NCCA Competitive Grants Program - National Commission for Culture and the Arts

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Call for Proposals Competitive Grants 2026_Web Banner

Through the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA), the NCCA provides assistance to Non Government Organizations (NGOs), Peoples Organizations (POs), Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs), Individuals, Local Government Units (LGUs), Government Agencies (GAs), State Universities/Colleges and Public Schools through its NCCA Competitive Grants Program, and Institutional Programs (NCCA Outreach Program, Resource Person’s Bureau, Technical Assistance Program).

The NCCA Board of Commissioners, in coordination with the four Subcommissions (composed of 19 national committees), defines its thrusts and priorities anchored mainly on the NCCA vision:

A Filipino people with a strong sense of nationhood and deep respect for cultural diversity.
(Approved during the Commission meeting on 19 November 2019 Adopting the NCCA Strategic Plan 2020-2022 per Board Resolution No. 2019-360.)

This 2026, all categories in the call align with the four (4) strategic outcomes under the Philippine Development Plan for Culture and the Arts 2024-2029:

1. 1. 1. Filipino Identity Reaffirmed;
    2. Filipino Creativity and Innovativeness Harnessed;
    3. Humane, Inclusive, and Sustainable Communities Established; and
    4. Culture and Disaster Responsive Governance Enhanced.

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM
2026 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this call for proposals is to guide the proponents (i.e. individuals, NGOs/POs/IPOs, and NGAs/LGUs/SUCs) on the NCCA Competitive Grants Program for CY 2026.

II. LEGAL BASIS

Section 12.a.4 of Republic Act 7356 (NCCA Charter) authorizes the Commission to give grants to artists and cultural groups that contribute significantly to the Filipino’s cultural legacy as a means to extend artistic achievement. Further, Section 13.h of the same law mandates the Commission to administer the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA) and give grants for the development, protection, preservation, and dissemination of Philippine arts and culture.

III. NATURE OF THE PROGRAM

The NCCA Competitive Grants Program provides financial assistance to project proposals which undergo a three-level evaluation process, and are approved based on merits and relevance to the Commission’s mandate and priorities set by the 19 NCCA National Committees for the safeguarding, promotion, and development of Philippine arts and culture.

IV. GENERAL RULES

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION

The deadline for submission of project proposals with complete requirements is on or before 31 August 2025 (Sunday), 11:59 PM (Philippine Standard Time) via email or courier. An incomplete project proposal may constrain the Commission from acting favorably on it.

ELIGIBILITY OF PROPONENTS

1. 1. 1. Proponents must be accredited by the Commission as a pre-requisite to the approval of their project proposal. (Please refer to Annex B: NCCA Accreditation Guidelines and coordinate with the Commission’s Accreditation Office (AO) for other details)
    2. Proponents must not have any unliquidated grant or derogatory record with NCCA or any other government agency.
    3. NCCA Officials, employees, and Executive Council (ExeCon) Members and their relatives up to the fourth civil degree of affinity and consanguinity, as well as organizations and institutions where ExeCon Members serve as officers and incorporators, are disqualified from submitting proposals.

PROJECT PROPOSAL CONTENT

The proponent must fully accomplish the prescribed NCCA Competitive Grants Program Project Proposal Form (see Annex A) in Filipino or English.

Read for more information on accomplishing Project Proposal Form

In accomplishing the said form, the proponent should adhere to the following:

1. 1. 1. 1. The proponent must identify and indicate the corresponding category where his/ her project will fall. Moreover, individual and/or organization proponents may apply for certain categories as indicated in the call. (Please refer to the Proposal Categories)
      2. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 9, s.2019 on the adoption of the cash-based budgeting system, all proposals should indicate the period of implementation anytime within the Calendar Year 2026.
      3. Proponents shall provide a Line-Item Budget, including an equity equivalent to 20% of the total project cost, which may be in the form of labor, land for the project site, facilities, equipment, and the like, pursuant to Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 2007-001.
      4. Proponents may consider the following provisions in creating their proposals:
        
        The participation of any of the following: women, youth, PWD and the elderly, LGBTQIA+, informal settlers, urban poor, or other vulnerable sectors. For gender-sensitive events, please refer to GAD Checklist for Designing Projects (see Annex C).
        
