The NCCA logo is the Alab ng Haraya (The Flame of Imagination) which symbolizes the wellspring of Filipino art and culture.

It is composed of two basic elements – the fire and the censer.

The fire is a stylized letter K of Philippine indigenous script that stands for kadakilaan or greatness. The fire represents the highest level of imagination and emanates from a three-tiered censer.

The three tiers stand for organization, economic support, and an orientation rooted on a thorough grasp of tradition and history, which the NCCA provides.

Done in gold to symbolize the immense wealth of Philippine culture, it was designed by the late Romeo “Boy” Togonon.

Download the NCCA logo manual

II. Official Hymn: PAMBANSANG KULTURA

Pambansang kultura, ating dalisayin
Mula sa gunita’t alamat ng lahi;
Mula saribúhay, kulay-bahaghari.
Pambansang kultura, ating pag-alabing
Láwas ng marangal, ginhawa, matatag;
Tanglaw sa pagbigkis, paglusog, pag-uswág.
Ating paghaluing kunday ng kampílan,
Busíl ng hagábi, dunsól ng kulíntang,
Rabáw ng tinalak, moog ng singkában,
Ang lahat ng diwa at harayang taal.
Pambansang kultura, ating-atin lámang,
Kapag itinanghal saanman sa mundo:
Malikhain, mapagbago, Filipino.
Ating paghaluing kunday ng kampílan,
Busíl ng hagábi, dunsól ng kulíntang,
Rabáw ng tinalak, moog ng singkában,
Ang lahat ng diwa at harayang taal.
Pambansang kultura, ating-atin lámang,
Kapag itinanghal saanman sa mundo:
Malikhain, mapagbago, Filipino.
Malikhain, mapagbago, Filipino.

Titik: Virgilio Almario
Musika: Felipe de Leon, Jr.

Orkestrasyon: Diwa de Leon

III. Introduction

In 1987, then President Corazon C. Aquino penned Executive Order No. 118 creating the Presidential Commission on Culture and Arts. Five years later, in 1992, this presidential directive was enacted into law– Republic Act 7356, creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The original bill was jointly authored by Senators Edgardo Angara, Heherson Alvarez, Leticia Ramos Shahani, and Congressman Carlos Padilla.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Philippines is the overall policy making body, coordinating, and grants giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an executing agency for the policies it formulates; and task to administering the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA) — fund exclusively for the implementation of culture and arts programs and projects.

The government’s support for cultural development is particularly highlighted by the passage of R.A. 7356 that created the NCCA. The coordination among the cultural agencies was strengthened by the virtue of Executive Order No. 80, which placed the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the National Historical Institute (now, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), the National Museum of the Philippines, The National Library (now, The National Library of the Philippines), and the Records, Management, and Archives Office (now, the National Archives of the Philippines) under the NCCA umbrella. Further, through Republic Act No. 9155, administratively attached the earlier aforementioned five cultural agencies to the NCCA, including now the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (Commission on the Filipino Language). Thus, the NCCA is responsible for culture and the arts in the Philippines — and, if not in the name, the de facto Ministry of Culture.

The Commission together with the six cultural agencies works with the principle of partnership, collaboration and shared responsibility in achieving effectively and efficiently the implementation of cultural programs as well as maximizing of resources.

The NCCA was created to serve as the presidential inter-agency commission to coordinate cultural policies and programs.

IV. Legal Basis

Republic Act No. 7356 (April 3, 1992), An Act Creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Establishing a National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA), and for Other Purposes. 

The Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7356

Other related legal basis:

