Question & AnswerQ&A (LTO ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. BGC-AO-001)
Republic Act No. 8626 designates the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company as the Philippine National Folk Dance Company, defining its role and functions and appropriating funds to support its activities.
The Act declares the policy of the State to recognize, designate, and support non-government organizations that have demonstrated pioneering and consistent competence in researching and documenting Philippine folk art and culture and transforming these into recognized art forms.
The Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company is designated as the Philippine National Folk Dance Company.
The organization must be national in scope, the best in its field in the country, world-class with international recognition, have a track record artistically, and maintain a viable and sustainable organization.
Its roles include continuing research and documentation of Philippine folk culture, developing a repertoire for performances, documenting research outputs for public and educational use, developing folk dance masters and dancers, maintaining a world-class dance company for official events, conducting fundraising projects, and preparing special repertoires for national events like the Centennial of Philippine Independence.
The Bayanihan enjoys free use of the Cultural Center of the Philippines' theater facilities, office space, rehearsal studios, production and technical facilities (subject to reasonable utility charges), and project grants from the National Commission on Culture and Arts.
The President, upon recommendation of the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, may designate additional national folk dance companies with the same entitlements and privileges as the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company.
An initial amount of Five million pesos (P5,000,000) was appropriated to support the roles and functions of the company.
The remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect as per the repealing clause of the Act.
RA 8626 took effect upon its approval on April 15, 1998.