Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7356)
Republic Act No. 7356 is officially titled as the Law Creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Section 2 declares that culture is a manifestation of freedom of belief and expression, and is a human right that must be respected and allowed to flourish.
Culture reflects and shapes values, beliefs, and aspirations, thereby defining a people's national identity, which must be evolved, promoted, and conserved in a Filipino national culture.
The Filipino national culture shall be: (a) independent; (b) equitable; (c) dynamic; (d) progressive; and (e) humanistic.
The Commission is composed of ex officio members like Undersecretaries of DECS and DOT, Chairpersons of House and Senate Committees on Culture, heads of certain cultural agencies, elected representatives from the private sector, and the Chairman elected among the members.
They serve for three years and may not serve more than two successive terms.
First, to encourage and ensure artistic freedom and cultural development; second, to conserve and promote the nation's historical and cultural heritage.
NEFCA is a fund exclusively for Philippine art and cultural programs. It is seeded with P100 million from PAGCOR, includes 10% of travel tax collection, donations, and other contributions from government and private sectors.
No. Section 11 prohibits Commissioners from being eligible for grants or financial aid from the Commission while serving, but they may compete for grants one year after their term ends.
The Commission may establish or coordinate with local, provincial or regional councils to promote, develop, and implement culture-related programs and plans as part of broad nationwide participation.
They are: the Subcommission on Cultural Heritage; the Subcommission on the Arts; the Subcommission on Cultural Dissemination; and the Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts.
The Commission is exempt from all its income and duly obligations taxes, and materials necessary for Filipino artists not produced locally are tax or duty free.
The Commission can formulate and implement cultural policies, coordinate activities of cultural agencies, generate funds, regulate activities inimical to cultural heritage, and promulgate necessary rules and guidelines.
The Commission should vigorously pursue the retrieval and conservation of artifacts, support endangered cultural resources preservation, and promote cultural and historical monuments and sites.
It encourages arts education in schools, publication and reproduction of Filipino creations, cultural festivals and events, and popularization of cultural achievements through media and tourism.