The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), a grants-giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture, celebrates its 35^th anniversary this April 2022 with the theme Pagpupunyagi at Pagpapalawig ng Sining at Kultura sa Ika-Tatlumpu’t Lima.

Then-President Corazon C. Aquino penned Executive Order No. 118 in 1987 establishing the Presidential Commission on Culture and Arts (PCCA). In 1992, the presidential directive was eventually enacted into law—Republic Act 7356, creating the NCCA, authored by Senators Edgardo Angara, Heherson Alvarez, Leticia Ramos Shahani, and Congressman Carlos Padilla.

The NCCA is the prime government arm tasked to the preservation, safeguarding, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; the overall policy making body, coordinating, grants giving agency; and assigned to administering the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA).

Moreover, Section 65 of 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) mandates government agencies (GA) that are implementing programs and projects to transfer public funds to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) accredited by said GA in accordance with its guidelines and the minimum requirements stated therein. Therefore, the NCCA-Board of Commissioners approved a resolution with the guidelines for the accreditation of individuals, organizations, and government agencies to be eligible for grants offered by the NCCA. GAs, CSOs, Peoples Organizations (POs), Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs), Individuals, Local Government Units (LGUs), are State Universities/Colleges and Public Schools can submit requirements to the NCCA to undergo the accreditation process to be able to acquire grants from the NCCA.

The NCCA grants program is competitive in nature since the approval of project proposals passes through a rigorous and confidential evaluation process based on merit such as quality and relevance to Commission priorities. Apart from this, NCCA also offers the Technical Assistance Program, a tool for the Commission to provide immediate assistance to legitimate organizations and cultural activities with the intention of providing appropriate arts and culture education and training and technical assistance; Cultural Mapping Program, assistance given to LGUs to maintain an inventory of cultural property under its control; Speakers Bureau Outreach Program, a program where sends over lecturers and workshop facilitators on culture and arts in various activities and programs for free; and Philippine Cultural Education Program, a program formulated and operationalized in relation to the need to accelerate the process of integrating culture in the basic education curriculum and mainstreaming it in national development plans.

On the other hand, for the Commission’s 35^th year, various programs and activities are in preparation. Updates will be posted in the NCCA Facebook page.

For details on this press release, contact Mr. Rene S. Napeñas, Head, Public Affairs and Information Office through pais@ncca.gov.ph or 0945 788 5698.