Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8470 ft.

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INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFREDVARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish Culture, Arts, Tourism and Heritage Councils in every
province of the country.

The western thinker George Santayana wrote that nations who never learn from the
lessons of the past are bound to repeat its mistakes.

While the National Commission on Culture and the Arts was created primarily for the
Purpose of developing, enhancing and institutionalizing arts and culture programs in the country,
it is limited by organizational nature- an agency based in the country’s capital with no
bureaucratic network to expand its programs, Projects and activities up to the grassroots level.
Hence, at best, it could only enter into memoranda of agreement with local government units to
fund a particular program or project with arts and culture component. Animating the citizenry
With the love and passion for their culture, arts, tourism and heritage should be a responsibility of
the local government units at the provincial and city level with the support of national agencies
like the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Museum, the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines and the Private sector.

While a number of local government units have taken the initiative of organizing arts,
culture, tourism and heritage council, a vast number of our provinces which have rich untapped
arts, culture and heritage wealth are not moving that consigning to the dustbins of history what
should have been preserved, enhanced and developed for the next generation to enjoy.

Given the above premises, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ALFRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._8470

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CULTURE, ARTS, TOURISM AND
HERITAGE COUNCILS IN VERY PROVINCE OF THE COUNTRY

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby created, in every province in the country, a Culture, Arts, Tourism
and Heritage Council that shall undertake culture, arts, tourism and heritage preservation,
enhancement and development.

SECTION 2. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall assist in the
creation of these councils and provide for its initial funding. The DILG shall, in coordination
with relevant culture, arts, tourism and heritage agencies actively promote the creation of these
councils.

SECTION 3. The subsequent allocation for the operationalization of these councils shall be
bome by their respective local government units,

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or the
application of such provision to any person, group, and circumstance is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected by such declaration.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. The provisions of this, as amended and all other laws, decrees,
executive order, rules and regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provision
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. This law shall take effect as soon as it is published in the Official
Gazette.

Approved,