MANILA -- The National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) supports Senate Bill No. 1528 that seeks the establishment of a Department of Culture in the country, NRCP president Ramon Razal told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday.
"This (bill) will elevate the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to a Department level in order to capture greater attention to the importance of culture and the arts in the lives of Filipinos," he said.
Razal noted that the NRCP, being a scientific body, fully supports the creation of the new department.
"We feel that we can help in facilitating the passage of this bill if scientists represented by NRCP will stand behind it," he said.
The NRCP believes that having a Department of Culture would lead to the development of appropriate policies and legislative frameworks that would protect and enhance the diverse cultures.
Cultural awareness and participation will be promoted better once there is a department, the NRCP added.
Razal clarified that supporting the bill does not mean the NRCP thinks the NCCA is not doing enough in the development and promotion of arts and culture, among others.
"As a department, it will be given higher visibility and clout, and will be able to do more than just being a commission that cannot oversee the other agencies dealing with culture and the arts," he said.
Razal added that the Department of Culture will bring together several other organizations that deal with culture and arts under one umbrella organization for better coordination and synergy in promoting arts and culture.
A statement from the NRCP said that "considering the transformative power of cultures and the arts, vis-à-vis our various and variegated regions and religions classes and their clashes ethnicities and minorities, traditions and adaptations, languages and dialects, even creative and hostile expressions, such a department could encourage and support local cultural and artistic initiatives to transcend differences and bridge the gaps, craft core values, weave a strengthened social fabric, and define our national identity."
Meanwhile, in November 2018, the Senate has already approved the committee report for this bill.
Razal said he hopes this would be signed by the President so it could formally become a law. (PNA)
"This (bill) will elevate the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to a Department level in order to capture greater attention to the importance of culture and the arts in the lives of Filipinos," he said.
Razal noted that the NRCP, being a scientific body, fully supports the creation of the new department.
"We feel that we can help in facilitating the passage of this bill if scientists represented by NRCP will stand behind it," he said.
The NRCP believes that having a Department of Culture would lead to the development of appropriate policies and legislative frameworks that would protect and enhance the diverse cultures.
Cultural awareness and participation will be promoted better once there is a department, the NRCP added.
Razal clarified that supporting the bill does not mean the NRCP thinks the NCCA is not doing enough in the development and promotion of arts and culture, among others.
"As a department, it will be given higher visibility and clout, and will be able to do more than just being a commission that cannot oversee the other agencies dealing with culture and the arts," he said.
Razal added that the Department of Culture will bring together several other organizations that deal with culture and arts under one umbrella organization for better coordination and synergy in promoting arts and culture.
A statement from the NRCP said that "considering the transformative power of cultures and the arts, vis-à-vis our various and variegated regions and religions classes and their clashes ethnicities and minorities, traditions and adaptations, languages and dialects, even creative and hostile expressions, such a department could encourage and support local cultural and artistic initiatives to transcend differences and bridge the gaps, craft core values, weave a strengthened social fabric, and define our national identity."
Meanwhile, in November 2018, the Senate has already approved the committee report for this bill.
Razal said he hopes this would be signed by the President so it could formally become a law. (PNA)
