TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
818
of tl)f ;? iVi tarp
25 AUG-4 PI 36
\
RECEiVtD B'' __
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
MODIFYING AND EXPANDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF THE 
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS, MANDATING THE 
ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF CULTURAL FACILITIES AND 
REGIONAL OFFICES THEREFOR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 7356 established the National Commission for Culture and the 
Arts (NCCA) as the principal government agency for policy formulation, coordination, 
and implementation in the fields of culture and the arts. Since its enactment in 1992, 
evolving cultural mandates and institutional developments necessitate the revision of 
the law to reflect contemporary challenges and goals.
The enactment of the Cultural Mapping Act, the One Town, One Product 
(OTOP) Philippines Act, and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, 
among other laws, has expanded the mandates of the NCCA. These measures require 
sustained engagement with agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Commission on Higher 
Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Their 
inclusion in the NCCA Board will institutionalize inter-agency coordination and ensure 
cohesive policy development and program implementation.
Additionally, this bill transitions the NCCA from a Manila-based coordinating 
agency to a fully empowered cultural authority with nationwide presence, 
strengthened institutional linkages, and executive competence. It aligns the agency's 
internal structure with the scope of its expanding mandates, and it positions Philippine


culture as both a national development asset and a diplomatic tool. The establishment 
of regional offices aims to provide effective access to NCCA's services across the 
country, ensure consistent enforcement of cultural heritage regulations nationwide, 
and establish closer coordination and linkages with local government units and other 
organizations for the implementation of NCCA's plans and programs at the local and 
regional levels.
Likewise, the creation of an organization and staffing for the Metropolitan 
Theater (MET) seeks to sustain its operations that will enable the NCCA to provide the 
public with free and continuous access to artistic and cultural performances. Currently, 
the NCCA operates the Metropolitan Theater with "contract of service" staff 
undertaking important tasks, including theater management. In view of this, there is 
a need to establish the MET Operations Office headed by a Theater Director.
Finally, the proposed ranks of the NCCA officials aim to reflect the realities of 
their expanded duties and responsibilities carried out on a day-to-day basis as well as 
the establishment of regional offices. Through this measure, the NCCA hopes to 
strengthen interagency coordination, enforce cultural heritage regulations on a 
national scale, enhance closer engagement with the public, and become more 
responsive in the implementation of its policies and programs.
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
LOREN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
818
S. No.
of tl)f £30crc!afP
25 AUG -4 P1 36
REcavtu i
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
MODIFYING AND EXPANDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF THE 
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS, MANDATING THE 
ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF CULTURAL FACILITIES AND 
REGIONAL OFFICES THEREFOR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Republic Act No. 7356, otherwise known as the "Law Creating the
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National Commission for Culture and the Arts," is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Section 1. Title. - x x x
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Title I
5 
Declaration of Principles
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Section 2. Culture as a Human Right - x 
x x
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Section 3. National Identity. - x x x
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Section 4. Culture of the People. - x x x
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Section 5. Culture by the People. - x x x
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Section 6. Culture for the People. - x x x
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Section 7. Preservation of the Filipino Heritage. - x x x
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Title II
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Organization of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
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and the Establishment of the National Endowment Fund


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Section 8. The Commission. - x x x
Section 9. Composition. - The Composition of the Board of 
the National Commission for Culture and the Arts shall be modified 
and expanded to comprise nineteen (19) Commissioners, as 
follows:
a) The Secretaries of the following four (4) Departments
i. 
Secretary of the Department of Education;
ii. 
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs;
iii. 
Secretary of the Department of Tourism; and
iv. 
Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
b) The Heads of the following eight (8) National Government Agencies 
and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations:
i. 
Chairman of the Commission on the Filipino Language;
ii. 
President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines;
iii. 
Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education;
iv. 
Executive Director of the National Archives of the Philippines;
V. Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the 
Philippines;
vi. 
Director of the National Library of the Philippines;
vii. 
Director-General of the National Museum of the Philippines; and
viii. 
Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority.
c) To represent the Congress of the Philippines, the two (2) 
Chairpersons of the pertinent committees of the House of 
Representatives and the pertinent committee of the Senate of the 
Philippines covering culture and the arts:
i. 
Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts;
ii. 
Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic 
Education and Culture.
d) The four (4) representatives from the private sector who shall be 
elected heads of the four (4) Subcommissions, namely: the 
Subcommission on Cultural Heritage, the Subcommission on the


