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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. S17
25 AUG -4 P1 35
RECEIVED a..
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Culture is a key driver of inclusive development, soft power, innovation, and 
national identity. Deeply rooted in history and tradition, it shapes who we are as a 
people and unites Filipinos across regions and generations. The 1987 Constitution 
affirms this by mandating the State to prioritize arts and culture to foster patriotism 
and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and 
development.
Culture empowers local and Indigenous communities, fosters participation and 
solidarity, and contributes to human development, community cohesion, and socio­
economic transformation. It also offers sustainable pathways for development through 
the conservation of heritage structures, the promotion of cultural tourism, and the 
revitalization of local economies.
Yet despite this vast potential, the Philippines has yet to establish a dedicated 
Department of Culture, unlike many of its neighbors in Southeast and East Asia. This 
institutional gap has led to fragmented policy direction, chronic underinvestment, and 
missed opportunities to fully harness our rich cultural assets. While the National 
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) serves as the primary coordinating and 
policy-making body, it is not a line agency and lacks direct authority over many of the 
cultural institutions responsible for implementation. As a result, the cultural sector


remains underprioritized in national development planning and falls short of its 
potential as a strategic pillar of growth and national unity.
According to UNESCO, cultural and creative industries generate nearly US$2.3 
trillion in annual global revenues, equivalent to 3.1 percent of the world's gross 
domestic product (GDP). Their contribution to national value added varies among G20 
economies, ranging from 0.7 percent in Mexico to 3 percent in the United States. 
These industries also provide employment for approximately 6.2 percent of the global 
workforce.1
In the Asia-Pacific region, countries like Japan and South Korea have 
successfully institutionalized cultural governance, generating massive returns. In 
2023, Japan's anime industry (including television and film productions, streaming 
distribution, merchandising, music, events, and overseas licensing), supported by 
Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachd) under the Ministry of Education, Culture, 
Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), reached an all-time high of ¥3.3465 trillion 
(approximately US$22.3 billion). Of the total revenue, ¥1.6243 trillion (around 
US$10.8 billion) came from domestic sources, while ¥1.7222 trillion (about US$11.5 
billion) was generated from international markets.2
South Korea's cultural content industry (Korean Wave or Hallyu), supported by 
its Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has steadily grown into a high value-added 
sector marked by robust domestic sales and expanding exports. South Korea's cultural 
content industry grew steadily from 2021 to 2023, with total sales rising from W137.5 
trillion (US$105.8 billion)3 to W154.2 trillion (US$110.5 billion),4 and exports increasing 
from US$12.45 billion to US$13.3 billion during the same period.
1 UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). (2024). Chapter I: Global trends in the creative economy. In
Creative Economy Outlook 2024 (UNCTAD/DITC/TSCE/2024/2). United Nations Conference on Trade 
and Development. Retrieved July 31, 
2025, from https://unctad.org/system/files/official-
document/ditctsce2024d2_ch01_en.pdf
2 Baseel, C. (2025, January 9). Anime industry report shows overseas anime market is bigger than 
Japanese one, but is this a cultural tipping point? Japan Today. Retrieved July 31,2025, from 
https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/anime-industry-report-shows-overseas-anime- 
market-is-bigger-than-japanese-one-but-is-this-a-cultural-tipping-point-2
3 
Invest KOREA, (n.d.). Cultural Content Invest KOREA. Retrieved August 1,2025, from 
https://www.investkorea.org/ik-en/cntnts/i-326/web.do
4 Son, J.-h. (2025, April 18). Policy Watch: Lee Jae-myung to double Korean culture industry revenue, 
exports in 7 years. The Korea Herald. Retrieved August 1,2025, from 
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10468573


