Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE 
ARTS, ITS COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND MANDATE, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is the overall policy-
making, coordinating, implementing and grants-giving government body for the 
preservation, development and promotion of Philippine culture, arts and heritage.  
In line the promotion of “science, technology, and the creative arts to enhance 
innovation and creative capacity [of Filipinos] towards self-sustaining, inclusive 
development,” and the shifting cultural landscape vis-à-vis the charter of the NCCA 
which was institutionalized back in 1992, there is a need to revisit Republic Act No. 
7356 in order to 1) refresh, strengthen, and empower the commission through the 
enhancement of its mandate, powers, and functions; 2) improve and reorganize the 
NCCA to become more responsive in the implementation of its cultural, heritage, and 
creative arts programs; and 3) provide support to the development of creative arts 
industries as part of its overall cultural framework.  
For the above cited reasons, the passage of the bill is urgently sought. 
STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO, PhD 
Representative 
Second District, Marikina City 
July 22, 2022   
10:29 am
2251


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE 
ARTS, ITS COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND MANDATE, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
1 
Congress assembled:  
2 
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Commission for 
4 
Culture and the Arts Act of 2022” 
5 
6 
7 
ARTICLE I 
8 
DECLARATION OF POLICY 
9 
10 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the state to preserve and enrich 
11 
the dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in 
12 
diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression. The State recognizes 
13 
that culture, being a critical component in nation-building, is a unifying, humanizing, 
14 
and modernizing instrument of any society, and the patrimony and right of every citizen 
15 
of the Philippines. Thus, the State shall ensure that cultural education, as a right of 
16 
every citizen, is inculcated in the development and education of all Filipinos. 
17 
18 
The State shall recognize, respect, and protect the rights of Indigenous as well 
19 
as Moro Cultural Communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and 
20 
institutions. It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national plans and 
21 
policies and ensure equal access to cultural opportunities through the educational 
22 
system, public or private cultural entities, scholarships, grants and other incentives, 
23 
and community cultural centers, and other public venues. Furthermore, the State shall 
24 
promote the national language of the country while enhancing and respecting the 
25 
linguistic diversity of the Philippines. 
26 
27 
It is further declared the policy of the State that the arts and letters shall enjoy 
28 
the patronage of the State, and shall conserve, promote, and popularize the nation’s 
29 
historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations, the State 
30 
shall secure and improve the welfare of Filipino artists and cultural workers and shall 
31 
place any and all artistic and cultural works under the protection of the State which 
32 
may regulate its disposition. 
33 
2251


 
1 
Towards this end, the state shall create a national body which shall develop, 
2 
manage and be responsible for the implementation of policy, legislation and strategic 
3 
direction for the protection, regulation, preservation, development, management, 
4 
dissemination and promotion of the country’s culture, relative to the immense national 
5 
resources, patrimony and wealth engendered and amassed through countless 
6 
generations and centuries of distinctive Filipino ways of life and experiences in specific 
7 
natural and social environments that this represents, and to facilitate the convergence 
8 
of various agencies with cultural mandates and rationalize their organizations and 
9 
functions.  
10 
 
11 
In view of the foregoing, the government shall also incorporate considerations 
12 
of culture in the formulation of appropriate and significant political and economic policy 
13 
that will better serve Filipinos and ensure that all Filipinos enjoy full cultural rights, take 
14 
full advantage of a dynamic cultural experience, and be inspired, sustained by, draw 
15 
from, contribute to, and celebrate the country’s culture.           
16 
 
17 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
18 
shall be defined as follow: 
19 
a) “Conservation” shall refer to all process and measures of maintaining the 
20 
cultural significance of a cultural property, including but not limited to, 
21 
preservation, restoration, reconstruction, protection, adaptive re-use or any 
22 
combination thereof.  
23 
 
24 
b) “Creative Art” shall refer to the expression or application of human creative 
25 
skill and imagination situated within society and history. Creative Arts include, 
26 
but is not limited to visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, design, 
27 
architecture, film and video, TV and radio, crafts, and advertising. 
28 
 
29 
c) “Culture” shall refer to the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and 
30 
emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, not only art 
31 
and literature, but lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions 
32 
and beliefs.1  
33 
 
34 
d) “Creative Arts Agencies” shall refer to any of the following national 
35 
government agencies within their specific areas of responsibility: Film 
36 
Development Council of the Philippines, National Book Development Board, 
37 
and National Council for Children’s Television, and other agencies which may 
38 
be established in the future, as attached to the National Commission for the 
39 
Culture and the Arts, which may have significant relation to Filipino creative 
40 
arts. 
41 
 
42 
e) “Cultural Agencies” shall refer to any of the following national government 
43 
agencies with their specific areas of responsibility: Cultural Center of the 
44 
Philippines, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, National Museum of the Philippines, 
45 
the National Library of the Philippines, National Historical Commission of the 
46 
Philippines, the National Archives of the Philippines and other agencies which 
47 
                                                          
