Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

2 Rua

rE:

‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6260

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. Christopher V. P. De Venecia

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In Philippine socio-economic planning, the cultural factor is most often neglected or
ignored. As a matter of fact, culture has been placed relatively low in the national
bureaucracy. The budget allocation afforded to culture is quite low as compared to the
billions of pesos allocated to the other sectors of government. The enormous impact of
culture on the economy is a reality that many people do not see because of the limited
concept of culture confined to the arts.

Culture is much more than the arts. UNESCO defines culture as “a set of distinctive
spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features of society or a social group, and that
it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value
systems, traditions and beliefs. It is that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs,
arts, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired as a member of
society.”

It cannot be gainsaid that culture and heritage play an important role not only in the
social transformation of an individual, but also in the economic advancement of a country.
Culture and heritage create employment, attract investments, generate tax revenues and
encourage tourism. It should be galvanized as an invaluable tool in nation-building and
economy development.

Statistically, our creative industries contribute five per cent (5%) to our nation’s GDP.
‘A few years ago, tourism contributed a mere five per cent (5%) to our GDP. Presently, tourism
contributes eight per cent (8%), and is identified as one of the Duterte Administration’s top
priorities and among the drivers of our economy.

Moreover, the absence of a unifying culture is quite damaging to a society. The rise of
hyper-partisanship mentality from recent political and social events have caused a pervasive
national discord turning our country, and our people, into an extremely segmented entity.
Filipinos are torn apart by political, economic, social, and ethnic divisions. This disunity is
Preventing the country from achieving its potential as a modern and progressive nation.


It cannot be emphasized enough that it is time we recognize that a strong national
culture is an essential ingredient in the formulation of social and economic policy. It is time
for our country to have a legitimate, empowered, and truly inclusive Department of Culture.

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

REP. IER V. P. DE VENECIA
rth istrict, Pangasinan



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6260

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. Christopher V. P. De Venecia

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:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Department of Culture Act of 2017.”

ARTICLE |
DECLARATION OF POLICY

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. itis 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;

¢. 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.  Tocreate 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 national resources, patrimony and wealth engendered and
amassed through countless generations and centuries of distinctive
Filipino ways of life and experiences in specific natural and social
environments 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 and 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. Tosecure 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,
follow:

a. “Art” shall refer to the expression or application of human creative skill
and imagination.

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 peoples 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,
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 traditional
domains or who may have resettled outside their ancestral domains;

j. “Intangible Cultural Heritage” shall refer to practices, representations,
expressions, knowledge, skills, as well as instrument, objects and artifacts
associated therewith, that communities, groups and individual recognize
as part of their cultural heritage, such as: (1) oral traditions, usages,
customs, languages and other expressions; (2) performing arts; (3) social
practices, religious rites, rituals, culinary traditions, and festive events; (4)
knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, worship
and (5) traditional craftsmanship.

ARTICLE I
‘THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE

SEC. 4. Creation of the Department of Culture. There is hereby created the Department of
Culture (Kagawaran ng Kultura), hereinafter referred to as the Department, which shall be
the primary policy-formulating, planning, coordinating, implementing, and administrative
entity of the executive branch of the National Government that will implement the pertinent
provisions of the Constitution regarding culture and arts as well as the aforementioned policy
of the State.

The Department with its attached agencies shall be responsible for the protection,
preservation, regulation, development, management, dissemination and promotion of the
cultural, historical and artistic heritage and resources, tangible and intangible, of the
Philippines and the Filipino people, all of which, with their physical and social contexts and
environments, are understood as together constituting and pertaining to Philippine culture
5


for purposes of this Act.

The Department shall continually review the state and needs of culture and arts in the context
of the country’s developmental goals.

SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. The Department shall exercise the following powers and
functions:

Formulate and implement national policies, plans, programs, and
guidelines for the protection, preservation, regulation, development,
management, dissemination and promotion of culture, to ensure overall
consistency, effectiveness, efficiency, and conformity with the policies of
the State articulated 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;”
Presidential Decree No. 1616, or “Creation of the Intramuros
Administration;” Presidential Decree No. 1748, or “An Act Amending the
Charter of the intramuros Administration;” Republic Act No. 8491, or “The
Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines,” Republic Act No. 9105, or “Art
and Forgery Act of 2001;" Republic Act No. 10066, or “The National
Cultural Heritage Act of 2009;” and, Republic Act No. 10086 or
“Strengthening Peoples' Nationalism Through Philippine History Act;” as
well as such functions promulgated through executive issuances that
pertain to the agencies of the National Government covered under this 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 Maniilikha ng Bayan), which is hereby renamed as the Order of
National Living Treasures (Orden ng mga Pambansang Maniilikha 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;

8. 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. 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.

k. Represent the Philippines in matters pertaining to culture in overseas
regional and international organizations and events.

|. Other powers and functions as may be created, assigned or transferred by
the President of the Philippines in accordance with law.

SEC. 6. Composition. The Department proper shall include the Office of the Secretary and
the staff units directly under it, including the Services established herein. The Office of the


Secretary shall consist of the Secretary, at least three (3) Undersecretaries, and at least five
(5) Assistant Secretaries, together with the personnel in their immediate offices.