In contrast, the Philippines' creative economy reached PhPl.94 trillion (USD 
34,64 billion) in 2024. This marked an 8.7 percent increase from the PhPl.78 trillion 
(USD 31.95 billion) recorded in 2023, reflecting continued expansion across key 
creative sectors such as digital media, advertising, symbolic content, and traditional 
cultural expressions,5
These data points underscore a vital truth: countries that invest in strong 
cultural governance and infrastructure reap significant returns, not only in terms of 
economic growth, employment, and exports, but also in global influence, innovation, 
and national unity. In contrast, the Philippines continues to operate without a 
dedicated Department of Culture, limiting its ability to fully harness the value of its 
diverse cultural assets. With the Philippines'creative economy already contributing 7.3 
percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and growing, the absence of a dedicated 
department risks leaving our rich cultural capital under-leveraged and fragmented.
This bill seeks to address that institutional gap. By establishing the Department 
of Culture, it provides the policy leadership, operational mandate, and organizational 
structure necessary to protect, develop, and promote Philippine culture, both as a 
heritage to be preserved and as a resource to be activated for inclusive growth. Among 
its key features are the following:
1. Centralized cultural governance through the integration of policy, regulatory, 
and programmatic functions currently dispersed across multiple agencies;
2. Nationwide and international reach via regional offices and Sentro /?/za/centers 
to bring cultural development closer to communities and diaspora networks;
3. Capacity-building and education through national institutes dedicated to living 
traditions, heritage conservation, and cultural management training;
4. Support for artists and creatives through grant programs, awards, and the 
consolidation of the National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts;
5. Strategic alignment with Republic Act No. 11904 (Philippine Creative Industries 
Development Act), ensuring synergy between heritage preservation and the 
growth of cultural and creative industries;
5 Philippine Statistics Authority. (2025, March 20). Philippine creative economy expands by 8.7percent 
in 2024, accounted for 7.3 percent of gross domestic product. PSA. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from 
https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/creative-economy


6. Recognition of culture in development planning, disaster risk reduction, and 
foreign affairs, affirming its cross-sectoral importance.
Through this Act, the Philippines can finally empower culture as a dynamic force 
for national development, creative innovation, and global engagement—making it not 
merely a matter of preservation, but of progress.
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
REN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. S17
f.'': ■
of flic
25 AUG-4 PI 35
RECEIVED B1..
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Department of Culture
2 
Act."
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ARTICLE I
DECLARATION OF POLICY
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - 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;


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(d) To create a national body which will develop, manage and be responsible
2 
for the implementation of policy, legislation and strategic direction for
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the protection, regulation, preservation, development, management,
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dissemination and promotion of the country's culture, relative to the
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immense national resources, patrimony and wealth engendered and
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amassed through countless generations and centuries of distinctive
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Filipino ways of life and experiences in specific natural and social
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environments that this represents, and to facilitate the convergence of
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various agencies with cultural mandates and rationalize their
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organizations and functions;
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(e) To foster, strengthen, and accelerate the convergence of various cultural
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offices and agencies, and rationalize their organizations and functions;
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(f) To recognize that cultural education is the right of every citizen and
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therefore ensure that cultural literacy is inculcated in the development
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and education of all Filipinos;
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(g) To promote the national language of the country while enhancing the
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linguistic diversity of the Philippines; and
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(h) To secure and improve the welfare of Filipino artists and cultural
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workers.
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(i) The Department shall continually review the state and needs of culture
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and arts in the context of the country's developmental goals.
22 
(j) To support and promote the development of the Philippine creative
23 
economy, in coordination with the Philippine Creative Industries
24 
Development Council, and ensure synergy between cultural heritage
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preservation and the growth of cultural and creative industries in
26 
accordance with Republic Act No. 11904 or the Philippine 
Creative
27 
Industries Development Act.
28 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
29 
be defined as follows:
30 
(a) "Art" shall refer to the expression or application of human creative skill
31 
and imagination.


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(b) "Conservation" shall refer to all processes and measures of maintaining 
the cultural significance of a cultural property, including but not limited 
to, preservation, restoration, reconstruction, protection, adaptive re-use 
or 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 Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (language).
(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 
preserved and developed 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 or 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.


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possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of
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language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or who
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have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of
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colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically
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differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. ICCs/IPs shall likewise
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include peoples who are regarded as indigenous on account of their
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descent from the populations which inhabited the country, at the time
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of conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous
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religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries,
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who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political
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institutions, but who may have been displaced from their traditional
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domains or who may have resettled outside their ancestral domains;
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(j) "Intangible Cultural Heritage" shall refer to practices, representations,
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expressions, knowledge, skills, as well as instruments, objects and
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artifacts associated therewith, that communities, groups and individuals
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recognize as part of their cultural heritage, such as:
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a. oral traditions, usages, customs, languages and other
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expressions;
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b. performing arts;
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c. social practices, religious rites, rituals, culinary traditions,
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and festive events;
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d. knowledge and practices concerning nature and the
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universe, worship; and
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e. traditional craftsmanship.
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ARTICLE II
26 
THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE
27 
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
29 
Department, which shall be the primary policy-formulating, planning, coordinating,
30 
implementing, and administrative entity of the executive branch of the National