1 Derived from the 2001 UNESCO definition of “Culture”  


may be established in the future, as attached to the National Commission for 
1 
Culture and the Arts, which may have significant relation to Filipino culture and 
2 
the arts.  
3 
 
4 
f) “Cultural and Natural Heritage” shall refer to works of man or the combined 
5 
works of nature and man.  It is the totality of cultural property preserved and 
6 
developed through time and passed on to posterity.  It includes archaeological 
7 
sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic, 
8 
ethnological or anthropological point of view. 
9 
 
10 
g) “Cultural Education” shall refer to the teaching and learning of cultural 
11 
concepts and processes. Teaching may be in formal and informal set-up.  
12 
 
13 
h) “Cultural Workers” shall refer to arts and culture practitioners whose practice 
14 
may include but not be limited to coordination, management, research, 
15 
scholarly work, training, education and advocacy work and has holistic view 
16 
on cultural work. 2  
17 
 
18 
i) “Cultural Property” shall refer to all natural or human creativity products by 
19 
which people and nation reveal their identity, including architecture and sites 
20 
or human activities and natural history specimens and sites, whether public or 
21 
privately owned, movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible. 
22 
 
23 
j) “Grant” shall refer to a financial assistance/award given to eligible individuals 
24 
and organizations whose project proposals were selected through a rigorous 
25 
evaluation process based on merit such as quality and relevance to the 
26 
priorities of the grant-giving agency.  
27 
 
28 
k) “History” shall refer to a written record of past events relating to Philippine 
29 
history.  
30 
 
31 
l) “Intangible Cultural Heritage” shall refer to practices, representations, 
32 
expressions, knowledge, skills, as well as instruments, objects and artifacts 
33 
associated therewith, that communities, groups and individuals recognize as 
34 
part of their cultural heritage. 
35 
 
36 
ARTICLE II 
37 
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS 
38 
 
39 
SECTION 4.  Mandates. – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts is hereby 
40 
strengthened and shall be the overall policy and plan formulator, coordinator, 
41 
implementing and grants- giving agency for the preservation, safeguarding, 
42 
conservation, regulation, management, development, and promotion of the Philippine 
43 
culture, natural heritage, and creative arts. 
44 
 
45 
                                                          
2 Being a cultural worker especially in the 80s and 90s had connotations that services are rendered voluntarily. 
Though this changed, commitment to cultural work is at the core of a cultural worker. The term was coined in 
the 80s when the social and political condition had prompted the artists to do beyond the confines of their art 
practice.  


In this regard, the Commission shall have the following mandates: 
1 
 
2 
A) To safeguard, develop, and promote Indigenous Cultural Communities 
3 
and Moro culture and their various creative expressions;  
4 
 
5 
B) To conserve, safeguard, and develop the Filipino historical and cultural 
6 
heritage; 
7 
 
8 
C) To preserve and to integrate traditional culture and its various creative 
9 
expressions as a dynamic part of the national cultural mainstream; 
10 
 
11 
D) To protect and promote Filipino cultural and artistic expressions; 
12 
 
13 
E) To actively engage and support the development and promotion of the 
14 
Philippine creative arts; 
15 
 
16 
F) To promote the welfare, ensure protection, and uphold the cultural and 
17 
artistic and intellectual property rights of the artists, cultural workers, and 
18 
the cultural and creative arts professionals;  
19 
 
20 
G) To nurture artistic excellence, recognize outstanding works and 
21 
achievements, and ensure integrity of the creative outputs of artistic 
22 
creators and cultural workers. To ensure the widest dissemination of the 
23 
artistic and cultural products among the greatest number across the 
24 
country and overseas.  
25 
 
26 
SECTION 5. Powers and Functions. – To carry out its mandates the Commission 
27 
shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
28 
 
29 
A) Establish and strengthen the national cultural database and statistics in aid 
30 
of policy formulation and program development;  
31 
B) Assume and exercise all existing regulatory and quasi-judicial functions 
32 
established under Republic Act No. 10066, or “The National Cultural 
33 
Heritage Act of 2009;” and, Republic Act No. 10086 or “Strengthening 
34 
Peoples' Nationalism Through Philippine History Act;” Republic Act No. 
35 
9105 or Art Forgery Act of 2001, all authority and responsibilities relative to 
36 
National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, as provided 
37 
by Presidential Decree No. 260; Republic Act No. 4846 as amended by 
38 
Presidential Decree 374 and Republic Act No. 8492; and all regulatory 
39 
functions transferred to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts 
40 
through Republic Act No. 11333 or “National Museum of the Philippines 
41 
Act”;  
42 
C) Support and monitor the development and promotion of the cultural, artistic 
43 
and creative industries of the country;  
44 
D) Provide administrative supervision to the Philippine High School for the 
45 
Creative Arts System, in partnership with the Department of Education;  
46 


