MABALACAT CITY – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has announced its priority plans for 2025, which aims to harness culture and arts as tools for resilience and sustainability in the face of modern challenges.
During the Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting held in Mabalacat City, NCCA Executive Director Eric Zerrudo cited that the commission’s plans align with the Philippine Development Plan for Culture and the Arts (PDPCA) 2024-2029.
PDPCA, which serves as a blueprint for advancing Filipino cultural identity and resilience, is anchored on three main pillars including celebrating Filipino ingenuity; utilizing culture, arts, history, and heritage across various sectors and agencies; and strengthening internationalization programs.
“We want to highlight the relevance of culture and arts in addressing issues like climate change, technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, globalization, migration, tourism, and other development pressures. By positioning culture and arts as tools for innovation and survival, the NCCA aims to ensure the resilience of Filipino identity amidst these challenges,” he said.
Zerrudo also cited the need to protect and empower artists by providing opportunities to create, innovate, and practice their crafts.
“The NCCA is also prioritizing collaborative projects that integrate culture and arts into education, tourism, infrastructure, and conservation efforts. It’s about synergy– connecting with other sectors to maximize the impact of our cultural programs,” he added.
Projects will include curriculum development, values formation, tourism product development, and support for cultural industries and infrastructure conservation.
The commission also plans to strengthen its internationalization efforts by expanding the reach of Sentro Rizal cultural centers that promote Filipino heritage abroad.
The director added that one of the foundational programs of NCCA is cultural mapping, which identifies unique cultural, historical, and artistic elements in every municipality.
“Cultural mapping is vital because it provides the data and ingredients needed to promote local culture and arts effectively,” Zerrudo said.
He added that NCCA is streamlining this process to ensure more local government units (LGUs) can produce actionable outputs.
These mappings, according to Zerrudo, will guide the development of tourism products, lesson plans for educators, and awareness campaigns across sectors.
Meanwhile, the NCCA called on the public and various sectors to support its initiatives, as it stressed that collective action is essential to preserving and promoting Filipino culture and ensuring that it remains a cornerstone of national identity and a driving force for sustainable development.
“From LGUs to educators, media, and the general public, everyone plays a role in preserving and promoting our cultural identity. Together, we can ensure that the arts and culture remain a cornerstone of the Filipino spirit,” he said.
With this, Zerrudo highlighted the critical role of LGUs in promoting culture and arts.
“When local chief executives actively support cultural initiatives, it becomes easier to raise public consciousness,” he noted.
Zerrudo likewise stressed the importance of media, both traditional and digital, in raising public awareness, amplifying advocacies, and building support for cultural programs.