        Alignment of the proposal objectives and outputs with the relevant 17 UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
      5. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 11106 or the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Act, proposals involving the conduct of fora, conferences, meetings, competitions, online streaming, and other similar live activities require FSL interpreter insets, if applicable, to guarantee access to information and freedom of expression of the Filipino deaf and mute.
      6. The proponents (individual [for individual proponent]; or head of the organization [for NGOs/POs/IPOs and NGAs/LGUs/SUCs]) are required to sign in electronic or in print all the pages of the proposal.
      7. Proponents affixing electronic signatures in the proposal, including other documents, must accomplish and attach a certification on the use of their e-signature, duly signed by the owner of the e-signature. (Please refer to Annex D: Certificate of Authority to Use Electronic Signatures)
      8. A proponent can only submit one (1) project proposal.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

1. 1. 1. 1. Publication proposals must include a manuscript, which shall be reviewed by the respective National Committee prior to readers’ review, subject to publication guidelines.
      2. Approved grants for individual proponents shall be released in the form of reimbursement or direct payment to creditors, and no cash advance shall be given. Individual grantees are expected to raise seed funding to support their initial expenses for reimbursement to the NCCA subject to government accounting rules and regulations.
      3. The availability and release of funds shall be subject to the Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) anytime within the period February-March 2026.
      4. Approved projects shall incorporate the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ logo in all informational materials as prescribed by the Office of the President’s (OP) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 24, s. 2023, and adhere to the Logo Usage Guidelines for Bagong Pilipinas.

V. 2026 COMPETITIVE GRANTS

The 2026 Call for Proposals is now open.

The projects are presented per National Committee under the four (4) Subcommissions:

- - - - Subcommission on the Arts (SCA);
        
        Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts (SCCTA);
        
        Subcommission on Cultural Dissemination (SCD); and
        
        Subcommission on Cultural Heritage (SCH).

All project proposals shall be addressed and submitted to:

Program Management Division (PMD)
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
Room 5B, Fifth Floor, NCCA Building
633 General Luna Street, Intramuros 1002 Manila, Philippines
Telephone Nos: (02) 8527-5535 (Trunk Line) locals 524, 541, and 507
E-mail: pmd@ncca.gov.ph

Submit your proposals online and/or write in your envelope using this Category Syntax, as follows:
2026–Category Code
Example: 2026–SCA-NCC-01

This way, your documents will be easily identified and filtered out by our receiving unit to be received by the assigned Project Officer for appraisal and evaluation.

PROPOSAL CATEGORIES

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE 2026 CALL FOR PROPOSAL PROJECT CATEGORIES

VI. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GRANTEE.

Should the project proposal be approved, the grantee shall be responsible to undertake the following:

1. 1. Implement the Project according to the particularities stated in the approved Project Proposal, Line-Item Budget, Schedule of Activities, Work and Financial Plan, and Board Resolution;
  2. Keep an accounting of the grant in accordance with generally accepted government accounting and auditing rules and regulations. The grantee shall maintain a separate Book of Accounts exclusively for the NCCA grant supported by receipts/ documents; and shall maintain a subsidiary ledger of funds received from NCCA deposited in their savings/checking account and all the records shall be made available for inspection and verification by an NCCA staff or Auditor of the Commission on Audit (COA);
  3. Act as lead implementer of the Project and shall be directly responsible for hiring, supervising and facilitating the release of the payment for services rendered by the project personnel hired on a contract basis in which contract shall not exceed the duration of the Project. A withholding tax shall be deducted from payment of services rendered by project personnel. For this purpose, the Grantee shall be responsible for all applicable taxes and duties and its remittances to the local Bureau of Internal Revenue;
  4. Coordinate regularly with the NCCA Officer for the implementation, monitoring and assessment of the Project through letter, e-mail, phone call or text messaging. The NCCA shall assign a counterpart officer who shall coordinate and monitor on a regular basis the progress of the project;
  5. Undertake the local and national promotion of the event and shall properly acknowledge the sponsorship of the NCCA in all informational materials such as but not limited to tarpaulins, posters, online posting and publications to cite that the project was made possible in part by the NCCA. The Commission shall be correctly spelled out: “National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).” In the posters, flyers, invitations, press releases, and programs, the NCCA logo shall be of equal size or larger than the logo of other major sponsors. Acknowledgment shall be done before, during and after the program;
  6. Incorporate the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ logo in all informational materials as prescribed by the Office of the President’s (OP) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 24, Series of 2023 and adhere to the Logo Usage Guidelines for Bagong Pilipinas;
  7. Adopt measures and ensure the safety and security of all participants in the implementation of the Project. The NCCA shall not be liable for any untoward events or incidents;
  8. Authorize the NCCA to include the project output, partially or entirely, in its website (www.ncca.gov.ph) and database and for use in the NCCA’s promotional efforts, reports or other collateral materials as the NCCA deems necessary for the promotion of culture in the country. The NCCA agrees to acknowledge the source and authorship of the material used;
  9. As may be requested by the NCCA and upon availability of the Grantee, render free cultural services to access vulnerable groups and poor communities to free arts training rooted in pride of habitat, heritage, history, language and sensitivity to our social conditions, to generate their will for social transformation to promote a culture of peace and sustainable development;
  10. Submit all liquidation reports, (For LGU/NGA) Report of Disbursement/Report of Check Issued, (For Individual) Report of Expenses and (For NGO/PO/IPO) Fund Utilization Report, supported by Summary of Expenses, including an equity equivalent to 20% of the total project cost, which may be in the form of labor, land for the project site, facilities, equipment and the like, used in the project. The liquidation report shall be submitted to the NCCA NEFCA Division within sixty (60) days after completion of the project. Failure to submit the above reports shall mean cancellation of the remaining grant and disqualification of the grantee from receiving financial assistance from the Commission in the future; and
  11. Submit Final Report in the following format: (1) A Hardbound Terminal Report in accordance with the NCCA Guide on Terminal Report; and (2) a non-editable PDF (Portable Document File), include photos and videos of the implementation, stored in a flash drive or external drive readable in a standard computer. Photos must be saved in JPG files for possible use in NCCA publications.