E) Set-up a system of networking and coordination with and among all existing 
1 
government agencies for the effective implementation of plans and 
2 
strategies in compliance with this act;  
3 
F) Coordinate with the local government units in their cultural planning and 
4 
implementation as well as monitor their compliance to RA No. 10066;  
5 
G) Exercise administrative supervision over the cultural agencies and devise 
6 
cooperative and collaborative partnership in pursuit of the Commission’s 
7 
mandate and objectives; 
8 
H) Coordinate with creative arts agencies and devise cooperative and 
9 
collaborative partnerships in pursuit of the Commission’s mandate and 
10 
objectives. 
11 
 
12 
SECTION 6. Board of Trustees. – The Commission shall be governed by a Board of 
13 
Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the “Board”, which shall be composed of the 
14 
following members: 
15 
 
16 
A) A Chairperson, who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the 
17 
Commission; 
18 
 
19 
B) An Undersecretary of the Department of Education;  
20 
 
21 
C) An Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism;  
22 
 
23 
D) An Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry; 
24 
 
25 
E) An Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs; 
26 
 
27 
F) An Undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (or 
28 
the President of the Creative Economy Council of the Philippines); 
29 
 
30 
G) The Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples 
31 
 
32 
H) Six (6) cultural workers, professional artists, and creative industry 
33 
practitioners   from the private sector, representing each of the 
34 
different general areas of:  
35 
  
36 
a.) Cultural Heritage Preservation  
37 
b.) Cultural Communities 
38 
c.) Cultural Heritage Education 
39 
d.) Indigenous and Traditional Arts 
40 
e.) Performing, Literary, And Allied Arts 
41 
f.) Creative Industries 
42 
 
43 
Provided that the six (6) representatives from the private sector 
44 
shall have at least five (5) years’ experience in their respective fields; 
45 


provided further that at least three (3) will hail from the academe; and 
1 
the other three (3) will be representatives from the business sector in 
2 
their respective fields.  All of whom are known to be persons of 
3 
integrity and probity. They shall be appointed by the President from 
4 
the list of recommendations of the Board.  The members from said 
5 
various sectors shall have a term of three (3) years, renewable for 
6 
another three (3) years, and shall not be eligible for reappointment. 
7 
 
8 
SECTION 7. Powers and Functions of the Board of Trustees. – The exercise of 
9 
the corporate powers of the Commission is hereby vested exclusively in the Board of 
10 
Trustees (the Board). 
11 
The Board shall have the following specific powers and duties in addition to its 
12 
general powers of administration and the exercise of all the powers granted to the 
13 
board of directors of a corporation under Section 35 of Republic Act No. 11232, 
14 
otherwise known as the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines: 
15 
a) Formulate, implement, monitor, and evaluate national policies, plans, 
16 
programs, and guidelines for the protection, preservation, safeguarding, 
17 
regulation, development, management, dissemination and promotion of 
18 
culture and the arts to ensure overall consistency, effectiveness, efficiency, 
19 
and conformity with the policies of the State articulated in the Constitution 
20 
as well as in this Act and other pertinent laws and issuances;  
21 
 
22 
b) Strengthen and make visible and accessible the NCCA’s services by 
23 
establishing regional offices;  
24 
 
25 
c) Receive and accept donations and other conveyances including funds, 
26 
materials, and services, by gratuitous title;  
27 
 
28 
d) Administer the endowment funds established under Section 20 of Republic 
29 
Act No. 7356, The Law Creating the National Commission for culture and 
30 
the Arts;” and Section 50 of Republic Act No. 10066, which are herein 
31 
consolidated into a single National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts 
32 
(NEFCA) that shall continue to be sourced and augmented; 
33 
 
34 
e) Formulate policies and guidelines to ensure the efficient operation of the 
35 
Metropolitan Theatre;  
36 
 
37 
f) Create Regional Culture and Arts Councils and/or advisory committees, as 
38 
may be necessary, which shall provide expert and technical advice to the 
39 
Commission;    
40 
       
41 
g) To formulate policies on personnel organization, appointment, promotion, 
42 
retention/renewal of contracts, fixing of their compensations, subject to the 
43 
Compensation and Position Classification System, removal for just cause, 
44 
rewards, incentives and other conditions of employment for the members of 
45 
the Secretariat; 
46 
 
47 


h) To approve appointments made and contracts entered into by the Chief 
1 
Executive Officer in connection with the hiring and employment of the 
2 
members of the Secretariat office. 
3 
 
4 
i) To receive, in trust, legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal 
5 
property of all kinds and to administer the same for the benefit of the 
6 
Philippine culture and creative arts. 
7 
 
8 
j) To establish the criteria for the selection, qualification and conferral of 
9 
awards on culture and arts, such as, but not limited to, the Order of National 
10 
Artists, Order of National Living Treasures, National Cultural Heritage 
11 
Award, Dangal ng Haraya, Ani ng Dangal and others as it may establish in 
12 
support of its mandate; 
13 
 