1 
Government that will implement the pertinent provisions of the Constitution regarding
2 
culture and arts as well as the aforementioned policy of the State.
3 
The Department with its attached agencies shall be responsible for the
4 
protection, preservation, regulation, development, management, dissemination and
5 
promotion of the cultural, historical and artistic heritage and resources, tangible and
6 
intangible, of the Philippines and the Filipino peopie, all of which, with their physical
7 
and social contexts and environments, are understood as together constituting and
8 
pertaining to Philippine culture for purposes of this Act.
9 
The Department shall continually review the state and needs of culture and arts
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in the context of the country's developmental goals.
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Sec. 5. Powers and Functions. - The Department shall exercise the following
12 
powers and functions:
13 
(a) Formulate and implement national policies, plans, programs, and
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guidelines for the protection, preservation, regulation, development,
15 
management, dissemination and promotion of culture, to ensure overall
16 
consistency, effectiveness, efficiency, and conformity with the policies of
17 
the State articulated in the Constitution as well as in this Act and other
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pertinent laws and issuances;
19 
(b) Assume and exercise all existing regulatory and quasi-judicial functions
20 
established under Republic Act No. 4846, or "The Cultural Properties
21 
Preservation and Protection Act;" Presidential Decree No. 374, or
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"Amending the Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act;"
23 
Presidential Decree No. 1616, or "Creation of the Intramuros
24 
Administration;" Presidential Decree No. 1748, or "An Act Amending the
25 
Charter of the Intramuros Administration;" Republic Act No. 8491, or
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"The Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines;" Republic Act No. 9105,
27 
or "Art and Forgery Act of 2001;" Republic Act No. 10066, or "The
28 
National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009;" and Republic Act No. 10086 or
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"Strengthening Peoples' Nationalism Through Philippine History Act;" as
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well as such functions promulgated through executive issuances that
31 
pertain to the agencies of the National Government covered under this


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Act, which are all hereby transferred in toto to the Department from the 
said agencies;
(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 Monument, 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, 
National 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 ng 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) Undertake, through a National Institute of Culture and Arts Management 
and the Institutes of Living Traditions to be established for the purpose, 
in an appropriate partnership with the academic sector, 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 courses 
and programs towards certificates, diplomas, and undergraduate and 
graduate degrees;
(h) Administer the qualification, selection and conferral of such other awards 
as it may establish in support of its mandate;
(i) 
Support the development of the cultural, artistic and creative industries 
of the country, in all particulars and at all levels;
(j) 
Coordinate with the PCIDC and relevant government agencies to align 
cultural development plans, heritage promotion, and cultural asset 
management with the strategies and objectives of Republic Act No. 
11904, and to strengthen the cultural dimensions of the Philippine 
creative economy;
(k) 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 
augmented 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;
(l) 
Represent the Philippines in matters pertaining to culture in overseas 
regional and international organizations and events; and


1 
(m) Other powers and functions as may be created, assigned, or transferred
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by the President of the Philippines in accordance with law.
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Sec. 6. Composition. - The Department proper shall include the Office of the
4 
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
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personnel in their immediate offices.
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Sec. 7. Secretary of Culture. - The authority and responsibility for the exercise
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of the mandate of the Department and for the discharge of its powers and functions
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shall be vested in the Secretary, who shall have supervision and control of the
11 
Department and shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, subject to the
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confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
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Sec. 8. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. - The Secretary shall have the
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following powers and functions:
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(a) Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of
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the Department and exercise administrative supervision over its attached
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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
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prescribe penalties for their violation, except when expressly authorized
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by law;
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(e) Rationalize delivery systems necessary for the effective attainment of
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the objectives of the Department, in accordance with the programs of
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Government;
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(f) Appoint all officers and employees of the Department except those
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whose appointments are vested in the President or in some other


