SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2444 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
AN ACT 
'14 
NOV -4 P2 :04 
DESIGNATING THE NATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITIONS FOR YOUNG ARTISTS 
(NAMCYA) AS THE NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR 
MUSIC, DEFINING ITS ROLE AND FUNCTIONS AS SUCH, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
The Constitution, Article 2, provides: 
Sec. 13. The State shall give priority to education, science and 
technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, 
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and 
development. 
Article 14, provides: 
Sec. 15. Arts and letters shall enjoy the patronage of the State. The 
State shall conserve, promote, and popularize the nation's historical and 
cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations. 
Sec. 18. (1) The State shall ensure equal access to cultural 
opportunities through the educational system, public or private cultural 
entities, scholarships, grants and other incentives, and community 
cultural centers, and other public venues. 
This bill seeks to designate the National Music Competitions for Young Artists 
(NAMCYA) as the National Youth Development Program for Music, define its role and . 
functions, and appropriate funds for its continued sustainability and growth. 
1 


Now on its 41st year, NAMCYA was established through Presidential 
Proclamation No. 1173 dated August 7, 1973. In 1989, the NAMCYA Foundation, a non-
stock, non-profit, non-government foundation was born to continue organizing and 
presenting national competitions and festivals in music during the last week of November 
of each year, designated as the National Music Week. 
Over the last 40 years, the NAMCYA has been primarily instrumental in 
discovering major music talents all over the country. It is a concrete example of a non-
governmental organization that has proven to be effective in carrying out multi-sectoral 
collaborative activities, thereby assisting government in carrying out state policies in . 
culture and the arts, 
The NAMCYA competitions and festivals involve some one (1) million young 
musicians and their trainors and administrators in a long and tedious process that selects 
the best from all sixteen regions of the country. Among the hundreds of winners in the 
national level throughout the years, many have brought international prestige to the 
country by winning in foreign competitions, participating in international events, 
pursuing advanced training, and doing concerts abroad. 
NAMCYA has also rigorously pursued the promotion and dissemination of Philippine 
music, including Philippine traditional/folk music, through the commissioning of works, 
contest and music festivals as well as the documentation, publication, and production of 
Philippine musical works. 
Unfortunately, NAMCYA has had to survive on its own and through the support 
of its partners throughout its existence, subject to the vagaries of the times and the 
vicissitudes of the country's socio-political as well as economic conditions. This has 
threatened NAMCYA's continued viability and prevented it from fully realizing its 
potential and achieving its avowed goals and objectives. 
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The proposed legislation seeks to address concerns by strengthening the 
NAMCYA and its sustainability for the next forty years and beyond. For this and for 
other purposes, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
ptJ{ 
d ... ~ ~.-... J,~ 
MIRiAM DEFE~SOR SANTI¥:rO 
3 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'14 
NOV -4 P Z :04 
SENAJE 
S.No. 
G444 
,{ECE!YED In'; I. I 
)E'!-
--------------------------------------------------------------
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
DESIGNATING THE NATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITIONS FOR YOUNG ARTISTS 
3 
(NAMCYA) AS THE NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR 
4 
MUSIC, DEFINING ITS ROLE AND FUNCTIONS AS SUCH, AND 
5 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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7 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "NAMCYA Act." 
8 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
9 
to appropriately recognize, designate and support nongovernment organizations that have 
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demonstrated pioneering, consistent and unassailable competence, effectiveness and 
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success in discovering and developing young musical artists and talents, and the 
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preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine music and culture. 
13 
SECTION. 3. Designation as the Philippine National Youth Development 
14 
Program in Music. - The National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) is 
15 
hereby designated as the Philippine National Youth Development Program for Music, in 
16 
recognition of its having fulfilled the above-cited national policy; and for having 
17 
accomplished the following; 
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a) NAMCYA is national III scope, drawing the best talents from all over the 
2 
country; 
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b) NAMCY A has maintained the highest standards of excellence, manifested in its 
4 
competitions and festivals and the artists it has produced, many of whom have 
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represented the country in various international competitions and events, reaping 
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acclaim from both domestic and foreign audiences alike; 
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c) NAMCYA has an outstanding track record, having continuously presented and 
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organized the National Music Competition for Young Artists for over forty years 
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as well as having undertaken other activities such as scholarships, training, and 
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productions in pursuit of its mission. 
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SECTION 4. Role and Functions. -
Being the Philippine National Youth 
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Development Program in Music, the NAMCYA shall discharge the following roles and 
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functions: 
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a) discover outstanding musical talents through nationwide competitions and 
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festivals designed for young Filipino musicians in all forms, styles and musical· 
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traditions in the country; 
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b) assist in the cultivation, development and advancement of outstanding young 
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Filipino musicians through scholarships, trainings, performances, and other forms 
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of incentives; 
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c) preserve, develop and promote Philippine music as an art and as an important 
21 
component of cultural and social development; 
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d) establish a training program for music leaders, experts and teachers in order to 
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maintain and cultivate the highest standard of musical training for the youth; 
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e) strengthen the multi-cultural fiber of the country by nurturing and developing 
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gifted young musicians and musical ensembles from Philippine cultural 
2 