VII. LIMITATIONS OF THE GRANT

Pursuant to COA Circular No. 1994-013 on Rules and Regulations in the Grant, Utilization and Liquidation of Funds Transferred to Implementing Agencies; COA Circular No. 2007-001 on the Revised Guidelines in the Granting, Utilization, Accounting, and Auditing of the funds released to Non-Government Organizations/People’s Organizations; COA Circular No. 2012-001 on the Revised Guidelines and Documentary Requirements for Common Government Transactions, the approved grant shall have the following limitations

1. 1. No portion of the NCCA grant shall be released and utilized before the signing and notarization of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
  2. No portion of the NCCA grant transferred to Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)/People’s Organizations (POs) shall be used for the following:
    1. Money market placement, time deposit, or other forms of investment;
    2. Cash advance of any official of the NGO/PO/IPO, unless related to the implementation of the project;
    3. Payment of salaries, honoraria, and other form of allowances of the personnel of the NCCA or the NGO/PO/IPO who are not connected with the project;
    4. Payment of administrative expenses of NCCA personnel (food, travel, load, accommodation). In cases wherein members of the secretariat are involved in the implementation of the project, the NCCA shall retain an amount intended for the administrative expenses, to be paid directly by the NCCA;
    5. Payment of personnel benefits of the NGO/PO/IPO such as the mandatory contributions to SSS, Philhealth, Pag-IBIG, and other forms of benefits (e.g. 13month pay, bonuses, health insurance, travel insurance, per diem);
    6. Payment of utility bills of the NGO/PO/IPO and its personnel;
    7. Purchase of supplies, materials, equipment, and motor vehicles of the NCCA;
    8. Acquisition of assets of the NGO/PO/IPO, unless necessary for the prosecution of the project and specifically stipulated in the MOA.
  3. In no case shall the NCCA grant transferred to NGAs/LGUs/SUCs be utilized for the payment of additional compensation to employees in the form of allowances, incentive pay, bonuses, honorarium, or other forms of additional compensation, except as may be authorized by law or existing regulations, nor shall it be used to create new positions, to augment salaries of regular personnel or purchase motor vehicles without prior approval of the Office of the President.
  4. It shall be prohibited to affix, or cause to affix, the name, visage, appearance, logo, signature, or other analogous images of any public official, whether elected or appointed, on all projects or corresponding signage funded through the NCCA grant.

