MANILA, Philippines — There’s no need for the creation of an “expensive bureaucracy such as a Department of Culture.”House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza had this to say as he rejected the proposed creation of a Department of Culture. He was referring to a measure that was seeking to reorganize the NCCA into an independent Department of Culture (DOC) to promote and develop the country’s cultural traditions. 1528, or the proposed “Department of Culture Act,” funds will be appropriated for the DOC “in recognition of the vital role of Filipino culture in nation-building.”With this, Atienza proposed that culture and sports be merged again with public education. ADVERTISEMENTThe proposed DOC Act, he noted, seeks an initial appropriation of P2 billion for the new department on its first full year of operation alone. The said measure was authored and sponsored by Senator Francis Escudero who chairs the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 16, 2018 05:03 UTC