The House of Representatives has unanimously approved recently on its third and final reading a bill that seeks to invigorate and further conserve the country’s arts and culture.
House Bill 7785 would set the framework and criteria for designating and subsidizing national performing arts companies, and provide them assistance grants to support their missions. The Senate has similarly approved its counterpart measure.
Crafted by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, HB 7785 seeks to create a framework for the identification of certain performing arts genres, selection of national performing arts companies per genre, and honor their worthy contributions to the preservation of the country’s arts and culture, social development and achievements, by way of grants and appropriate benefits and privileges.
When finally enacted into law, the measure will initially provide P5 million to P10 million a year for each of the chosen NPAC for the first five years, which amounts may be adjusted every five years thereafter.
Titled “Philippine National Performing Arts Companies Act,” Salceda explained, the measure designates one NPAC—for five years—from each arts genre, as follows: 1) National Ballet/Contemporary Dance Company, 2) National Theater Company, 3) National Orchestra, 4) National Choral Group, and 5) National String Ensemble.
HB 7785 proposes that chosen NPACs shall: 1) undertake a continuing program of training and education for professional development of performing artists, teachers, directors, designers, managers, and other artists particular to their art genre; 2) maintain and promote a standard of artistic excellence that will help elevate the performance of its genre;
3) conduct research relative to particular performing arts and document their activities and programs for the preservation and dissemination of Filipino masterpieces in the performing arts; 4) organize and present an annual season of performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and other venues in the country;
5) develop and build a repertoire of original Filipino works that will help define our national cultural identity; and 6) maintain a viable and sustainable performing arts organization and help set a standard of effective and efficient performing arts management.
The framework, Salceda explained, is based on capacity building and contestability. A 15-member Selection Committee shall be created to choose the National Performing Arts Companies.
The committee members shall be chosen from a panel of experts knowledgeable in the artistic and technical aspects of the performing arts.
The Selection Committee members will be designated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The committee shall elect a Chairperson from among themselves.
The Selection Committee shall choose the National Performing Arts Companies based on the following criteria: 1) they are national in scope, and responsibly tackle and present the arts, culture, issues, traditions, and concerns of the nation; 2) maintain the highest standards of artistic excellence as manifested in the quality of their performances, artists, training programs and other activities;
3) they are world-class and have represented the country in numerous tour engagements, festivals, competitions, and international events and acclaimed by foreign organizations, audiences and critics alike; 4) have maintained a professional track record of regular and continuing undertakings in pursuit of their missions; and
5) are able to maintain viable and sustainable organizations to support their programs and have the capability to match the allocated annual subsidy from the state.
Salceda said each of the chosen NPACs shall be appropriated the following: 1) P10 million yearly each for the National Ballet/Contemporary Dance Company, the National Theater Company, and the National Orchestra for a period of five years; and
2) P5 million a year each for the National Choral Company and the National String Ensemble for a period of five years. The grant amounts may be adjusted once every five years.
The amounts necessary to implement the provisions of the Act shall be included in the CCP budget in the General Appropriations Act.
As additional support, the NPACs shall also be entitled to 1) free and equitable use of government facilities and cultural venues devoted to cultural and artistic performances; 2) access to grants for research documentation, productions, workshops, training, and audience development programs from the NCCA, subject to proper evaluation; and 3) Intellectual Property rights to their work, including music, choreography, and other artistic creations.