TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The put up of the Kalinga Museum will start as soon as the proposed PhP150 million budget earmarked for the structure will be provided by the national government through the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Earlier, Republic Act (RA) 11770 was signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte which seeks to establish the Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum in Kalinga to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Kalinga land and its people through various activities and collaborations with government agencies and private stakeholders.
Rep. Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang said that the prescribed funds for the endeavor from the NCCA is now being awaited as the provincial government already identified the site within the Provincial Capital compound where the Kalinga Museum will be built.
Further, he claimed that there is already a uniform national design for museums provided by the NCCA that is why the necessary requisites for the put up of the Kalinga Museum is already in place.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed that the Kalinga Museum will be built the soonest because Kalinga will serve as one of the sites for a cultural facility aligned with the National Museum,” Mangaoang stressed.
Under the law, the Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum shall serve as the institutional medium for the protection, preservation, presentation and promotion of the cultural artistic, archeological, social, historical, religious and philosophical heritage of the Kalinga land and its people in view of the richness of their legacies and to their relevance to their contemporary and future aspirations.
The law provides that the Kalinga Museum shall have a compilation of complete musical notes and lyrics of Kalinga traditional songs, ballads, and contemporary music compositions and collect samples of musical instruments of Kalinga origin, design and creation; publish and disseminate Kalinga literacy works, epics, stories, and historical accounts; compile Kalinga literature, film or audio-visual recordings of cultural performances and music, dance, oral literature and festival celebrations; compile Kalinga epigrams, proverbs, legends and the origin and etymology of Kalinga words, names of barangays, municipalities and places of interests and their respective histories; gather and document Kalinga religious practices, traditions and the background and origin of Kalinga fiestas and festivals; complied photographs of and showcase by appropriate exhibits, Kalinga landmarks, historical sites and scenic views, and acquire and display varied range of Kalinga arts and artifacts; gather specimens of archeological findings, collect stones, rocks, and other geological materials, and preserved by appropriate methods samples of flora and fauna indigenous to the Kalinga region; conduct performances on Kalinga music, dances, arts, literary works, epics, stories, historical accounts and legends and carry out any other relevant and appropriate activities.
According to the law, the provincial government shall provide the land necessary to the construction or establishment or both of the main venue and ancillary offices and facilities of the Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum while the amount necessary for the implementation of the law shall be charged against the current year’s budget of the NCCA. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual general appropriates law.
The law states that within 60 days from the effectivity of the same, the NCCA, in coordination with the provincial government, other concerned agencies of the government, and private stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.
More importantly, notwithstanding the non-issuance of the implementing rules and regulations, the law shall take effect within 15 days after its publication in the official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
The law was signed by the former President on May 24, 2022 or more than two years from the present time.
Concerned advocates for culture and arts in the province lauded the efforts of Congressman Mangaoang in facilitating the passage of the law that seeks to establish the Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum and follow-up the funding support for the realization of the said endeavor as it will greatly help in preserving and protecting the rich culture and heritage of the Kalinga land and its people. By Dexter A. See