1. Proclamation No. 683 (January 28, 1991), designating NCCA as the lead agency for the annual celebration of National Arts Month every February;
2. Proclamation No. 798 (September 12, 1991), designating NCCA as the lead agency for the annual celebration of Museums and Galleries Month every October;
3. Proclamation No. 837 (November 19, 1991), designating NCCA as the lead agency for the annual celebration of Libraries and Information Services Month every November;
4. Republic Act No. 7355 (April 3, 1992), designating NCCA as the implementing agency of the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan;
5. Proclamation No. 154 (March 19, 1993), designating NCCA as the implementing agency of the annual celebration of National Dance Week every Fourth Week of April;
6. Executive Order No. 131 (October 26, 1993), designating the NCCA to conduct the necrological and interment services for deceased National Artists;
7. Executive Order No. 80 (March 5, 1999), Transferring the CCP, KWF, NM, NHI, TNL, and RMAO to the NCCA for Policy Coordination
8. Republic Act No. 9155 (August 11, 2001), [Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001]  Section 8: Administratively attaching the KWF, NHI, RMAO and TNL to the NCCA
9. Proclamation No. 439 (August 11, 2003), designating NCCA as the lead agency in the annual celebration of National Heritage Month every May;
10. Proclamation No. 1262 (March 21, 2007), designating NCCA as the lead agency for the annual celebration of UNESCO-ITI World Theatre Week every March 21-27;
11. Republic Act No. 10066 (March 26, 2010), [National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009], An Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of the National Cultural Heritage, Strengthening the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and its Affiliated Cultural Agencies, and for other Purposes
12. Proclamation No. 1906 (October 5, 2009), designating NCCA as the lead agency for the annual celebration of Indigenous Peoples Month every October;
13. Proclamation No. 933 (December 19, 2014), designating NCCA as the lead agency for the annual celebration of Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino every last week of July;
14. Proclamation No. 968 (February 10, 2015), designating NCCA as the lead agency for the annual celebration of National Literature Month every April
15. Proclamation No. 469 (April 13, 2019), designating the NCCA and the Department of Agriculture as the lead agencies for the annual celebration of Filipino Food Month
16. Republic Act No. 11333 (April 26, 2019), transferring the regulatory functions of the National Museum to the NCCA. The transfer of the National Museum of the Philippines’ regulatory functions to the Commission pursuant to Section 30 of Republic Act No. 11333 encompasses the following laws and issuances:  

1. 1. • Republic Act No. 4846. as amended by the Presidential Decree No. 374 (January 10, 1974), designating the National Museum as the lead cultural agency for preservation and protection of important cultural properties and National Cultural Treasures of the nation and to safeguard their intrinsic value; 
      • Presidential Decree No. 260 (August 1973), declaring numerous cultural properties and historical sites in the Philippines as National Cultural Treasures, and National Shrines, Monuments and/or Landmarks, respectively;
      • Presidential Decree No. 1109 (March 28, 1977), declaring the Archaeological Areas in Cagayan Valley and Kalinga-Apayao Archeological Reservation; 
      • Republic Act No. 8492 (February 12, 1998), establishing a National Museum System;
      • Republic Act No. 9105 (April 14, 2001), defining the crime of art forgery and institutionalizing the creation and composition of the Art Authentication Panel.

Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10066

V. 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.)

VI. Mission

NCCA is the prime government agency that safeguards, develops, and promotes Filipino culture through the formulation and implementation of enabling policies and programs as well as the administration of endowment funds for culture and arts. 

(Approved during the Commission meeting on 19 November 2019 Adopting the NCCA Strategic Plan 2020-2022 per Board Resolution No. 2019-360.)

According to Sections 8 and 12 of RA No. 7356, the NCCA is created and mandated to formulate and implement policies and plans in accordance with the principles stated in Title I of RA No. 7356:

• To formulate policies for development of culture and the arts;
• To implement these policies in coordination with affiliated cultural agencies;
• To coordinate implementation of programs of these affiliated agencies;
• To administer the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA);
• To encourage artistic creation within a climate of artistic freedom;
• To develop and promote the Filipino national culture and arts; and,
• To preserve Filipino cultural heritage.

VII. Mandate

• To encourage the continuing and balanced development of a pluralistic culture by the people themselves;
• To conserve, promote and protect the nation’s historical and cultural heritage;
• To ensure the widest dissemination of artistic and cultural products among the greatest number of people across the country and overseas for their appreciation and enjoyment;
• To preserve and integrate traditional culture and its various creative expressions as a dynamic part of the national cultural mainstream; and,
• To ensure that standards of excellence are pursued in programs and activities implementing policies herein stated, it shall encourage and support continuing discussion and debate through symposia, workshops, publications, etc., on the highest norms available in the matrix of Philippine culture.

VIII. Powers and Functions

In general, the Commission shall undertake the functions of policy formulation, coordination, and grants assistance. It shall also be an executing agency for the policies formulated. Further, it shall exercise the following powers and functions pursuant to RA 4846 (as amended by PD 374), RA 7355, RA 7356, RA 9105, RA 10066, and RA 11333.