VIII. GRANT RELEASE

Pursuant to (1) COA Approved NCCA Specialized Guidelines dated December 18, 2000; (2) COA Circular No. 2007-001 “Revised Guidelines in the Granting, Utilization, Accounting and Auditing of the Funds released to Non-Governmental Organizations/People’s Organization (NGOs/POs)”; (3) COA Circular No. 2012-001 “Prescribing the Revised Guidelines and Documentary Requirements for Common Government Transactions” ; and (4) Board Resolution No. 2023-332 dated October 26, 2023 on the Amendment to the Specialized Guidelines on Tranches of Fund Transfer/Release to Grantees, the manner of fund transfers/grant releases and the corresponding liquidation requirements shall be as follows:

For Individuals

1. No portion of the grant shall be utilized for the honorarium of the grantee. However, logistical cost (i.e., transportation, food, accommodation, supplies and materials, communication) is allowed for reimbursement.
2. Following the COA Auditing Rules and Regulations, approved funding for individual grantees shall be released on a “direct payment or reimbursement mode.”
3. The initial/partial portion of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance/submission of the following documents:
  - Signed and notarized Memorandum of Agreement between NCCA and the individual grantee;
  - Certification of Accreditation issued by NCCA;
  - Progress Reports;
  - Report of Expenses supported by Official Receipts and other satisfactory evidences;
  - Verification/Audit Report issued by the NCCA-NEFCA or GAA;
  - Certificate of Percentage of Project Completion issued by the NCCA-Program Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) staff; and
  - Issuance of acknowledgment receipt or its equivalent upon receipt of the reimbursement.
4. The remaining/final portion of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance/submission of the following:
  - Summary of remaining expenses supported by Official Receipts and other satisfactory evidence;
  - Verification/Audit Report issued by the NCCA-NEFCA;
  - Final Report of the project, including a copy of the final output as appropriate;
  - Monitoring and Evaluation/Assessment Report signed by the NCCA-PMED staff;
  - Certificate of Acceptance of Output by the NCCA-PMED; and
  - Issuance of Acknowledgement Receipt or its equivalent upon receipt of the reimbursement.

For Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Peoples Organizations (POs), and Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs)

For projects to be implemented for more than three (3) months regardless of the amount of funding, the grant shall be released in three tranches as follows:
- 60% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance/submission of the following
  1. Signed and notarized Memorandum of Agreement between NCCA and Grantee;
  2. Issuance of Official Receipt upon receipt of the first release;
  3. Certification of Accreditation issued by NCCA;
  4. Certification from the NCCA Chief Accountant that the previous fund transfer had been liquidated and accounted for in the books; and
  5. Proposed Schedule of Activities with Approved Line-Item Budget;
- 30% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance/submission of the following:
  1. Interim Fund Utilization Report, on the previous release of the fund, supported by a Summary of Expenses, certified by the Chief Accountant and approved by the President/Chairperson of the NGO/PO/IPO;
  2. Verification/Audit Report issued by the NCCA-NEFCA;
  3. Certification from the NCCA Chief Accountant that the previous fund transfer had been liquidated and accounted for in the books;
  4. Progress Report of the Project and look-ahead schedule;
  5. Certificate of Percentage of Project Completion issued by the NCCA-PMED; and
  6. Issuance of Official Receipt upon receipt of the second release;
- 10% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance of the following:
  1. Final Fund Utilization Report supported by a Summary of Expenses, certified by the Chief Accountant and approved by the President/Chairperson of the NGO/PO/IPO;
  2. Verification/Audit Report issued by the NCCA-NEFCA;
  3. Certification from the NCCA Chief Accountant that the previous fund transfer had been liquidated and accounted for in the books;
  4. Final Report of the project including a copy of the final output as appropriate;
  5. Project Assessment Report approved by the NCCA
  6. Acceptance of Output approved by the NCCA;
  7. Issuance of Official Receipt upon receipt of the final release.
For projects to be implemented for less than three (3) months regardless of the amount of funding, the grant shall be released in two tranches.
1. 90% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance/submission of the following:
  1. Signed and notarized Memorandum of Agreement between NCCA and Grantee;
  2. Issuance of Official Receipt upon receipt of the first release;
  3. Certification from the NCCA Chief Accountant that the previous fund transfer had been liquidated and accounted for in the books;
  4. Certification of Accreditation issued by NCCA; and
  5. Proposed Schedule of Activities;
2. 10% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance of the following:
  1. Final Fund Utilization Report supported by a Summary of Expenses, certified by the Chief Accountant and approved by the President/Chairperson of the NGO/PO/IPO;
  2. Verification/Audit Report issued by the NCCA-NEFCA;
  3. Certification from the NCCA Chief Accountant that the previous fund transfer had been liquidated and accounted for in the books;
  4. Final Report of the project including a copy of the final output as appropriate;
  5. Project Assessment Report approved by the NCCA;
  6. Acceptance of Output approved by the NCCA; and
  7. Issuance of Official Receipt upon receipt of the final release.