1 
appointing authority and shall appoint employees to positions in the
2 
second level in the regional offices as defined in this Act and in
3 
accordance with the Civil Service laws, rules and regulations;
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(g) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees under the
5 
Secretary in accordance with law, including their investigation and the
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designation of a committee or officer to conduct such investigation;
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(h) Sit on the governing boards of attached agencies as provided in this Act,
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as well as any other agencies or organizations as may be appropriate or
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designated;
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(i) Coordinate with local governments, other agencies and public and
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private interest groups, including non-government organizations (NGOs)
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and people's organizations (POs) on Department policies and initiatives;
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(j) Advise the President of the Philippines and make recommendations on
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the promulgation of executive and administrative orders and regulatory
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and legislative proposals on matters pertaining to culture;
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(k) Formulate and enforce a system of measuring and evaluating periodically
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and objectively the performance of the Department and submit the same
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annually to the President;
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(I) Prepare and submit to the President through the Department of Budget
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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
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estimates submitted by bureaus and officers under the Department;
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(m) Exercise jurisdiction over all bureaus, offices, agencies and corporations
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under the Department as are provided by law; and
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(n) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by
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the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
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Sec. 9. Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by three (3)
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Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
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recommendation of the Secretary, at least two (2) of whom shall be career officers.
30 
In general, the Undersecretaries shall:
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(a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation
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of department objectives and policies;


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(b) Oversee all the operational activities of the bureau or units for which
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they shall be responsible as assigned by the Secretary;
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(c) Coordinate the programs and projects of the same and be responsible
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for its economical, efficient and effective administration;
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(d) Whenever necessary be designated to serve as deputy to the Secretary
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in all matters relating to the operations of the department; the
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designated Undersecretary will temporarily discharge the duties of the
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Secretary in the latter's absence or inability to discharge his or her duties
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for any cause or in case of vacancy of the said office, unless otherwise
10 
provided by law; the President of the Philippines shall likewise make the
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temporary designation of Acting Secretary to the same; and
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(e) Perform such other functions and duties as may be provided by law.
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Sec. 10. Assistant Secretaries. - Each Undersecretary shall be assisted by an
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Assistant Secretary who shall be career officers and shall perform duties assigned by
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the Undersecretaries, and who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines
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upon the recommendation of the Secretary.
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Sec. 11. Qualifications. - No person shall be appointed Secretary,
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Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Department unless he or she is a citizen
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and resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, and of proven integrity, and
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with at least seven (7) years of competence, expertise, or experience as manager,
21 
advocate, scholar, or practitioner in fields of endeavor related to Philippine culture and
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the mandate and functions of the Department.
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ARTICLE III
THE DEPARTMENT SERVICES
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Sec. 12. Department Services. - The Department of Culture shall have services
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which shall include the General Administrative Service, Financial Management Service,
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Policy and Planning Service, Legal Affairs Service, Physical Facilities Management
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Service, Human Resources Development Service, Strategic Communications and
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Initiatives Service, Knowledge and Information Systems, Project Evaluation and
10


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Monitoring Service, Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service, Internal Audit
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Service, Endowment Management Service, Grants Management Service.
3 
ARTICLE IV
4 
THE BUREAUS
5 
Sec. 13. The Bureaus of the Department - The Department shall exercise
6 
supervision and control over the following six (6) Bureaus which are created under it:
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(a) The Bureau of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts Development
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shall formulate and implement plans, programs and activities for the
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development of the different cultural communities all over the country,
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ensure the preservation and dissemination of the country's diverse
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cultures, establish schools' institutes for living traditions, encourage the
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continued practice and development of traditional arts and crafts,
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document the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP), and
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cause the recognition of outstanding traditional artists.
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(b) The Bureau of Cultural Properties Protection and Regulation shall be in
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charge of the registration and documentation of the nation's historical
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and cultural properties, issue permits and licenses, conduct inspection
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and assessment on cultural properties, implement Disaster Risk
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Reduction program for the cultural assets, enforce laws on cultural
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heritage conservation and intellectual property protection for artists and
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cultural experts.
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(c) The Bureau of Cultural Properties Preservation shall formulate and
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implement plans, programs, and activities for the preservation of
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tangible and intangible cultural heritage, provide architectural,
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engineering, scientific and conservation laboratory services, provide
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support to monuments and sites, museums and galleries and libraries
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and archives all over the country and establish a National Institute of
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Heritage Conservation.
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(d) The Bureau of Artistic Resources shall ensure the continuing and
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balanced development of the nation's artistic heritage in its various
11