14 
k) To enact rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be necessary to 
15 
carry out the purposes and functions of the Commission; and 
16 
 
17 
l) To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its 
18 
creation or as may be assigned or transferred by the President of the 
19 
Philippines in accordance with law 
20 
 
21 
SECTION 8. Term of Office and Compensation. – The Chairperson, who shall also 
22 
be the Chief Executive Officer as provided in Sec. 10 of this Act, shall be appointed 
23 
by the President of the Philippines and shall serve for a term of six (6) years and may 
24 
not be reappointed.  
25 
 
26 
The Non-Ex-Officio members of the Commission shall likewise be appointed by 
27 
the President of the Philippines and shall serve for a term of three (3) years, but shall 
28 
not serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms.  
29 
 
30 
Should the Chairperson and/or the non-ex-officio members fail to complete their 
31 
respective terms, their successors shall only be appointed to serve the unexpired 
32 
portion of the term. Provided, that such appointment shall not be considered as a full 
33 
term.  
34 
 
35 
The Chairperson shall have the same rank, salary, and privileges as those of a 
36 
Department Secretary and shall be subject to the qualifications prescribed in this Act.  
37 
 
38 
Non Ex-officio members of the Commission shall receive representation, travel 
39 
and other allowances following the rates of a Salary Grade 10.  
40 
 
41 
SECTION 9. Removal from Office. – The President, upon recommendation of the 
42 
Board, may remove the Chairperson and the non-ex-officio members before the end 
43 
of their respective terms, for cause and after observance of the proper due process 
44 
required by pertinent laws. 
45 
 
46 
 
47 
 
48 
 
49 


ARTICLE III 
1 
THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE COMMISSION 
2 
 
3 
SECTION 10. Head of Agency and Management of the Commission. – The 
4 
Chairperson shall also be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Commission.  The 
5 
Chairperson shall be a natural-born citizen of the Republic of the Philippines, a person 
6 
of proven administrative proficiency, independence, knowledgeable of the different 
7 
aspects of Filipino culture and heritage and the creative arts.  The Chairperson shall 
8 
have at least ten (10) years of experience in Filipino culture and heritage and the 
9 
creative arts, and must be fully committed to their promotion and development. As 
10 
head of the Commission the Chairperson shall have administrative supervision and 
11 
control over the members of the Secretariat and the safekeep of properties of the 
12 
Commission. 
13 
 
14 
SECTION 11. The Executive Director. –  The Executive Director shall be responsible 
15 
for the administrative and day-to-day operations of the Commission and shall have the 
16 
same rank, salary and privileges as that of an Undersecretary and shall be appointed 
17 
by the President upon recommendation of the Board; provided, no person shall be 
18 
appointed as Executive Director unless he/she possesses the qualifications: a Filipino 
19 
citizen, of good moral character and of unquestionable integrity, and a degree holder 
20 
in public administration, management, culture and arts, or law: provided, further, that 
21 
no member of the Board shall simultaneously serve as Executive Director.  
22 
 
23 
The Executive Director shall be assisted by three (3) deputy executive 
24 
directors, namely: Deputy Executive Director for Administration and Finance, Deputy 
25 
Executive for Operations, and Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Legislative 
26 
Affairs, and each shall have the same rank, salary and privileges as that of an 
27 
Assistant Secretary and shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the 
28 
Executive Director with qualifications as prescribed by the Civil Service Commission 
29 
(CSC).  
30 
 
31 
The Deputy Executive Director for Operations shall be responsible for the 
32 
supervision of the bureaus and regional offices while the Deputy Executive Director 
33 
for Administration and Finance shall be responsive for all the staff offices and services 
34 
of the Commission, and the Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Legislative 
35 
Affairs shall be responsible for liaising with Congress and other policy-making bodies 
36 
in the areas of policy. 
37 
 
38 
SECTION 12. Bureaus. – The Bureaus of the Commission shall consist of the of the 
39 
following:  
40 
A) Bureau of Human and Cultural Resource Development  
41 
 
42 
a. Division on Artists and Cultural Workers’ Rights and Welfare – shall 
43 
serve as the primary office responsible for the accreditation of artists, 
44 
creative workers, guilds and other such organizations. It shall also 
45 
endeavor to connect accredited entities with government programs such 
46 
as but not limited to social protection, livelihood programs, capacity 
47 
building programs, scholarships, grants, healthcare, marketing and 
48 
promotional programs, and other programs.  
49 


 
1 
b. Division on the Indigenous Cultural Communities and Moro People and 
2 
their Culture – shall safeguard, preserve and promote the Indigenous 
3 
and Moro cultural traditions and their arts, and ensure all research 
4 
efforts, tourism programs, and other activities affecting these cultural 
5 
communities are nurtured. 
6 
 
