Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF FILIPINO ARTISTS, 
PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the roles that arts, culture, 
and traditions play in developing a world class nation. Article XIV provides: 
Section 14. The State shall foster the preservation, enrichment, 
and dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the 
principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and 
intellectual expression. 
Section 17. The State shall recognize, respect, and protect the 
rights of indigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop 
their cultures, traditions, and institutions. It shall consider the rights 
in the formulation of national plans and policies. 
Despite all of these, many Filipino artists struggle with the financial 
limitations of their career. For one, artists are not entitled to the standardized 
benefits enjoyed by regular workers: they are yet to be provided with medical, 
disability, retirement, death insurance, and housing benefits. 
This bill seeks to uplift the morale of Filipino artists, including those who 
are members of the indigenous cultural communities, so they can continue to 
contribute to the artistic and cultural development of the country. Under this 
proposal, our artists shall be provided with health and hospitalization benefits to 
ease the plight of artists who have been stricken with illnesses. They will also be 
provided with housing benefits, free legal aid, and options for alternative careers. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 
September 7, 2022
3:24 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF FILIPINO ARTISTS, 
PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Artists’ Welfare 
Protection and Benefits Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.– The State shall protect and promote the 
rights of an artist to be considered as a person actually engaged in cultural 
work and to benefit from all legal, social and economic advantages pertaining 
to the status of workers. Pursuant to this, the state shall: 
a) Improve the social security, labor, medical, and legal conditions of
the artist, whether employed, self-employed or working freelance,
taking into account their contributions to cultural, social and
economic development, through a system of accreditation.
b) Help create and sustain a culture encouraging freedom of artistic
expression and communication, and to facilitate the release of
necessary resources in developing the artists’ creative talents.
c) Recognize artists as professionals, granting them the corresponding
rights and privileges, to enable them to collectively defend their
common interests;
d) Protect the artists’ sensibilities and material rights over their works
or performances, or any other use made of them to confirm their
artistic dignity and integrity.
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e) Provide second/alternative career opportunities to artists who wish 
to retire from their respective art. 
 
f) Develop means of providing welfare and legal information to artists. 
 
The State is submitting this legislation in honor of the countless recognitions 
and achievements of the Filipino Artists. 
 
SECTION 3. Coverage. This Act applies to all accredited artists, as defined 
herein, employed and working within the country, and those outside of the 
country who are covered by recruitment programs/contracts and placement 
offices/agencies. 
 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. – 
 
a) Accreditation –shall mean the assessment, of an artist or 
guild based on the Accreditation Requirements as provided 
herein, for purposes of availing the provisions and benefits 
provided in this Act. 
 
b) Accredited Artist- refers to an artist who is a Filipino, at 
least eighteen (18) years of age, and in compliance with the 
requirements for Accreditation provided in Section 7, or 
those members of existing arts guilds duly registered and 
accredited as provided for by law. 
 
c) Artist – It is taken to mean any person who creates or gives 
creative expression to, or recreates works of art, who 
considers his artistic creation to be an essential part of his 
life, who contributes in this way to the development of art 
and culture and who is or asks to be recognized as an artist, 
whether or not he is bound by any relations of employment 
or association. This includes Indigenous Artists and 
Cultural Performers. 
 
d) Collecting Agent/Foreign Collecting Agent – It shall refer 
to any person, natural or juridical, domestic or foreign 
including for purposes of foreign work, manning, placement 
and recruitment agencies, who hire and use the services of 
an artist. The collecting agent shall be responsible for the 
remittance of contribution of the artist to the Social Security 
System (SSS)/Government 
Service Insurance 
System 
(GSIS), Home Development Mutual Fund(Pag-ibig) and 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). The 
contribution shall be automatically deducted from the 
compensation paid to the artist.  
 


 
e) Cultural Performer – refers to an artist who practice 
culturally-accepted art forms in their communities, such as 
composo, zarzuela, and other forms of art not defined herein. 
It may also refer to an artist who, although not a member of 
any Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples 
(ICC/IP) group, has been consented by the latter to use IP 
clothing and related paraphernalia, artifacts, other cultural 
symbols 
and 
expressions, 
in 
accordance 
with 
the 
community standards and attributed meanings. 
 
