Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7355)
The short title of Republic Act No. 7355 is the Manlilikha ng Bayan Act.
The primary policy objective is to preserve and promote traditional folk arts for their cultural value, and to honor and support traditional folk artists by ensuring their skills are encouraged and passed on to future generations.
A Manlilikha ng Bayan is a citizen or group of citizens engaged in traditional Filipino art with high technical and artistic excellence, and whose skills have been passed on and widely practiced in their community.
Traditional Folk Art refers to expressions of distinctiveness and artistic quality created for decorative, utilitarian, or sociocultural functions by traditional folk artists known for such works.
The candidate must have mastery of technical and creative skills, outstanding artistic quality in their works, have transferred or be willing to transfer their skills to the community, have engaged in a folk art tradition existing for at least 50 years, and command respect and admiration for their character and integrity.
Incentives include a commemorative plaque or medal, an initial grant of 100,000 pesos and a monthly life stipend of 10,000 pesos, documentation of their works, vocational courses based on their skills, feasibility studies for cottage industries, and invitations to cultural events.
Awardees are responsible for transferring their skills to the younger generation, cooperating with the implementing agency in promotion and propagation, and donating a sample of their work to the National Museum.
The Presidential Commission on Culture and Arts is the implementing agency responsible for developing and adopting programs, rules, and criteria for the selection and support of Manlilikha ng Bayan.
The Act includes weaving, woodcarving, metal-working, jewelry-making, embroidery, indigenous furniture making, dance, song, instrumental folk music, folk literature, drama, boat-making, pottery, indigenous technology, and architecture like rice-terracing.
The necessary funds for the Act are to be included in the General Appropriations Act starting the year after its enactment and thereafter.
Yes, donations to the Philippine Commission on Culture and Arts exclusively for Manlilikha ng Bayan are exempt from donor's tax, deductible for donors' taxable income, and exempt from taxes and duties on foreign donations subject to existing laws.
The implementing agency undertakes measures to protect the intellectual and cultural property rights of the awardees to safeguard their artistic works and legacy.
The Act took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
The monetary grant to awardees can be increased whenever circumstances warrant, but such increase shall not have retroactive effect.
The candidate must have transferred and/or be willing to transfer their folk art skills to other community members, thereby maintaining the community tradition that is nationally known.