7 
c. Awards and Recognition Division – shall be responsible for extending 
8 
recognition of outstanding achievements and initiatives through awards, 
9 
grants and service to artists, cultural workers, creative industry 
10 
professionals, groups and institutions which contribute significantly to 
11 
Filipino’s cultural legacy. It shall administer the various existing awards 
12 
of the NCCA, including the National Performing Arts Companies Act. 
13 
Further, it shall ensure the promotion of the awardees and the 
14 
documentation, archiving and registry of their works and provide 
15 
opportunities for transfer/ sharing of knowledge through arts residency 
16 
programs and other mechanisms.  
17 
 
18 
B) Bureau of Arts  
19 
 
20 
a. Arts Division – shall responsible for the continuing and balance 
21 
development of various creative expressions to include but not limited to 
22 
the following architecture and the allied arts, cinema and media arts, 
23 
dance, dramatic arts, music, literary arts, visual arts, and culinary arts. 
24 
Further, it shall provide opportunities of continued training of artists as 
25 
well as development of audience and patronage for Filipino artists and 
26 
their works.  
27 
 
28 
C) Bureau of Cultural and Natural Heritage Properties  
29 
 
30 
a. Cultural Properties Protection and Regulation Division – shall enforce 
31 
laws on the protection and regulation of cultural and natural heritage 
32 
properties, facilitate the declaration of significant cultural and natural 
33 
heritage properties, and regulate the use, exploration, movement, sale, 
34 
or exportation of said properties.  
35 
 
36 
b. Cultural and Natural Heritage Properties Registration Division – shall be 
37 
responsible for maintaining the Philippine Registry of Cultural and 
38 
Natural Heritage Property established by virtue of Republic Act 10066 
39 
and in enforcing the provisions under Article V of the same law. 
40 
 
41 
c. Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguard Division – shall identify, research, 
42 
and document the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of the country; 
43 
Preserve and collate the information into the Philippine Registry of 
44 
Cultural Property (PRECUP); Assist in the processing and facilitation of 
45 
the declaration of significant intangible cultural properties in the national 
46 
and international setting; Promote and ensure the continued 
47 
safeguarding of ICH; Enhance the public’s understanding and 
48 
awareness of the country’s ICH through programs and activities such as 
49 
but not limited to lectures, exhibitions, seminars, demonstrations, 
50 
workshops, and publications. 
51 
 
52 


D) Bureau of Cultural Education and Promotion  
1 
 
2 
a. Cultural Research and Education Division – shall support and undertake 
3 
scholarly research into and documentation of Philippine culture and the 
4 
arts as well as the significant cultural movements as well as undertake 
5 
a systematic collection of statistical and other data which reflects the 
6 
state of cultural conditions in the country to serve as essential 
7 
quantitative and qualitative basis for formulating cultural policies, 
8 
especially database and statistics of artists, cultural and creative industry 
9 
professionals. Further, in coordination with Department of Education, 
10 
Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and 
11 
Skills Development Authority shall establish and develop an intensified 
12 
arts education program at all levels of the educational system, public and 
13 
private, to ensure meaningful arts, culture and creative industry 
14 
integration across the school curriculum and provide all types of 
15 
educational programs and activities. 
16 
 
17 
b. Communications, Information and Promotion Division – shall be in-
18 
charge of ensuring the widest dissemination of artistic and cultural 
19 
products among the greatest number across the country and overseas; 
20 
and promote the popularization of information about artistic and cultural 
21 
achievements and programs. 
22 
 
23 
c. Sentro Rizal and International Cultural Affairs Division – shall be 
24 
responsible for international cultural exchanges and promotions, liaison 
25 
and cooperation with Ministries of Culture, international cultural 
26 
agencies, organizations, and other representatives of foreign 
27 
governments, including Philippine Foreign Service Posts in coordination 
28 
with the Department of Foreign Affairs.  
29 
Each of these Bureaus shall be headed by a Bureau Director. The Bureau Director 
30 
shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the Chairperson. 
31 
 
32 
SECTION 13. Services. – The Services of the Commission shall consist of the 
33 
following: 
34 
a) Policy and Planning Division – The Division shall be responsible for the 
35 
development and implementation of the policies and plans of the Commission 
36 
for the preservation, safeguarding, conservation, development and promotion of 
37 
Philippine culture, arts and creative arts. 
38 
 
39 
b) Administrative Division – shall be responsible for the planning and 
40 
implementation of comprehensive range of administrative services which 
41 
support office operations. These services encompass the areas of assets, 
42 
properties and facilities management, efficient procurement, systems and 
43 
information management, storage and distribution of supplies, records and 
44 
archives management, library services. 
45 
 