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forms—performing aits, film and media arts, visual arts, architecture and
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allied arts, and literature; provide support to regional and local culture
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and arts centers, performing arts and exhibition venues; ensure the
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welfare of artists and cultural workers; undertake human resource
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development programs for artists; and establish the National Academy
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for Culture and Arts and National Institute for Culture and Arts
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Management.
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(e) The Bureau of Cultural Research, Education and Dissemination shall
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undertake cultural research for policy and program development; publish
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cultural materials, especially on positive Filipino values for dissemination;
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manage the cultural education program for the country; ensure the
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development and promotion of Philippine languages; implement the
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national translation program; and implement a national promotion
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program in various forms of media.
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(f) The Bureau of Cultural and Creative Industries shall formulate plans and
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programs to ignite the innovative and entrepreneurial mindset of Filipino
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artists and establish industries in various genres of arts—performing
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arts, cinema, books and publications, creative designs, culinary and
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lifestyle, architecture and allied arts, and others.
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Each Bureau shall be headed by a Bureau Director, who shall be assisted by
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one (1) Assistant Bureau Director. The Bureau Director and Assistant Bureau Director
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shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary.
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Sec. 14. Powers and Duties of Bureau Director. — The Bureau Director shall be
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its chief executive officer. Fie shall exercise overall authority in matters within the
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jurisdiction of the bureau, including those relating to its operations, and enforce all
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laws and regulations pertaining to it. Fie shall appoint personnel to all positions in his
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bureau or office, in accordance with law. In the case of the line bureau or office, the
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head shall also appoint the second-level personnel of the regional offices, unless such
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power has been delegated. Fie shall have the authority to discipline employees in
30 
accordance with the Civil Service Law.
12


1 
ARTICLE V
2 
THE REGIONAL AND FIELD OFFICES
3 
Sec. 15. Regional Offices of the Department - The Department is hereby
4 
authorized to establish, operate, and maintain a Regional Office, whenever
5 
appropriate, in each of the administrative regions of the country. Each regional office
6 
shall be headed by a Regional Director, who may be assisted by one (1) Assistant
7 
Regional Director. The Regional Director and Assistant Regional Director shall be
8 
appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary: Provided, that
9 
they shall be persons recognized as an accomplished manager, advocate, scholar, or
10 
practitioner in fields of endeavor related to Philippine culture in the region, or any
11 
suitably qualified person in accordance with Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules and
12 
regulations.
13 
It may also establish satellite, extension, or field offices when and wherever
14 
necessary, particularly in locations where significant cultural and heritage properties
15 
and concerns are identified to exist, and to support the operations, programs and
16 
projects of its attached and other concerned agencies and institutions.
17 
A regional office shall have, within its administrative region, the following
18 
functions:
19 
(a) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, rules and regulations of the
20 
department or agency in the regional area;
21 
(b) Provide economical, efficient and effective service to the people in the area;
22 
(c) Undertake research and gather data on local culture and arts trends and other
23 
relevant cultural and artistic information;
24 
(d) Cause to establish and oversee the regional and local culture and arts councils
25 
(as far as the city and municipal level) to engage participation of local artists
26 
and cultural workers;
27 
(e) Coordinate with regional offices of other departments, bureaus and agencies in
28 
the area; and
29 
(f) Coordinate with local government units in the area; (g) Make recommendations
30 
to the Secretary on all matters relating to culture and arts in the region; and
31 
(h) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
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1 
Sec. 16. Duties of a Regional Director. - The Regional Director shall perform
2 
duties and functions as may be provided by law or further delegated by the head of
3 
agency or other proper authorities concerned.
4 
ARTICLE VI
5 
THE ATTACHED AGENCIES, INSTITUTES, ADVISORY COUNCIL, OVERSEAS
6 
OFFICES
7 
Sec. 17. The Attached Agencies.
8 
(a) The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is hereby abolished,
9 
and its powers and functions, applicable funds and appropriations, records,
10 
equipment, property, and personnel transferred to the Department.
11 
(b) The following agencies are hereby attached to the Department for policy and
12 
program coordination, and shall continue to operate and function in accordance
13 
with the charters, laws or orders creating them, insofar as they are not
14 
inconsistent with this Act:
15 
(1) Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP);
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(2) National Museum of the Philippines (NMP);
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(3) National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP);
18 
(4) National Library of the Philippines (NLP);
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(5) National Archives of the Philippines (NAP);
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(6) Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF);
21 
(7) Intramuros Administration (lA);
22 
(8) National Parks Development Committee (NPDC);
23 
(9) Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF);
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(10) Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP);
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(11) National Book Development Board (NBDB); and
26 
(12) Design Center of the Philippines.
27 
(c) The laws and rules on government reorganization as provided for in Republic
28 
Act No. 6566, otherwise known as the Reorganization Law, shall govern the
29 
organization process of the Department.
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Sec. 18. National Institutes. - The following National Institutes, with their
2 
respective networks throughout the country, shaii be estabiished under the
3 
Department:
4 
(a) The Nationai Institute of Living Traditions, and through it, a network of
5 
individuai Schoois of Living Traditions to be estabiished, which, with the
6 
support of appropriate partnerships, shaii be responsibie for programs
7 
and projects reiated to the safeguarding, sustainabiiity, propagation and
8 
intergenerationai transmission of intangibie culturai heritage, particuiarly
9 
that which pertains to indigenous cuiturai communities;
10 
(b) The Nationai Institute of Cuiturai Heritage Preservation, and through it,
11 
a network of individuai Escueia Taiyer (Workshop Schoois) to be
12 
estabiished, which, with the support of appropriate partnerships, shaii
13 
be responsibie for programs and projects reiated to nationai capacity
14 
buiiding in the area of conservation arts, sciences and trades with
15 
respect to the preservation of immovabie and movabie cuiturai property
16 
and with a particuiar focus on vocationai training for youth; and
17 
(c) The Nationai Institute of Cuiture and Arts Management, and through it,
18 
a network of individuai Cuiture and Arts Management Training Centers
19 
to be estabiished, which, with the support of appropriate partnerships,
20 
shaii be responsibie for programs and projects reiated to the education,
21 
training and certification of cuiturai officers and personnei as a necessary
22 
quaiification for empioyment and promotion in the Nationai Government
23 
and in iocai governments where such might be required by the
24 
Department in coordination with the Civii Service Commission and the
25 
Career Executive Service Board, at the career sub-professionai, career
26 
professionai, and career executive ieveis, to inciude appropriate courses
27 
and programs towards certificates, dipiomas, and undergraduate and
28 
graduate degrees.
29 
Sec. 19. National Academy of Culture and Arts. - There is hereby estabiished
30 
under the Department a Nationai Academy of Cuiture and Arts, which shaii be an
31 
institutionaiized association of the nation's foremost ieaders and exponents of cuiture
32 
and arts, the primary purpose of which is to support the mandate of the Department
15


