Establishment and Mandate of the NCCA
- The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is tasked with policy formulation, implementation, and coordination for culture and arts development.
- It administers the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA).
- Encourages artistic freedom, promotes national culture, and preserves cultural heritage.
Composition and Terms of the NCCA
- Composed of government officials from culture-related departments and private sector representatives elected from cultural subcommissions.
- Non-ex-officio members serve a three-year term; all members are ineligible for personal grants during tenure.
Mandates for Pluralistic Culture Development
- Elimination of censorship harmful to cultural growth.
- Financial assistance, decentralization of cultural opportunities, and recognizing artistic achievements.
- Protecting rights and promoting welfare of artists and cultural workers.
- Supporting research and legislation for cultural protection.
- Fostering public-private partnerships.
Promotion and Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage
- Conservation and retrieval of cultural artifacts and endangered skills.
- Support for cultural monuments, museums, libraries, archives, and scholarly research.
- Encouragement of cultural documentation, writing of history, and support of cultural events and programs.
Dissemination of Cultural Works
- Integration of arts and culture education at all levels.
- Supporting publication, exhibition, and performance of Filipino works.
- International cultural exchange programs and translation initiatives.
- Collecting cultural data to aid policy formulation.
Preservation of Traditional Culture
- Support for apprenticeship and cultural arts centers.
- Encouragement of cultural research and ensuring benefits to cultural communities.
- Providing legislators with cultural information for laws.
Powers and Functions of the NCCA
- Organize regional and local councils for culture and arts.
- Establish secretariat and coordinate among government cultural agencies.
- Generate and manage resources including grants administration.
- Advise the President on cultural affairs and create special awards.
- Regulate and investigate activities harmful to cultural heritage.
- Delegate decision-making powers as appropriate.
NCCA Organizational Units
- Composed of Subcommissions, National Committees, National Advisory Board, and Secretariat headed by an Executive Director.
Governance: The Chairperson
- Elected by Commission members for a three-year term, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.
- Grounds for removal include violations of rules, ethics, or conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude.
- Has leadership and representational duties; no honorarium but reimbursed for expenses.
Role and Compensation of Commissioners
- Participate in policy-making, projects approvals, and budget planning.
- Each commissioner has one vote; representatives vote only with authorization.
- Non-ex-officio members receive per diem and travel reimbursements; ex-officio members receive allowances accordingly.
Commission Meetings
- Regular monthly meetings required; special meetings can be called with notice.
- Quorum requires majority of members or their representatives.
- Referendums permitted for urgent decisions needing majority approval.
- May adopt internal procedural rules governing conduct and discipline.
Secretariat Functions
- Provides administrative and technical support.
- Assists in national cultural planning and monitors program implementation.
- Prepares reports to President and Congress.
- Executive Director appointed based on qualifications and commission approval.
Subcommissions
- Four Subcommissions: Cultural Heritage, The Arts, Cultural Dissemination, Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts.
- Responsible for assessments, coordination, and recommending actions to the Commission.
- Have elected officers serving three-year terms.
- Meetings require Secretariat presence; decisions may be made by referendum.
- Grounds for removal include rule and ethics violations.
National Advisory Board
- Consists of heads of National Committees.
- Assesses culture and arts conditions; proposes policies and coordinates multi-subcommission programs.
- Can mediate conflicts and serve as Grievance Board.
- Quarterly regular meetings; special meetings on urgent request.
- Decisions made with quorum; presiding officer votes only to break ties.
National Committees
- Composed of recognized cultural practitioners and organizations.
- Membership ensures representation from ethno-linguistic groups and regional organizations.
- Individuals may only belong to one Committee.
- Membership subject to qualification criteria including citizenship, expertise, and good standing.
- Functions include communication, program facilitation, membership expansion, and election of Executive Councils.
- General assembly or membership meetings every three years.
Executive Council (ExeCon)
- Working group of each National Committee with 7-15 elected members.
- Formulates rules, proposes policies, plans projects, evaluates grants and reports.
- Identifies contributors and may initiate projects.
- Officers serve three-year terms; absenteeism can trigger replacement.
- Removal for violations of rules, ethics, or conviction of crimes.
Local Culture and Arts Councils
- NCCA may establish or coordinate local/regional councils.
- Councils encouraged to propose local cultural policies.
National Cultural Agencies Coordination
- NCCA coordinates with Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Historical Institute, National Museum, National Library, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, and Records Management and Archives Office.
- Agencies continue under respective charters but submit reports and recommendations to NCCA.
National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA)
- Established with seed capital from PAGCOR and allocations from travel tax collections.
- Government corporations may contribute up to 15% of their unimpaired surplus.
- Private donations are tax-deductible.
- Fund administered by NCCA with appointed fund manager and comptroller.
- Use restricted mostly to programs/projects; administrative expenses capped.
- Exempted from pre-audit by Commission on Audit.
Tax and Duty Exemption
- NCCA income and essential materials for Filipino artists are exempt from taxes and duties.
- Formal arrangements may be made with appropriate government agencies for enforcement.
Revolving Fund
- Up to P500,000 income from sales of cultural items/publications constitutes a revolving fund for production costs; excess remitted to the General Fund.
Conflict of Interest
- Secretariat members and NCCA community must avoid any conflict of interest in evaluation or approval of projects.
- Must declare possible conflicts; Commission may waive rules at its discretion.
Amendments, Repealing, Separability, and Effectivity
- Amendments may be adopted by the Commission after consultations.
- Previous inconsistent rules are repealed.
- Invalid provisions do not affect remaining provisions if separable.
- Rules effective 15 days after publication.