Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 448

INTRODUCED BY REP. MAXIMO, JR. Y. DALOG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Located at the heart of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Mountain
Province is home to more than fifteen ethnolinguistic groups with very rich
cultural heritage and traditions. To this date however, there is no cultural center
and museum in the province to host, showcase and preserve these various
cultural heritage, traditions and historical accounts.

In addition, the various artifacts, traditional musical instruments and
objects of cultural significance are scattered throughout the province with a
threat of disappearance if not preserved and collected. Moreover, the different
literary works, songs, ballads and traditional games have no proper
documentation in its original form and have no central repository, some of which
are already slowly being altered or lost.

Without a cultural center and museum, the rich and unique cultural
heritage, traditions and historical accounts of the different ethnolinguistic
groups in Mountain Province are facing the danger of disappearance.

In view of the foregoing, approval of the bill is earnestly sought.

LEB

“
C MAXIMO, JR. Y. DAL!


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

443

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REP. MAXIMO, JR. Y. DALOG

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE CULTURAL
CENTER AND MUSEUM IN THE PROVINCE OF MOUNTAIN PROVINCE,
DEFINING ITS PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR;

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled

SECTION 4. There is hereby established a cultural center and museum
in the Province of Mountain Province, to be known as the Mountain Province
Cultural Center and Museum to promote culture and the arts. It shall serve as
the institutional medium for the protection, preservation, presentation and
promotion of the cultural, artistic, archaeological, social, historical, religious and
philosophical heritage of Mountain Province and its people in view of the
richness of their legacies and of their relevance to their contemporary and future
aspirations.

SEC. 2. The Mountain Province Cultural Center and Museum shall be a
collaboration between the Provincial Government of Mountain Province and the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) with its concerned
affiliated cultural agencies and pertinent academic and private sector partners,
and members of the community, with its site, structures, governance,
organization, operations, and development to be provided for by mutual
agreement between the parties to be executed and published within one (1)
year from effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 3. To fulfill its purpose and achieve its objectives the Mountain
Province Cultural Center and Museum shall:

(a) Compile musical notes and lyrics of Mountain Province traditional
songs, ballads, and contemporary music compositions, and collect samples of
musical instruments of Mountain Province origin, design and creation;

(b) Publish and disseminate Mountain Province literary works, epics,
stories, and historical accounts;

(c) Compile Mountain Province literature, film, or audio-visual
recordings of cultural performances in music, dance, oral literature, and
festival celebration;


(d) Compile Mountain Province epigrams, proverbs, legends, and the
origin and etymology of Mountain Province words, names of barangays,
municipalities and other places of interests and their respective histories;

(e) Compile historical accounts of the different municipalities,
barangays and tribes of Mountain Province;

(f) Gather and document Mountain Province religious practices and
traditions, and the background and origin of Mountain Province fiestas and
festivals;

(g) Compile photographs of and showcase by appropriate exhibits,
Mountain Province landmarks, historical sites and scenic views, and acquire
and display varied range of Mountain Province arts and artifacts;

(h) Gather specimens of archaeological findings, collect stones, rocks,
and other geological materials, and preserve by appropriate methods,
samples of flora and fauna indigenous to Mountain Province;

(i) Conduct performances and workshops on Mountain Province music,
dances, arts, literary works, epics, stories, historical accounts and legends;
and

(j) Carry out any other relevant and appropriate activities.

SEC. 4, The Provincial Government of Mountain Province shall provide
the land necessary for the construction or establishment, or both, of the main
venue and ancillary offices and facilities of the Mountain Province Cultural
Center and Museum.

SEC. 5. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall
be charged against the current year's budget of the NCCA (Proper).
Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its continued
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the NCCA,
in coordination with the Provincial Government of Mountain Province, other
concerned agencies of the government, and private stakeholders, shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation
of this Act.

SEC. 7. If, for any reason, any section of this Act shall be deemed
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall remain
in force and in effect.

SEC. 8. All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and
regulations, contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are
repealed and amended accordingly.

SEC. 9. Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the implementing rules and
regulations, this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the


Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,