f) Indigenous Peoples Artists – refers to artists who are 
members of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous 
Peoples groups who themselves are certified by their 
respective community as bearers of oral traditions, 
literature, designs, visual, performing arts and other 
cultural expressions. 
 
g) Second/Alternative Career – is any career, as enumerated 
under Sec. 16 of this Act, which an artist may engage into 
after leaving their main career due to age, incapacity and 
other reasons, or any career which an artist may engage into 
while still active in their major area of specialization due to 
the latter’s seasonal or contractual nature.  
 
h) Welfare Protection– shall refer to the government’s duty of 
providing rights and privileges to duly accredited artists, and 
ensuring the protection of their works and talents to 
maintain a minimum standard of well-being, specifically 
providing SSS/GSIS, Pag-ibig and PhilHealth, among other 
benefits. 
 
i) Welfare Information - shall refer to the government’s duty 
to provide knowledge awareness and understanding to duly 
accredited artists in terms of legal, medical, proprietary, 
educational, and second careers/alternative careers, among 
others. 
 
ARTICLE II 
RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES 
 
SECTION 5. Benefits. – An accredited artist shall have the rights and 
privileges to be provided with PhilHealth, SSS/GSIS, Home Development 
Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), and shall be entitled to all other benefits as provided 
by the pertinent provisions of law.  
 
SECTION 6. Artist Education and Information – An accredited artist shall 
have the rights and privileges of free legal aid and information, medical 
assistance, hospitalization, and options for Second/Alternative Careers. 


 
 
SECTION 7.  Accreditation Requirements – A guideline shall be issued for 
the purpose of defining an Accredited Artist. The National Commission on 
Culture and the Arts (NCCA) must issue the guidelines in consultation with 
the relevant organizations engaged in Literary Arts, Dance, Music, Theater, 
Film, Architecture, Visual and Design Arts, Arts Management and Production 
Design, and all other equivalent art forms/disciplines. The presumption shall 
always be resolved in favor of accreditation. 
 
SECTION 8. Application/Approval Procedure –Artists shall submit the 
necessary documents to support their application for Accreditation to the 
Local Arts Council, or to the Provincial, City, or Municipal Tourism Office or 
to the duly recognized Arts Guild in which they are members who shall 
determine the compliance requirements and shall issue a certificate of 
accreditation based on the accepted/recognized aesthetic sensibility of its 
artistic community; Provided, that the Tourism Office state herein may require 
written recommendation from recognized artist in the Local Government Unit 
prior to approval of accreditation. 
 
Provided further, for Indigenous Artists, requirements shall be submitted to 
and approved by the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples in their 
Province. The NNCA, through the Artist’s Welfare Office as stated in Article V 
herein, may provide additional procedures/requirements that shall encourage 
meaningful accreditation of artists and ensure the aesthetic quality and 
creativity of the various art forms.   
 
 
ARTICLE III 
SSS/GSIS, PHILHEALTH, AND PAG-IBIG-FUND COVERAGE 
 
SECTION 9. Accredited Artists shall be covered by the Social Security 
System; Other Benefits. – An Accredited Artist shall be covered by the Social 
Security System (SSS), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
(PhilHealth), and the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-ibig, and shall 
be entitled to all the benefits including but not limited to insurance, funeral, 
burial and financial assistance and scholarships to children, in accordance 
with the pertinent provisions provided by law. Payment of premiums or 
contributions shall be shouldered by the employer/principal who shall act as 
the collecting agent for the artist.   
 
SECTION 10. Payment of Premiums/Contributions – The payment by the 
collecting agent, for and in behalf of the accredited artist, shall be based on 
an annual amount to be determined by the respective agencies stated herein. 
 
SECTION 11. Multiple Payments/Contributions – In case of multiple 
payments/contributions exceeding the annual contribution as stated herein, 
the excess shall be carried over to the succeeding year. 
 


 
SECTION 12. Deficiency of Premium/Contribution Payments – In case of 
deficiency 
of 
payment, 
the 
accredited 
artist 
shall 
pay 
the 
deficiency/differences as stated in the category/schedule of payments, to be 
provided by the SSS/GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-Ibig, as the case may be. Artists 
who do not have collecting agents, as provided under Art I Sec. 4(d), shall 
comply with the provisions of voluntary contribution. 
 