1 
communities, and preserve and disseminate their musical expressions and 
2 
traditions; 
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t) encourage and support the creation and performance of works by Filipino 
4 
composers and making possible their publication and dissemination; 
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g) recognize artistic achievement through awards, grants and services; 
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h) undertake a continuing program of research, documentation, and publication of 
7 
Philippine music for dissemination to schools and the general public; and 
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i) receive and accept donations and other conveyances from government agencies, 
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private entities, and other sources, including funds, materials, and services, by 
10 
gratuitous title; 
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SECTION 5. Entitlement. - The NAMCYA shall be entitled to the following: 
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a) The Cultural Center of the Philippines shall provide financial support, free use 
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of venue and facilities for NAMCYA competitions, festivals, productions, 
14 
performances, and office space; Provided, that a reasonable amount for utilities, 
15 
and direct costs may be charged; 
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b) The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education shall 
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assist in the identification, selection, and training of participants from the different 
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regions of the country. The DepEd and CHED shall allocate the funds necessary 
19 
for this purpose from national and local sources; 
20 
The DepEd, CHED, and state universities and colleges shall also provide free use 
21 
of venues and facilities in the conduct oflocal competitions and festivals. 
22 
c) The Department of Interior and Local Government and local government units 
23 
(LGU) are hereby authorized to utilize their respective funds, including Local 
24 
School Board funds (LSB), in the selection and training of participants and in the 
25 
conduct of local competitions and festivals. LGUs shall also provide free use of 
3 


1 
venues and facilities for NAMCY A activities and assistance in the conduct of 
2 
research projects; 
3 
d) The National Commission for Culture and the Arts and other government 
. 4 
agencies shall give preference to project proposals from the NAMCY A and shall . 
5 
provide continuous financial and technical support for its competitions, festivals, 
6 
scholarship assistance, and research activities; 
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e) Government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) are hereby authorized 
8 
to give donations and grants to the NAMCY A subject to their rules and 
9 
regulations. 
10 
SECTION 6. Exemptionsfrom Tax. -- The NAMCYA shall not be taxed on all its 
11 
income derived from all sources within and without the Philippines. 
12 
SECTION 7. Donations - The provisions of existing laws notwithstanding, all 
13 
donations, endowments, grants and contributions to the NAMCY A shall be exempt from 
14 
the donor's tax, estate tax, and inheritance taxes and be considered as allowable 
15 
deductions, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code, as 
16 
amended. 
17 
SECTION 8. Memorandum of Agreement. -
Within thirty (30) days upon 
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effectivity of this Act, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, shall execute the necessary 
19 
arrangements with NAMCY A in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. 
20 
SECTION 9. Appropriations. -
The amount of Twenty million pesos 
21 
(P20,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for purposes of this Act. Thereafter, such 
22 
amounts as is necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, shall be included in the 
23 
annual budget of the NAMCY A in the General Appropriations Act. 
24 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
25 
or unconstitutional, the reminder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall 
26 
remain valid and subsisting. 
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1 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
2 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
3 
or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
4 
accordingly. 
5 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
6 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
lacs 
5