46 
c) Human Resource Division – shall be responsible for the administrative, 
47 
personnel management and general services, including recruitment, monitoring 
48 
of personnel attendance and payroll preparation, preparation of documents 
49 
needed for retirement of Officers and members of the Secretariat; undertake 
50 


liaison services with other government and non-government agencies on 
1 
matters relating to the Secretariat areas of functional interest; provide career 
2 
development and training services to the Secretariat; conduct of personnel 
3 
performance evaluation; responsible for preparation of reports relative to 
4 
activities, efficiencies and deficiencies involving discipline, details, assignments 
5 
and other related matters affecting personnel.  
6 
 
7 
d) Finance Management Division – shall be responsible for the day to day financial 
8 
management, budgetary and accounting services, cashiering services, 
9 
supervision of the control, financial records, distribution and allocation of funds 
10 
for operations and services of the Commission, coordinate with the NEFCA for 
11 
the funding of the grants and its administrative and logistical financial 
12 
requirements.  
13 
 
14 
e) Legal Affairs Division – the Division shall be responsible of the legal affairs and 
15 
matters of the Commission, including providing assistance to the artists and 
16 
cultural workers for the protection of their intellectual property rights, and 
17 
establishing and maintaining regular coordination with Congress for the 
18 
passage of legislative measures, and other related functions as may be 
19 
assigned or delegated by the Chairperson. 
20 
 
21 
f) Grants Management Division – the Grants Office shall facilitate all grants-
22 
related matters for the development, protection, preservation and dissemination 
23 
of Philippine culture and the arts; ensure broad access on the grants, especially 
24 
by the regions; and ensure appropriate grants review guidelines and processes, 
25 
provided, that, the Commission shall be the deciding body in awarding the 
26 
grants to applicants. 
27 
 
28 
g) Grants and Program Monitoring and Evaluation Division – shall be responsible 
29 
for the assessment of the performance of grants, programs, projects set up by 
30 
the NCCA utilizing predetermined monitoring and evaluation (M&E) measures 
31 
to ascertain their merits. With the goal of improving current and future 
32 
management of outputs, outcomes and impacts, M&E will enable the NCCA to 
33 
use evidence-based results for future decisions.  
34 
 
35 
Furthermore, the division shall ensure the conduct of monitoring as 
36 
continuous assessment of an ongoing implementation of a program or project 
37 
to determine the progress or delay of activities, and evaluation of its efficiency, 
38 
effectiveness, and impact of activities in the light of specified objectives  
39 
 
40 
h) Inter-Agency Affairs Division – the Division shall be responsible for coordination 
41 
of the plans, activities and other concerns of the different attached agencies and 
42 
institutions and other partner agencies, institutions and organizations. 
43 
 
44 
i. 
Cultural Agencies and Inter-Agencies Cooperation Office – the Cultural 
45 
Agencies and Inter-Agencies Coordination Office shall be responsible for 
46 
coordination with the national cultural agencies, including but not limited 
47 
to the Cultural Center of The Philippines, the National Historical 
48 
Commission of The Philippines, the National Museum of the Philippines, 
49 
the National Library of the Philippines, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 
50 
National Archives of The Philippines, and with other agencies and 
51 
departments of the national government, including, but not limited to, 
52 


agencies that pertain to the creative arts;  
1 
 
2 
ii. 
Local Government Unit Cultural Liaison Office – the Local Government 
3 
Unit Liaison Office shall determine the baseline data on the status of local 
4 
culture and arts councils, existing local culture and arts councils’ 
5 
programs and projects, quantitative and qualitative assessment of 
6 
current and past  NCCA  projects  and programs funded through grants 
7 
to the local government units and/or for activities that benefitted local 
8 
government units, determine key indicators for successful local 
9 
institutionalization of culture and arts policies and programs, and conduct 
10 
awareness campaigns for local government units;  
11 
SECTION 14. The Regional Culture and Arts Councils. – The Regional Culture and 
12 
Arts Councils shall perform the following functions: 
13 
A) Assess the general conditions of regional arts, culture, and creative 
14 
industries, and propose approaches, including policies and programs that 
15 
may be adopted by the Commission; 
16 
B) Serve as a forum for the discussion of matters affecting the various areas 
17 
of the cultural sector, anchored on the strengthening of linkages, the 
18 
exchange of information, and the formulation of coherent guidelines and 
19 
policies;  
20 
C) Initiate, formulate, and advocate a coordinated and common stand on 
21 
significant cultural issues or concerns of the region; and 
22 
D) Perform any other advisory function as may be deemed by the Commission. 
23 
The Regional Cultural and Arts Council shall be composed of members from the 
24 
private sector who are in the fields such as but not limited to architecture, cinema, 
25 
dance, dramatic arts, literary arts, music, visual arts, archives, art galleries, museums, 
26 
historical research, monuments and sites, libraries, cultural education, language, 
27 
communication, design, culinary arts.  They shall also include representatives from the 
28 
Indigenous Cultural Communities and the Moro People within the region.  
29 
  
30 
The Regional Culture and Arts Councils shall be grouped into major geographic 
31 
clusters of National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The Councils shall 
32 
hold office in the NCCA Regional Office. Each cluster shall be headed by a 
33 
Commissioner as representative to the NCCA Board. 
34 
 
