National Library building as a repository of the printed 
and recorded cultural heritage of the country and other intellectual literary 
and other information sources, and shall also be responsible for the 
provision of access to such resources.
5. National Archives of the Philippines (NAP)
The National Archives of the Philippines shall be responsible for the 
maintenance and development of the National Archives building to house 
the country's archival and public records; and shall conduct archival 
researches using archival materials here and abroad and cause the 
publication and dissemination of valuable archival information that are 
public in nature.
6. Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF)
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino shall be tasked with the conduct of 
research and other language studies and shall coordinate with the Bureau 
of Philippine Languages, Cultural Research, Education, and Dissemination 
for the promotion of the evolution, development, enrichment and eventual 
standardization of Filipino and other Philippine Languages.
Z Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)
The Film Development Council of the Philippines shall be responsible with 
the establishment and implementation of a Cinema Evaluation System in 
accordance with the criteria set forth in RA 9167 and shall develop and 
Implement an incentive and reward system for the producers based on 
merit to encourage the production of quality films.
8. National Book Development Board (NBDB)
The National Book Development Board shall be responsible for the 
formulation, adoption, and implementation of a National Book Development 
Plan that will serve as the basis for fostering the progressive growth and 
viability of the country's book industry.
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d) The laws and rules on government reorganization as provided for in 
Republic Act No. 6566, otherwise known as the Reorganization Law, shall 
govern the organ1zation process of the Department.
Sec. 19. Culture and Arts Advisory Councils, - The National Culture and Arts Advisory 
Council shall be composed of the seventeen (17) representatives from their respective 
Regional Committees. The National Culture and Arts Advisory Council shall perform the 
following functions:
a) Assess the general conditions of Philippine culture and the arts, and propose 
approaches, including policies and programs that may be adopted by the 
Department;
b) Serve as a forum for the discussion of matters affecting the Regional 
Committees or the cultural sector, anchored on the strengthening of linkages, 
the exchange of information, and the formulation of coherent guidelines and 
policies; and
c) Initiate, formulate, and advocate a coordinated and common stand on 
significant cultural Issues or concerns; and,
d) Perform any other advisory function as may be deemed by the Department.
Sec. 20. Rizai Centers. - The Department shall, through a dedicated organizational
unit to be established for the purpose, establish and manage centers, to be known as 
Rizai Centers or Sentro Rizai, overseas, the primary purpose of which shall be the 
promotion of, and the facilitation of access by the constituency of each center to, 
Philippine culture generally as well as the cultural resources managed by the Department 
and Its attached agencies In particular.
Overseas, the Department shall establish SentroK\z^\ as Philippine cultural centers 
in key places for the benefit of the global diaspora of Philippine citizens, the global 
community of Filipino migrants or descendants thereof, and all who are interested in 
Philippine culture. The Department for this purpose shall coordinate with the Department 
of Foreign Affairs, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and other 
concerned agencies.
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Such Sentro Rizal as may be established overseas shall have a dedicated budget 
and staff under the Department and be considered as overseas offices thereof, shall 
function as repositories of Philippine cultural resources, shall carry out active programs 
and projects to engage their respective constituencies, and shall offer courses in the 
national language and any other Filipino languages as may appropriate.
The operations of the Sentro Rizal network of the Department, overseas, shall be 
considered as one its permanent flagship programs, and shall therefore be specifically 
provided for in the General Appropriations Act for every fiscal year.
ARTICLE VII 
ORGANIZATION
Sec. 21. Reorganization. - The laws and rules on government reorganization as 
provided for in Republic Act No. 6656, otherwise known as the Reorganization Law, shall 
govern the reorganization process of the Department and, where appropriate, its 
attached agencies.
Sec. 22. Structure and Staffing Pattern. - Subject to the approval of the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Depai tment and, where appropriate, 
its attached agencies, shall determine its organizational structure and create new divisions 
or units as it may deem necessary, and shall appoint officers and employees of the 
Department and its attached agencies in accordance with the Civil Service Law, rules, 
and regulations.
Sec. 23. Transition Period. - The transfer of functions, assets, funds, equipment, 
properties, transactions, and personnel of affected agencies, and the formulation of the 
internal organic structure, staffing pattern, operating system, and revised budget of the 
Department, shall be completed within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, 
during which time, the existing personnel shall continue to assume their posts in holdover 
capacities until new appointments are issued; Provided, that after the abolition of the 
agency, the Department, in coordination with the DBM, shall determine and create new 
positions.
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Sec. 24. Separation from Service. - Employees separated from the service as a 
result of this reorganization shall, within 6 months therefrom, if entitled thereto, receive 
the appropriate separation pay and retirement and other benefits under existing laws. 
Provided that such separation pays and retirement benefits shall have priority of payment 
out of the savings of the department or agency.
ARTICLE VIII
PROPERTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
Sec. 25. Post Office Building and Liwasang Bonifacio. - The Post Office Building, 
currently the property of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost), and the area known 
as Liwasang Bonifacio (formerly Plaza Lawton), both in the City of Manila, are hereby 
appropriated for the exclusive use and central office premises of the Department of 
Culture and its attached agencies.
Sec. 26. Other Properties. - Real and movable properties owned by those agencies 
abolished or absorbed into the Department under this Act, namely the National 
Commission for Culture and the Arts Building, and the Metropolitan Theatre, shall be 
transferred to the Department for utilization in accordance with its mandate.
All other real and movable properties of the attached agencies of the Department 
acquired by virtue of their respective charters shall remain under the control and 
disposition of these attached agencies, and shall be utilized exclusively in accordance with 
their respective mandates.
ARTICLE IX
APPROPRIATIONS AND FINAL REVISIONS
Sec. 27. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial implementation of this 
Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation of the National Commission 
for Culture and the Arts and all the functions and programs of the attached agencies that 
are herein absorbed by the Department. Thereafter,, the amount needed for the operation 
and maintenance of the Department shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 28. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The Office of the President, in 
consultation with other agencies mentioned in this Act, shall promulgate Its implementing 
rules and government regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.
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Sec. 29. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 30. Separability Clause. - If any provisiofi of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full 
force and effect.
Sec. 31. Effectivity Cause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in at least two (2) papers of general c rculation.
Approved,
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