 
SECTION 13. Category/Schedule of Payment – The SSS/GSIS, PhilHealth, 
Pag-Ibig, and other agencies that shall benefit the artist, shall create a 
category/schedule of payment for accredited artists in compliance with 
existing laws. 
 
SECTION 14. Artists Village – In coordination with the National Commission 
on Culture and the Arts, PAG-IBIG and other relevant government offices, a 
housing community to be known as the Artists Village shall be established. 
Suitable idle land shall be identified for the purpose. The Artists Village shall 
be provided to the accredited artists. Existing housing programs for the sectors 
shall be strengthened, improved and developed using available funds. 
 
 
ARTICLE IV 
INFORMATION ASSISTANCE – COVERAGE AND PROCEDURE 
 
SECTION 15. Legal Information/Assistance – The accredited artist shall be 
provided with free legal information through the National Committee on Legal 
Aid (NCLA) of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for the registration 
and protection of their intellectual property rights over their literary, artistic 
works, performances and other works as defined under RA 8293 or the 
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, and other pertinent laws. 
Accredited Artists as defined by this Act shall be provided with free legal 
services in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases 
by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) pursuant to the provisions of RA 9406. 
 
SECTION 16. Medical and Dental Assistance – The accredited artist shall 
be provided with free medical and dental assistance through the Philippine 
Medical Association (PMA), Philippine Hospital Association (PHA), and the 
Philippine Dental Association. An accredited artist, as defined by this act, shall 
be provided with free medical and dental services in all government hospitals, 
aside from the benefits that an accredited artist may avail through the 
PhilHealth. 
 
SECTION 17. Second/Alternative Careers – An accredited artist shall be 
provided with Second/Alternative Careers as enumerated, but not limited to 
the following: 
 
(a) Mentor to tutorial or remedial art classes integrated with the DepEd 
and CHED curricula. 
 


 
(b) Trainee in skills implementation program and ladderized education, 
as provided by TESDA, in coordination with the NCCA, through the 
latter’s commission-based, community-based or enterprise-based 
programs, whichever is applicable. 
 
(c) The TESDA, in coordination with the POEA, shall devise systems 
which will pave the way for the accredited artists to obtain job 
opportunities from foreign countries. 
 
(d) The POEA and the DFA, in coordination with the NCCA, shall 
establish mechanisms to ensure the welfare and employment, social 
security and health benefits or accredited artists working in foreign 
countries. 
 
SECTION 18. Arts Awareness in the Elementary and High School 
Curricula. Arts Appreciation and Awareness and Cultural Understanding 
shall be part of the curricula in the elementary, high school and K-12 Program. 
The accredited artists available in a community shall be seconded and shall 
assist teachers in the school in the art classes and culture subjects.  
 
 
ARTICLE V 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
 
SECTION 19. The Role of the National Commission for Culture and the 
Arts (NCCA) –The NCCA, as the policy making agency for the Artists Welfare 
Act, shall create an Artists’ Welfare Office which shall serve as the oversight 
body in compliance with the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 20. Dispute Resolution – In cases of disputes arising from the 
certification/accreditation or disqualification of artists, the NCCA through the 
Artist’s Welfare Office, shall resolve such dispute. 
 
SECTION 21. Payment of Taxes – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) shall 
provide assistance to artists covered by this Act in their regulation and 
payment of taxes. The BIR shall also ensure that artists will be given authority 
to print official receipts pursuant to BIR rules and regulations. 
 
SECTION 22. Continuing Studies on Special Privileges for Artists – The 
NCCA in coordination with other government offices, arts sector and academic 
institutions is mandated to conduct studies and researches on the feasibility 
of granting discount privileges to artists in particular those who are earning 
below the minimum wage law or those artists whose employment 
opportunities are intermittent. 
 
SECTION 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The National 
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is hereby authorized and 
directed to adopt a system to implement and carry out the provisions of this 
Act. The NCCA shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, 


 
promulgate the rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, 
to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 24. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or 
made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under 
existing laws. 
 
SECTION 25. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not 
affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 26. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,