35 
 
36 
ARTICLE IV 
37 
THE REGIONAL OFFICES OF THE COMMISSION 
38 
 
39 
SECTION 15. Regional Offices. – The board is hereby authorized to establish, 
40 
operate and maintain and establish Regional Offices as it may deem necessary. 
41 
 
42 
Each Regional Office shall be headed by a Regional Director, who may be assisted 
43 
by one (1) Assistant Regional Director. The Regional Director and Assistant Regional 
44 
Director shall be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the Executive 
45 
Director. Provided, that they shall be persons recognized as an accomplished 
46 
manager, advocate, scholar or practitioner in fields of endeavor related to Philippine 
47 


culture in the region, or any suitably qualified person in the manner provided for by law 
1 
for Career Executive Service Officers of the same rank. 
2 
 
3 
It may also establish satellite, extension or field offices when and wherever necessary, 
4 
particularly in locations where significant cultural and heritage properties and concerns 
5 
are identified to exist, and to support the operations, programs and projects of its 
6 
attached and other concerned agencies and institutions. A Regional Cluster Office 
7 
shall have, within its administrative region, the following functions: 
8 
 
9 
A) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, rules and regulations of the 
10 
Commission or agency in the Regional area; 
11 
B) Undertake research and gather data on local culture and arts trends and other 
12 
relevant cultural and artistic information; 
13 
C) Cause to establish and/or coordinate with the local culture and arts councils (as 
14 
far as the city and municipal level) to engage participation of local artists and 
15 
cultural workers; 
16 
D) Coordinate with regional offices of other departments, bureaus and agencies in 
17 
the area; 
18 
E) Coordinate with local government units in the area; 
19 
F) Make recommendations to the Executive Director on all matters relating to 
20 
culture and arts in the region; and, 
21 
G) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law. 
22 
 
23 
SECTION 16. Duties of a Regional Director. – The Regional Director shall perform 
24 
duties and functions as may be provided by law or further delegated by the head of 
25 
agency or other proper authorities concerned. 
26 
 
27 
 
28 
ARTICLE V 
29 
THE METROPOLITAN THEATER 
30 
 
31 
SECTION 17. The Metropolitan Theater. – The Board shall ensure the efficient 
32 
operation of the Metropolitan Theater and therefore will be in charge of planning and 
33 
implementation.  It shall be empowered to receive grants, donations and retain 
34 
income generated by the use of the theater.  The Commission will establish a Theater 
35 
Operations Division or an independent body to operationalize the plan. The Theater 
36 
shall be headed by a Theater Manager with the same rank, salary and privileges as 
37 
that of a Director III and shall be appointed by the Commission upon recommendation 
38 
of the Executive Director, provided, no person shall be appointed as Theater 
39 
Manager unless he/she possesses the qualifications as prescribed by the 
40 
Commission. 
41 
 
42 
 
43 
ARTICLE VI 
44 
THE ATTACHED AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS 
45 
 
46 
SECTION 18. Attached Agencies and Institutions. – The following cultural 
47 
agencies and institutions shall be attached to the Commission:       
48 


 
1 
A) The National Museum of the Philippines 
2 
B) The National Historical Commission of the Philippines 
3 
C) The National Archives of the Philippines 
4 
D) The National Library of the Philippines 
5 
E) Cultural Center of the Philippines 
6 
F) Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino 
7 
G) Film Development Council of the Philippines 
8 
H) National Book Development Board 
9 
I) National Council for Children’s Television 
10 
 
11 
While the above agencies and institutions shall continue to operate and function in 
12 
accordance with their respective charters or laws, they shall periodically report to the 
13 
Commission on the progress of their programs and projects. The Commission shall 
14 
devise such cooperative and collaborative arrangement and working relationship with 
15 
the attached agencies to ensure their involvement and participation as active partners 
16 
of the Commission in the pursuit of its mandate and objectives under this Act. 
17 
 
18 
 
19 
ARTICLE VII 
20 
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS 
21 
 
22 
SECTION 19. The National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts. – The existing 
23 
National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts as provided in Section 20 of Republic 
24 
Act 7356 and the National Endowment for Culture and the Arts provided in Section 
25 
50 of Republic Act 10066 shall be consolidated into a single National Endowment 
26 
Fund for Culture and the Arts (the Fund). The Fund shall continue to be utilized 
27 
exclusively for Philippine art and cultural programs, projects and activities that the 
28 
Board may approve in furtherance of the Commission’s mandate.  
29 
a) The contribution of the Fund shall be from the ten percent (10%) of the travel 
30 
tax collection, the share to be taken from the annual allotment of the travel 
31 
tax given to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.  
32 
b) Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to the Fund 
33 
but not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of their unimpaired surplus;  
34 
c) The Commission may generate funds through donations, fund-raising 
35 
activities and other conveyances including funds, materials, property and 
36 
services, by gratuitous title;  
37 
d) For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the Board shall 
38 
appoint a reputable government-accredited investment institution as Fund 
39 
Manager, subject to guidelines promulgated by the Commission;  
40 
e) The Board shall prepare implementing guidelines and decision-making 
41 
mechanisms, subject to the following: 
42 