1 
as an independent body of eminent persons. The President of the Philippines shall be
2 
the Honorary Patron of the National Academy of Culture and Arts. The structure and
3 
organization of the Academy, including the specification of its functions, procedures
4 
as to its governance and the selection of its members, and the composition of its
5 
secretariat, shall be contained in a charter to be formulated by the Department and
6 
promulgated by the President of the Philippines through an Executive Order within
7 
one (1) year of the effectivity of this Act.
8 
Sec. 20. Culture and Arts Advisory Councils. - The Department shall facilitate
9 
the creation of a National Culture and Arts Advisory Council, a Regional Culture and
10 
Arts Advisory Council, and a Local Culture and Arts Advisory Council to assist the
11 
Department in the implementation of culture and arts initiatives.
12 
Sec. 21. Sectoral and Industry Task Forces. - The Department may create
13 
sectoral and industry task forces, technical working groups, advisory bodies or
14 
committees for the furtherance of its objectives. Additional private sector
15 
representatives, such as from the academe, CSOs, and federations of private
16 
industries directly involved in culture and the arts, as well as representatives of other
17 
LGUs and GOCCs, may be appointed to these working groups.
18 
Sec. 22. Riza! Centers. — The Department shall, through a dedicated
19 
organizational unit to be established for the purpose, establish and manage centers,
20 
to be known as Rizal Centers or Sentro Rizal, overseas, the primary purpose of which
21 
shall be the promotion of, and the facilitation of access by the constituency of each
22 
center to, Philippine culture generally as well as the cultural resources managed by
23 
the Department and its attached agencies in particular.
24 
Domestically, the Department shall establish Sentro Rizal as regional cultural
25 
centers and hubs, to be supervised and operated appropriately through its regional
26 
offices. Such regional centers shall include exhibition and performance venues, and
27 
facilities enabling access to knowledge resources, particularly those pertaining to
28 
vernacular language resources.
29 
Overseas, the Department shall establish Sentro Rizal as Philippine cultural
30 
centers in key places for the benefit of the global diaspora of Philippine citizens, the
31 
global community of Filipino migrants or descendants thereof, and all who are
32 
interested in Philippine culture. The Department for this purpose shall coordinate with
16


