DEC13_SUPERDUPERFINAL

V-CON1 Day 4 November 14, 2020
Virtual Dialogue: Governance
The Arts, Legislation and Futurity
Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda
Hon. Jose Francisco Benitez, Ph.D
Br. Tagoy Jakosalem, OAR
The last futures focus was on governance which was participated in by
resource persons Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and Representative
Francisco “Kiko” Benitez with reactor Br. Tagoy Jakosalem, OAR
on the theme “The Arts, Legislation, and Futurity.” The artist group
found their voices in the virtual platform and created a discourse
expressed in images which reassured them that they do have a say in
how their future is going to be like.
To preserve Philippine indigenous and traditional culture, DS
Legarda led the development of cultural villages, focusing on their
schools of living traditions. To showcase the artistry of the Filipino
contemporary artists to the world, she initiated the return of the
Philippines to the Venice Art Biennale in 2015. And as Chairperson
of the House Sub-Committee on Better Normal, and sponsor of
House Bill No. 6864 or the “Better Normal for the Workplace
Communities and Public Spaces Act of 2020”, DS Legarda saw to
it that the concerns of the art and culture sectors were addressed
in the proposed law that was originally meant to institutionalize
health and safety protocols only. Provisions in the bill include the
government’s sufficient support for culture bearers and masters and
those engaged in our dynamic traditional forms, emergency cash
subsidies for those involved and working in the arts and culture
sectors, the maximization of digital platforms towards bolstering
various creative industries, and encouragement of online promotion
or streaming of cultural programs, performances, exhibitions and
enhancement of existing public arts and monuments. DS Legarda
shared that House Bill No. 6864 has already been passed by the
House and now pending in the Senate.
Rep. Benitez collaborated with 45 members of the 18th Congress,
including DS Legarda, to form the Arts, Culture and Creative
Industries Bloc. ACCIB has conducted a series of consultations with
cultural agencies and stakeholders in different creative industries
to facilitate growth and enhance the global competitiveness of the
country’s creative industries, and has introduced bills that seek to
mainstream cultural mapping at the local government unit level. This
is to give leverage to local heritage and culture as a driver of tourism;
recognizing the potential of cinema in promoting Philippine tourist
destinations to a global market. Rep. Benitez spoke of a bill that
has also been introduced to ensure protection of artists and crew
members, many of whom work freelance, in the film and television
industries. He expressed that government agencies are answering
and catching up to the emergent needs of the country.
Having chaired the technical working group that consolidated bills
establishing ICT hubs nationwide, Rep. Benitez highlighted the role
of digital transformation and digital technology as enablers of new
forms of artistic and creative expression, as well as the cultivation
of creative talent and cultural capital to fuel economic growth from
digital advertising to the art gallery and the museum.
Reactor Br. Jakosalem reaffirmed the role of government in
supporting the creative initiatives of artists and art organizations, in
conducting art mapping, and in sustaining a formative art culture in
the regions through socialized art education and practice or through
local community art centers.
It’s already the fourth V-CON 1 session, but all breakout rooms
are still charged with vigor and zeal. Samonte acknowledged
thoughts on advocacy and support from the local government
more importantly at the barangay level, sustainable and long-term
art residency programs and initiatives, and incorporation of art in
the development of the tourism sector. There existed this mutual
preference for a government that invests in the artists and cultural
communities; that professionalizes, institutionalizes, and values art
and the artists, and engages them in real community and human
resource development.
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