1. 1. 1. Encourage and facilitate the organization of a network of regional and local councils for culture and the arts, hereunder described, to ensure a broad nationwide, people-based participation in the formulation of plans, the enforcement of culture-related laws and regulations, the implementation of programs/ projects and the review of funding requirements. 
      2. Establish a Secretariat under an Executive Director for the administrative and day-to-day operations of the Commission;
      3. Set up a system of networking and coordination with and among all existing government cultural agencies for the effective implementation of plans, strategies, programs, and activities, and to avoid unnecessary duplication of functions therein;
      4. Create committees and other mechanisms to help expedite the implementation of plans and strategies;
      5. Call upon and coordinate with other government and non-government and cultural institutions and agencies for assistance in any form;
      6. Generate resources both from the Government and private sectors, local, national and international, for its operations as well as for the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA); 
      7. Receive and accept donations and other conveyances including funds, materials, and other services, by gratuitous title;
      8. Administer the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA) and the National Endowment for Culture and Arts (NECA) and give grants for the development, protection, preservation, and dissemination of Philippine culture and the arts, and designate a comptroller; 
      9. Prepare an annual budget of the Commission and submit the same to the President for inclusion in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAIA)
      10. Advise the President on matters pertaining to culture and the arts, including the creation of a special decoration or award, for persons who have significantly contributed to the development and promotion of Philippine culture and arts;
      11. Administer the Order of National Artists as provided by Proclamation 1001, s. 1972 and the Gawad sa Manilikha ng Bayan pursuant to Republic Act 7355 and as amended by Executive Orders No. 236, s. 2003 and 435, s. 2005 
      12. Facilitate the conduct of necrological and interment services of deceased National Artists and Manlilikha ng Bayan as provided by Proclamation No. 131, s. 1993;
      13. Act as the lead implementing agency for the annual celebration of National Arts Month (February), UNESCO-ITI World Theatre Week (March 21-27), National Heritage Month (May), National Dance Week (Fourth Week of April), National Literature Month (April), Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino (Last Week of July), Indigenous Peoples Month (October), Museums and Galleries Month (October), and Library and Information Services Month (November);
      14. Regulate activities inimical to the preservation/conservation of national cultural heritage/ properties, which shall be contained in a separate document;
      15. Declare as Important Cultural Property or National Cultural Treasure and remove the presumption of Important Cultural Property on works by a Manlilikha ng Bayan and by a National Artist and archaeological and traditional ethnographic materials;
      16. Declare as Heritage Zone areas that are culturally significant to the country, in coordination with the NHCP, and in consultation with the Commission and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board or other concerned agencies;
      17. Exercise the right of first refusal in the purchase of cultural properties declared as National Cultural Treasure;
      18. Inspect National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, and national historical landmarks, sites or monuments at any time to ensure their protection and integrity;
      19. Collaborate with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) National Commission of the Philippines in ensuring the conservation and management of world heritage sites, of cultural and mixed sites category, in the Philippines;
      20.  Establish and maintain the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property;  
      21. Enter into agreements with private owners of cultural properties, upon the advice of the concerned cultural agency, with regard to the preservation of cultural properties;
      22. Regulate registration, excavation, preservation and exportation of Philippine cultural properties through the issuance of licenses and permits to dealers of cultural property, treasure hunting activities, and land and underwater archaeological exploration and excavation;
      23. Issue Cease and Desist Order when the physical integrity of important cultural properties under its jurisdiction is found to be in danger of destruction or significant alteration from its original state;
      24. Issue a compulsory repair order when a privately-owned heritage site cannot be maintained by the owner or has fallen into disrepair through neglect to such an extent that it will lose its potential for conservation;
      25. Deputize the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other local or national law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Fisheries’ agents, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ rangers, the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Immigration agents, members of the Office of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes and other such agencies and their successors-in-interest, to enforce the provisions of RA 10066 and its implementing rules and regulations; 
      26. Recover or retrieve cultural properties which are under the custody of foreign nationals or entities and to bring these properties back to Philippine custody; 
      27. Provide general training programs on conservation, in coordination with the appropriate cultural agencies, to the local government units which have established cultural heritage programs and projects in their localities;
      28. May provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to historic, archaeological, architectural, artistic organizations for conservation or research on cultural property 
      29. Establish an annual conservation recognition program under which monetary prizes, awards, and citations will be given by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commission, for special achievements and important contributions and services in the area of heritage preservation and conservation efforts;
      30. Establish Sentro Rizal and branches or offices in countries where there are children of overseas Filipino workers who need to be educated about their roots, as well as developed countries where there are large Filipino communities;
      31. Provide incentives, upon the recommendation of the appropriate cultural agency, for persons who discover and report heretofore unknown archaeological sites, in accordance with its rules and regulations implementing the provisions of RA 10066;
      32. Investigate inimical activities in conjunction with the proper government agencies, such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, the National Historical Institute, the National Museum and other such agencies, with the aim of prosecuting such activities and recommending other actions such as legislation, executive issuances, and other appropriate actions;
      33. Implement the provisions of Republic Act No. 9105, the “Art Forgery Act of 2001,” involving the creation and support of the Art Authentication Panel mandated therein; 
      34. May delegate decision making on specific cases to the Chairperson, the Executive Director, and the Secretariat as it sees fit. Matters for decision that are not explicitly delegated by resolution shall require Commission action; and,
      35. Promulgate other rules and regulations and undertake any and all measures as may be necessary to implement R.A. No. 7356. 

IX. Organizational Chart