For National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)

For projects with a grant to be implemented for more than three (3) months regardless of funding, the grant shall be released in three tranches as follows:
- 60% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance/submission of the following:
  1. Signed and notarized Memorandum of Agreement between NCCA and the grantee;
  2. Certification of Accreditation issued by NCCA;
  3. Certification by the NCCA Chief Accountant that funds previously transferred to the Implementing Agency have been liquidated and accounted for in the books; and
  4. Issuance of OR/eOR/AR or its equivalent upon receipt of the first release;
- 30% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance/submission of the following:
  1. Reports of Checks Issued [RCI] and/or Reports of Disbursement [RD] and supporting documents of the first tranche certified correct by the Agency’s Treasurer/Accountant and approved by the Agency Head, with stamped “received” by the Auditor;
  2. Copies of the approved Journal Entry Vouchers of all transactions charged from the fund drawn by the Chief Accountant;
  3. Verification/Audit Report issued by the NCCA-NEFCA;
  4. Certification by the NCCA Chief Accountant that funds previously transferred to the Implementing Agency have been liquidated and accounted for in the books;
  5. Progress Report of the Project and look-ahead schedule;
  6. Certificate of 50% Percentage of Project Completion issued by the NCCA-PMED; and
  7. Issuance of OR/eOR/AR or its equivalent upon receipt of the second release.
- 10% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance of the following:
  1. Original Copy of the Reports of Checks Issued [RCI] and/or Reports of Disbursement [RD] and supporting documents of the first tranche duly certified correct by the Chief Accountant and approved by the Agency Head, with stamped “received” by the Auditor of the implementing agency;
  2. Copies of the approved Journal Entry Vouchers of all transactions charged from the fund drawn by the Chief Accountant;
  3. Verification/Audit Report issued by the NCCA-NEFCA;
  4. Certification by the NCCA Chief Accountant that funds previously transferred to the Implementing Agency have been liquidated and accounted for in the books;
  5. List of Accounts Payable, certified correct by the Agency’s Treasurer/Accountant and approved by the Agency Head (Note: The last tranche based on Accounts Payable is still subject to liquidation) ;
  6. Final Report of the project, including a copy of the final output as appropriate;
  7. Monitoring and Evaluation/Assessment Report signed by the NCCA-PMED staff;
  8. Certificate of Acceptance of Output by the NCCA; and
  9. Issuance of OR/eOR/AR or its equivalent upon receipt of the final release.
For projects with a grant to be implemented for less than three (3) months regardless of funding, the grant shall be released in two tranches.
- 90% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance/submission of the following:
  1. Signed and Notarized Memorandum of Agreement between NCCA and the grantee;
  2. Certification of Accreditation issued by NCCA;
  3. Certification by the NCCA Chief Accountant that funds previously transferred to the Implementing Agency have been liquidated and accounted for in the books; and
  4. Issuance of OR/eOR/AR or its equivalent upon receipt of the first release.
- 10% of the grant shall be released to the grantee upon compliance of the following:
  1. Original Copy of the Reports of Checks Issued [RCI] and/or Reports of Disbursement [RD] and supporting documents of the first tranche duly certified correct by the Chief Accountant and approved by the Agency Head, with stamped “received” by the Auditor of the implementing agency;
  2. Copies of the approved Journal Entry Vouchers of all transactions charged from the fund drawn by the Chief Accountant;
  3. Verification/Audit Report issued by the NCCA-NEFCA;
  4. Certification by the NCCA Chief Accountant that funds previously transferred to the Implementing Agency have been liquidated and accounted for in the books;
  5. List of Accounts Payable, certified correct by the Agency’s Treasurer/Accountant and approved by the Agency Head (Note: The last tranche based on Accounts Payable is still subject to liquidation) ;
  6. Final Report of the project, including a copy of the final output as appropriate;
  7. Monitoring and Evaluation/Assessment Report signed by the NCCA-PMED staff;
  8. Certificate of Acceptance of Output by the NCCA; and
  9. Issuance of OR/eOR/AR or its equivalent upon receipt of the final release.

IX. DATA PRIVACY STATEMENT.

All the personal information gathered under this Program shall adhere to the Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and the NCCA Privacy Policy. This information is stored both in the Project Information System (PIS) or an electronic file and can only be accessed by authorized NCCA personnel.

ACCREDITATION PROCESS

ANNEXURES: