Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 176)
Republic Act No. 176 is enacted to create a National Commission on Educational, Scientific and Cultural Matters to act in an advisory capacity to the Philippine government and coordinate with UNESCO on related matters.
The Commission can have not more than fifteen members appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of Congress.
No, government officials designated to serve in the Commission shall serve without additional compensation.
Private citizens appointed to the Commission shall receive actual subsistence and traveling expenses from their residence to the meetings and per diems for each day of session attended, as determined by the President.
The Commission is under the Office of the President of the Philippines for administrative purposes.
The Commission must meet at least once quarterly but may meet more frequently as designated.
The Commission acts as an advisory body to the government and its UNESCO delegations and functions as a liaison agency between the Philippine government and UNESCO.
The three permanent committees are the Educational Committee, the Scientific Committee, and the Cultural Committee.
The Educational Committee studies and recommends educational reforms, advises the President on educational policies, and conducts studies on vocational education and related fields.
The Scientific Committee studies and recommends resource management for the country, consolidates scientific advances, encourages scientific inventions, and conducts scientific and social science research.
The Cultural Committee studies national cultural policies, promotes the dissemination of information via mass media, researches ancient Filipino culture, encourages creative arts, and fosters cultural missions and information dissemination about the Philippines.
An amount of one hundred thousand pesos has been appropriated or so much thereof as might be necessary.
The Act took effect upon its approval on June 20, 1947.
Yes, the Commission can call annual or biennial general conferences on educational, scientific, and cultural matters. All national voluntary organizations actively interested in these matters may send representatives, but a representative cannot represent more than one organization.
Selection should take into account the professional skill and experience of the individual members of the Commission.