SEC. 7. Secretary of Culture. The authority and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate
of the Department and for the discharge of its powers and functions shall be vested in the
Secretary, who shall have supervision and control of the Department and shall be appointed
by the President of the Philippines, subject to the confirmation by the Commission on
Appointments.

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. —The Secretary shall have the following
powers and functions:

a. Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of
the Department and exercise administrative supervision over its attached
agencies;

b. Establish policies and standards for the effective, efficient and
economical operation of the Department, in accordance with the
programs of government;

¢. Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out department
mandates, objectives, policies, functions, plans, programs and projects;

d.  Promulgate administrative issuances necessary for the efficient
administration of the offices under the Secretary and for proper
execution of the laws relative thereto. These issuances shall not prescribe
penalties for their violation, except when expressly authorized by law;

€. _ Rationalize delivery systems necessary for the effective attainment of the
objectives of the Department, in accordance with 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 of a 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
interests’ groups, including non-government organizations (NGOs) and


people’s organizations (POs) on Department policies and initiatives;

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;

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;

Prepare and submit to the President through the Department of Budget
and Management an estimate of the necessary expenditures of the
department during the next fiscal year, on the basis of the reports and
estimates submitted by bureaus and officers under the Department;

Exercise jurisdiction over all bureaus, offices, agencies and corporations
under the Department as provided by law; and,

Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by
the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

SEC. 9. 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, at least two (2) of whom shall be career officers. In general, the undersecretaries

shall:

SEC. 10. Assistant Secretaries.

e.

Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of
department objectives and policies;

Oversee all the operational activities of the bureau or units for which he
shall be responsible as assigned by the Secretary;

Coordinate the programs and projects of the same and be responsible for
its economical, efficient and effective administration;

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 in case of vacancy of the said office, unless otherwise provided by law;
the President of the Philippines shall likewise make the temporary
designation of Acting Secretary to the same; and

Perform such other functions and duties as may be provided by law.

The Secretary shall be assisted by five (5) Assistant

Secretaries, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the Secretary, at least three (3) of whom shall be career officers. The
Assistant Secretaries shall be in charge of specific areas of responsibility as may be
established by the Secretary.

9


SEC. 11. Qualifications. No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary, 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 III
‘THE DEPARTMENT SERVICES

SEC. 12. Department Services.—The Department of Culture shall have services which shall
include the General Administrative Service, Financial Management Service, Policy and
Planning Service, Legal Affairs Service, Physical Facilities Management Service, Human
Resources Development Service, Strategic Communications and Initiatives Service,
Knowledge and Information Systems, Project Evaluation and Monitoring Service, Foreign-
Assisted and Special Projects Service, internal Audit Service, Endowment Management
Service, Grants Management Service;

ARTICLE IV
‘THE BUREAUS

SEC. 13. 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/ institutes for living traditions, encourage the
continued 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 licenses, 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.

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 laboratory services, provide support to
monuments and sites, museums and galleries and libraries and archives
all over the country and establish a National Institute of Heritage
Conservation.

d. Bureau of Artistic Resources Development — shall ensure the continuing
10


and balance development of the nation’s artistic heritage in its various
forms; performing 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, and establish the National Academy for Culture and
Arts and National Institute for Culture and Arts Management.

e. Bureau of 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.

f. Bureau of Cultural and 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 and
lifestyle and architecture and allied arts, and others.

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.

SEC. 14. 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 case 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. 15. Regional 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 Regional Director. The Regional Director
and Assistant Regional Director shall be appointed by the President 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 (CSC) 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
ote


other concerned agencies and institutions. A regional office shall have, within its
administrative region, the following functions:

h.

Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, rules and regulations of the
department or agency in the regional area;

Provide economical, efficient and effective service to the people in the
area;

Undertake research and gather data on local culture and arts trends and
other relevant cultural and artistic information;

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;

Coordinate with regional offices of other departments, bureaus and
agencies in the area;

Coordinate with local government units in the area;

Make recommendations to the Secretary on alll matters relating to culture
and arts in the region; and,

Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.

SEC. 16. Duties of a Regional Director. —The Regional Director shall perform duties and
functions as may be provided by law or further delegated by the head of agency or other
proper authorities concerned.

‘THE ATTACHED AGENCIES, INSTITUTES, ADVISORY COUNCIL, OVERSEAS OFFICES

ARTICLE VI

SEC. 17. The Attached Agencies.

a.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCA) is hereby
abolished, and their powers and functions, applicable funds and
appropriations, records, equipment, property, and personnel transferred
to the Department.

The following agencies are hereby attached to the Department for policy
and program coordination, and shall continue to operate and function in
accordance with the charters, laws or orders creating them, insofar as
they are not inconsistent with this act.

Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)

National Museum of the Philippines (NMP)

National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)
National Library of the Philippines (NLP)

National Archives of the Philippines (NAP)

yaene

12


6. Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF)

7. Intramuros Administration (IA)

8. National Parks Development Committee (NPDC)

9. Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF)

10. Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)
11. National Book Development Board (NBDB)

12. Design Center of the Philippines

c. The laws and rules on government reorganization as provided for in
Republic Act No. 6566, otherwise known as the Reorganization Law, shall
govern the organization process of the Department.