1 
the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and other
2 
concerned agencies.
3 
Such Sentro Rizal as may be established overseas shall have a dedicated budget
4 
and staff under the Department and be considered as overseas offices thereof, shall
5 
function as repositories of Philippine cultural resources, shall carry out active programs
6 
and projects to engage their respective constituencies, and shall offer courses in the
7 
national language and any other Filipino languages as may be appropriate. The
8 
operations of the Sentro Rizal network of the Department, overseas, shall be
9 
considered as one of its permanent flagship programs, and shall therefore be
10 
specifically provided for in the General Appropriations Act for every fiscal year.
11 
Article XII, including Sections 42 to 47, of Republic Act No. 10066 is hereby
12 
repealed.
13 
Sec. 23. Overseas Offices. - The Department shall establish overseas offices
14 
whenever necessary to:
15 
(a) Implement plans, programs and projects of the Department relative to
16 
communities of Philippine citizens abroad;
17 
(b) Promote Filipino culture to the international community;
18 
(c) Coordinate with international organizations as well as with the overseas
19 
offices of other departments, offices and agencies of the Philippine
20 
government; and
21 
(d) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
22 
ARTICLE VII
23 
REORGANIZATION
24 
Sec. 24. Reorganization. - The laws and rules on government reorganization as
25 
provided for in Republic Act No. 6656, otherwise known as the Reorganization Law,
26 
shall govern the reorganization process of the Department and, where appropriate, its
27 
attached agencies.
28 
Sec. 25. Structure and Staffing Pattern. - Subject to the approval of the
29 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department and, where
30 
appropriate, its attached agencies, shall determine its organizational structure and
17


1 
create new divisions or units as it may deem necessary, and shall appoint officers and
2 
employees of the Department and its attached agencies in accordance with the Civil
3 
Service Law, rules, and regulations.
4 
Sec. 26. Transition Period. - The transfer of functions, assets, funds, equipment,
5 
properties, transactions, and personnel of affected agencies, and the formulation of
6 
the internal organic structure, staffing pattern, operating system, and revised budget
7 
of the Department, shall be completed within six (6) months from the effectivity of
8 
this Act, during which time, the existing personnel shall continue to assume their posts
9 
in holdover capacities until new appointments are issued; Provided, that after the
10 
abolition of the agency, as specified in Section 17(a) of this Act, the Department, in
11 
coordination with the DBM, shall determine and create new positions, the funding
12 
requirement of which shall not exceed the equivalent cost of positions abolished.
13 
Sec. 27. Separation from Service. - Employees separated from the service as a
14 
result of this reorganization shall, within ninety (90) days therefrom, receive the
15 
separation and retirement benefits to which they may be entitled under Executive
16 
Order No. 366. Provided that such separation pay and retirement benefits shall have
17 
priority of payment out of the savings of the department or agency.
18 
ARTICLE VIII
19 
PROPERTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
20 
Sec. 28. Post Office Building andLiwasang Bonifacio. - The Post Office Building,
21 
currently the property of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost), and the area
22 
known as Liwasang Bonifacio (formerly Plaza Lawton), both in the City of Manila, are
23 
hereby appropriated for the exclusive use and central office premises of the
24 
Department of Culture and its attached agencies.
25 
Sec. 29. Other Properties. - Real and movable properties owned by those
26 
agencies abolished or absorbed into the Department under this Act, namely the
27 
National Commission for Culture and the Arts Building and the Metropolitan Theatre,
28 
shall be transferred to the Department.
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1 
ARTICLE IX
2 
APPROPRIATIONS AND FINAL PROVISIONS
3 
Sec. 30. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial implementation of
4 
this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation for the NCCA through
5 
the Office of the President, and other appropriations available for the purpose.
6 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation and maintenance of the Department
7 
proper shall be included in the General Appropriations Act, provided that for the next
8 
fiscal year, the amount shall be no less than Two Billion Pesos (P2,000,000,000.00).
9 
Sec. 31. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Office of the President, in
10 
consultation with other government agencies mentioned in this Act, shall promulgate
11 
its implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of
12 
this Act.
13 
Sec. 32. Repeating Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
14 
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Act are
15 
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
16 
Sec. 33. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared
17 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
18 
full force and effect.
19 
Sec. 34. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
20 
publication in at least two (2) papers of general circulation.
Approved,
19