i. 
unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only earnings of 
1 
private contributions shall be used;  
2 
ii. 
no part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings, thereof, 
3 
shall be used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration; 
4 
iii. 
not more than twenty percent (20%) of the Government's annual 
5 
contribution to the Fund shall be devoted to administrative functions 
6 
of the Commission; at least ten percent (10%) shall be earmarked as 
7 
part of the fund's capital, and the balance shall be used for its 
8 
programs and projects;  
9 
iv. 
The Board shall organize a NEFCA office to be headed by a 
10 
Comptroller or Financial Management Director appointed by the 
11 
Commission and directly responsible and accountable to the same 
12 
and shall be responsible for the sound, judicious and efficient 
13 
management and investment of the Fund;  
14 
v. 
There shall be an external auditor to perform an annual audit of its 
15 
performance;  
16 
vi. 
The Fund shall be exempt from pre-audit by the Commission on 
17 
Audit. 
18 
 
19 
ARTICLE VIII 
20 
RETENTION OF INCOME AND DISPOSITION OF DONATED FUNDS 
21 
 
22 
SECTION 20. Retention of Income and Disposition of Funds. – The Commission is 
23 
hereby authorized to retain the entirety of its income from all sources of its operations, 
24 
and to expend the same for any purpose in benefit of the Commission as may be 
25 
authorized by the Board, in accordance with this Act and other laws pertinent to the 
26 
Commission and any special provisions as may be provided for in the General 
27 
Appropriations Act for any given fiscal year. Such income shall be placed in a dedicated 
28 
National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts, and may accumulate for 
29 
disbursement in future fiscal years. 
30 
 
31 
ARTICLE IX 
32 
EXEMPTION FROM TAXES, DUTIES AND FEES AND CHARGES 
33 
SECTION 21. Exemption from Taxes, Duties, Fees, and Charges. – The 
34 
Commission shall be exempt from the payment of taxes, fees, and charges imposed 
35 
by the National government and its political subdivisions, agencies, and 
36 
instrumentalities. 
37 
All donations in any form to the Commission shall be exempt from the donor’s tax 
38 
and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income in the 
39 
computation of the income tax of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of 
40 
Republic Act No. 8424, otherwise known as the “National Internal Revenue Code of 
41 
1997”, as amended. 
42 
Importation of items, materials and goods of any kind, whether owned by, leased, 
43 
donated or loaned to the Commission, for the implementation, performance or 
44 


execution of its mandate shall be exempt from customs and duties; Provided, such 
1 
items, materials and goods shall be imported under the name of the Commission; 
2 
Provided further, the Commission shall be in possession of such imported items, 
3 
materials and goods for five (5) years or for the duration of the loan or lease, whichever 
4 
is appropriate. 
5 
 
6 
ARTICLE X 
7 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
8 
 
9 
SECTION 22. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to cover the initial 
10 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the appropriation of the 
11 
Commission under the General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be 
12 
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General 
13 
Appropriations Act.  
14 
SECTION 25. Reorganization. – Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the 
15 
effectivity of this Act, the Board shall reorganize the structure of the Commission, 
16 
including its staffing pattern in order to carry out the functions pursuant to the expanded 
17 
mandate and functions of the Commission.  
18 
The preparation and approval of the said new organizational structure and staffing 
19 
pattern shall, as far as practicable, respect and ensure the security of tenure and 
20 
seniority rights of the current employees of the Commission.  
21 
 The existing organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Commission shall be 
22 
amended to integrate the provisions of this Act: Provided, such amendments in the 
23 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Commission shall be in accordance 
24 
with Republic Act No. 6656, or the “Government Reorganization Law.” 
25 
SECTION 26. Transitory Provisions. – All assets, fixed, real and movable, and all 
26 
contracts, records, and documents relative to the operations of the Commission shall 
27 
remain under the control and disposition of the Commission for utilization in 
28 
accordance with its mandate. 
29 
SECTION 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations. –  The Commission, in 
30 
consultation with other agencies mentioned in this Act, shall promulgate its 
31 
implementing rules and government regulations within ninety (90) days after the 
32 
effectivity of this Act. 
33 
SECTION 28. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provision of this Act that may be 
34 
declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or 
35 
provisions hereof as long as such remaining provisions can still subsist and be given 
36 
effect 
37 
SECTION 29. Repealing Clause. – All laws decrees, orders, issuances, rules and 
38 
regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
39 
amended or modified accordingly.  
40 
SECTION 30. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
41 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general 
42 
circulation.  
43 


 
Approved,