SEC. 18. National Institutes. The following National Institutes, with their respective networks
throughout the country, shall be established under the Department:

a. The National institute of Living Traditions, and through it, a network of
individual Schools of Living Traditions to be established, which, with the
support of appropriate partnerships, shall be responsible for programs
and projects related to the safeguarding, sustainability, propagation and
intergenerational transmission of intangible cultural heritage, particularly
that which pertains to indigenous cultural communities;

b. The National institute of Cultural Heritage Preservation, and through it, a
network of individual Eskwela Talyer (Workshop Schools) to be
established, which, with the support of appropriate partnerships, shall be
responsible for programs and projects related to national capacity
building in the area of conservation arts, sciences and trades with respect
to the preservation of immovable and movable cultural property and with
a particular focus on vocational training for youth; and

©. The National institute of Culture and Arts Management, and through it, a
network of individual Culture and Arts Management Training Centers to
be established, which, with the support of appropriate partnerships, shall
be responsible for programs and projects related to 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;

SEC. 19. National Academy of Culture and Arts. There is hereby established under the
Department a National Academy of Culture and Arts, which shall be an institutionalized
association of the nation’s foremost leaders and exponents of culture and arts, the primary
Purpose of which is to support the mandate of the Department as an independent body of
eminent persons. The President of the Philippines shall be the Honorary Patron of the
National Academy of Culture and Arts.

13


The structure and organization of the Academy, including the specification of its functions,
procedures as to its governance and the selection of its members, and the composition of its
secretariat, shall be contained in a charter to be formulated by the Department and
promulgated by the President of the Philippines through an Executive Order within one (1)
year of the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 20. Culture and Arts Advisory Councils. The Department shall facilitate the creation of
a National Culture and Arts Advisory Council, a Regional Culture and Arts Advisory Council,
and, a Local Culture and Arts Advisory Council, to assist the Department in the
implementation of culture and arts initiatives.

SEC. 21. Sectoral and Industry Task Forces. The Department may create a sectoral and
industry task forces, technical working groups, advisory bodies or committees for the
furtherance of its objectives. Additional private sector representatives, such as from the
academe, CSOs, and federation of private industries directly involved in culture and the arts
as well as representatives of other LGUs, and GOCCs may be appointed to these working
groups.

SEC. 22. Rizal Centers. — The Department shall, through a dedicated organizational unit to
be established for the purpose, establish and manage centers, to be known as Rizal Centers
or Sentro Rizal, throughout the country and 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.

Domestically, the Department shall establish Sentro Rizal as regional cultural centers and
hubs, to be supervised and operated appropriately through its regional offices. Such regional
centers shall include exhibition and performance venues, and facilities enabling access to
knowledge resources, particularly those pertaining to vernacular language resources.

Overseas, the Department shall establish Sentro Rizal as Philippine cultural centers in key
places for the benefit of the global diaspora of Philippine citizens, the global community of
Filipino migrants or descendents 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.

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, both domestically and
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 Xl, including Sections 42 to 47, of Republic Act No. 10066 is hereby repealed.
SEC. 23. Overseas Offices. The Department shall establish overseas offices whenever

necessary to:
“4


a. Implement plans, programs and projects of the Department relative to
communities of Philippine citizens abroad;

b. Promote Filipino culture to the international community;

c. Coordinate with international organizations as well as with the overseas
offices of other departments, offices and agencies of the Philippine
government; and

d. Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.

ARTICLE VII
REORGANIZATION

SEC. 24. 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. 25. Structure and Staffing Pattern. Subject to the approval of the Department of Budget
and Management (DBM), the Department 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. 26. 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, as specified in
Section 17(a) of this Act, the Department, in coordination with the DBM, shall determine and
create new positions, the funding requirement of which shall not exceed the equivalent cost
of positions abolished.

SEC. 27. Separation from Service. Employees separated from the service as a result of this
reorganization shall, within ninety (90) days therefrom, receive the separation and
retirement benefits to which they may be entitled under Executive Order No. 366. Provided
that such separation pay and retirement benefits shall have priority of payment out of the
savings of the department or agency.

ARTICLE VII
PROPERTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

SEC. 28. 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.

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SEC. 29. 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.

ARTICLE IX
APPROPRIATIONS AND FINAL PROVISIONS.

SEC. 30. Appropriations. The amount needed for the initial implementation of this Act shall
be taken from the current fiscal year’s appropriation for the NCCA through the Office of the
President, and other appropriations available for the purpose. Thereafter, the amount
needed for the operation and maintenance of the Department proper shall be included in
the General Appropriations Act, provided that for the next fiscal year, the amount shall be
no less than Two Billion Pesos (PHP2,000,000,000.00).

SEC. 31. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Office of the President, in consultation
with other government agencies mentioned in this Act, shall promulgate its implementing
rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 32. 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. 33. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or
invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 34. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in
at least two (2) papers of general circulation.

Approved,

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