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Arts, the Subcommission on Cultural Dissemination, and the 
Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts; and 
e) The Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and 
the Arts, as Head of its Secretariat. Provided, he/ she may not be 
elected as Chairperson of the Commission.
The officials named may be represented by their duly 
designated representatives, who shall be vested with the authority 
to act in the name of their principal.
Section 10. Rank of the Chairperson, Executive Director, and 
the Deputy Executive Director. The Chairperson of the Commission, 
elected from among the members of the Commission to serve 
without compensation, as provided by Republic Act No. 7356, shall 
have the rank of a Secretary. The Chairperson may, at the 
discretion of the President of the Philippines and pursuant to an 
administrative order issued for the purpose, be designated as a 
member of the Cabinet.
The Executive Director shall have the rank of Undersecretary 
while the two (2) Deputy Executive Directors shall have the rank of 
Assistant Secretary.
For purposes of protocol. Commissioners under Section 9 (b) 
and (d) of the Commission shall be regarded as an Undersecretary 
when designated to represent the Commission officially abroad. 
Section 11. Term Office and Compensation. - x x x Section 12. 
Membership Restrictions. - x x x 
Section 13. Mandate. - x x x 
Section 14. Powers and Functions. - x x x
Section 15. Cultural Facilities; Regional, Satellite and Field 
Offices. - To support its general operations, regulatory functions, 
and programs, activities and projects, as well as enhance public 
access to its services, the National Commission for Culture and the 
Arts shall establish and operate Cultural Facilities, which shall 
include cultural centers, theaters, galleries, and other physical


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facilities that allow the public access to culture and the arts, as well 
as Regional Offices throughout the administrative regions of the 
Philippines.
The organization and staffing of each Cultural Facility shall 
be appropriate to its physical size and scope of operations. The 
Metropolitan Theater in the City of Manila owned and operated by 
the Commission, shall be headed by a Theater Director. Likewise, 
each Regional Office shall be headed by a Regional Director.
At least two (2) Regional Offices in Luzon, one (1) Regional 
Office in Visayas, and two (2) Regional Offices in Mindanao shall be 
established, organized, staffed within a period of two (2) years from 
the effectivity of this Act.
Satellite Offices and Field Offices may likewise be 
established by the NCCA, particularly in areas of exceptional 
cultural significance and, in coordination with the Department of 
Budget and Management, organized and staffed as appropriate. 
Section 16. The Secretariat. - x x x 
Section 17. The Subcommissions. - x x x 
Section 18. Local, Provincial or Regional Councils. - x x x 
Section 19. National Advisory Board. - x x x 
Section 20. The National Cultural Agencies. - x x x 
Section 21. Program Plans. - x x x
Section 22. National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts. - x x x 
Section 23. Tax Exemption. - x x x 
Section 24. Revolving Fund. - x x x
TITLE III
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 25. Transitory Provisions. - x x x 
Section 26. Notice or Consent Requirement. - x x x 
Section 27. Separability Clause. - x x x


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Section 28. Saving Clause. - x x x
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Section 29. Effectivity. - x x x"
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Sec 2. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the immediate
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implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current year's appropriations of
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the NCCA (Proper). Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued
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implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec 3. Separabiiity Clause. - If for any reason a provision or section of this Act
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is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other sections or provisions not affected thereby
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shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec 4. Repealing Clause. - Section 9 and other pertinent sections of Republic Act
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No. 7356, otherwise known as the "Law Creating the National Commission for Culture
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and the Arts, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, are hereby amended
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accordingly. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and
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regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of
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this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
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Sec 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,