Philippine Senate panel revisits proposal for Department of Culture

The Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts revisited proposals for the creation of a Department of Culture on Wednesday.

Committee chairperson Senator Loren Legarda on Wednesday met with advocates and representatives of cultural agencies to discuss how to promote and safeguard Philippine culture and heritage.

Legarda said a cabinet-level body has to lead efforts in preserving and strengthening Filipino identity but she asked if a creation of a Department of Culture is needed when the country already has a National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

“Why is the creation of a separate Department of Culture necessary at this time instead of just strengthen existing agency such as the NCCA?" Legarda asked during Wednesday’s public hearing.

Legarda said Senate Bill No. 817 of the 20th Congress seeks the following:

1. Centralized cultural governance or the integration of policies and programs of multiple agencies;

2. Creation of "Sentro Rizal" cultural centers in different regions across the country and abroad;

3. Creation of national institutes that will promote heritage conservation and conduct cultural management training;

4. Support for artists and creatives through grant programs, awards, and the National Endowment Fund for Culture and Arts;

5. Alignment with Republic Act No. 11904 (Philippine Creative Industries Development Act) by bridging heritage conservationists and creative industries;

6. Inclusion of cultural issues in creating policies for disaster risk reduction, foreign affairs, and others.

NATIONAL ARTS MONTH

Meanwhile, Legarda noted that the celebration of National Arts Month this February should focus on supporting Filipino artists, artisans, and creative communities.

This year’s celebration carries the theme “Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting.”

“Every February, we celebrate the soul of our nation through the arts. This year’s theme reminds us that truth and courage are lived through the creativity of our people. The arts continue to guide us toward justice, cultural strength, and progress,” Legarda said.

Legarda highlighted two key measures she recently authored that have passed on Third and Final Reading in the Senate—the Aklan Piña Conservation and Innovation Center Act (Senate Bill No. 1425) and the Schools of Living Traditions Act (Senate Bill No. 1507).

“Through SBN 1425, we will establish the Aklan Piña Conservation and Innovation Center in Kalibo to expand the planting of Red Spanish pineapple, build facilities for research and innovation, and strengthen cooperation among weavers, farmers, and educational institutions,” Legarda said.

On the other hand, she said, “SBN 1507 institutionalizes our Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs) as community based, intergenerational cultural education mechanisms. SLTs are sanctuaries of wisdom where cultural masters transmit knowledge to younger generations, ensuring that oral traditions, crafts, and rituals continue to inspire our future.”

-Paraluman News