LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The provincial government together with the local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan will work closely with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for the successful implementation of local tourism programs and projects that will collaborate with the national government’s objective to further promote Filipino culture and values.
This developed after the NCCA in partnership with the Regional Development Council and the provincial government conducted a whole-day collaborative workshop in promoting Filipino culture and values with various LGU representatives on October 19 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) restaurant.
The event has five objectives as follows: to orient different LGUs about the NCCA’s mandates and programs; to re-introduce to the body the country’s cultural agenda under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration as reflected on the Chapter 7: Promoting Philippine Culture and Values of the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022; to provide an overview of Ilocos’ Regional Development Plan’ its Results Matrix and Target Indicators for 2017-2022; to ensure that the cultural development programs/activities/projects (PAPs) of the different localities in Pangasinan are aligned to the delivery of Chapter 7 targets of Region 1; and to determine areas of collaboration between the NCCA and LGU in the delivery of Ilocos’ Regional Development Plan (RDP) targets as well as in the implementation of other culture and arts PAPs of the locality.
Aside from the mandates, programs and projects of the NCCA, topics discussed during the workshop include cultural mapping; PRECUP and overview of Heritage Law; DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2018-49; presentation of the Philippine Development Plan for Culture and Arts 2017-2022; and highlights of Region 1 RDP on culture—assessment, challenges and identifies strategies.
As such, Mary Jane Cacanindin, senior development specialist of NEDA, said that Region 1 is the only region in the country that has completed the series of workshop of this kind offered by NCCA.
Commending the workshop proponent for holding the whole-day event in Pangasinan, Ma. Luisa A. Elduayan, Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer, suggested that details on the programs and projects initiated by the national government through the NCCA be cascaded to the local level so as to be fully aware of the existing activities with regards to culture and arts.
NCCA is the overall policy making and coordinating agency for culture and arts with a mandate to undertake a systematic collection of statistical and other data which reflect the state of culture and arts in the country.
Representatives and speakers from the NCCA are as follows: Jayson Septimo, Stephen Pamorada, and John Axl Palisoc. RDC was represented by Anacleto Zamoranos from the private sector.
Meanwhile, the Center for Pangasinan Studies in coordination with the provincial government will conduct the 1st International Conference on Pangasinan Studies on October 25 to 27 at the Sison Auditorium.
By: Ruby R. Bernardino