President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed three laws establishing three cultural centers and museums in Kalinga, Misamis Oriental, and Biliran to “promote culture and the arts.”

He signed Republic Act 11770, RA 11771, and RA 11772 establishing the Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum in the province of Kalinga; the Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) Cultural Center and Museum in CDO, Misamis Oriental, and the Biliran Cultural Center and Museum in the province of Biliran, respectively, on May 24.

Under the laws, the cultural centers and museums will serve as the institutional medium for the protection, preservation, presentation, and promotion of the cultural, artistic, archaeological, social, historical, religious, and philosophical heritage of the Kalinga, Cagayan de Oro (CDO), and Biliran Island, and its people in view of the richness of their legacies and their relevance to their contemporary and future aspirations.

The Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum will be a collaboration between their respective provincial and city governments, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) with its concerned affiliated cultural agencies among others.

The provincial government of Kalinga, the City Government of CDO, and the provincial government of Biliran must provide the land necessary for the construction or establishment, or both, of the main venue and ancillary offices and facilities of the three cultural centers and museums.

The amount necessary for the implementation of the laws will be charged against the current year’s budget of the NCCA (Proper).

Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its continued implementation will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The NCCA is the overall policy-making body, coordinating, and grants-giving agency for the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine arts and culture.

It is also an executing agency for the policies it formulates and is tasked with administering the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts fund exclusively for the implementation of culture and arts programs and projects.

LTO district office

Meanwhile, Duterte also signed a law establishing a district office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the City of General Trias, Cavite.

Republic Act 11769, also signed on May 24, directs the Secretary of Transportation to immediately include in the department’s programs the operationalization of the LTO district office in the City of General Trias.

Under the law, the funding for the LTO district office in General Trias must be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

RA 11769 must take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

The act originated in the House of Representatives and was passed by the House and the Senate of the Philippines on May 25, 2021 and January 31, 2022, respectively. (PNA)