Manila, Philippines – In addition to The National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) initial P4 million quick response cash assistance program amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NCCA Board of Commissioners has approved a cumulative budget at P63.8 million to support its “Assistance Program in Response to the Call of Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.”
Currently, the initial cash assistance program provides P5,000 to artists and cultural workers who are not employed, without a regular income, or freelance workers whose source of income is gone due to the health crisis. Under this program, NCCA has been able to aid 1,000 beneficiaries.
Part of the newly approved budget allocation will support NCCA committee-driven grants, subsidy programs, or online projects relevant to each committee’s mandate or continue with the cash assistance program. NCCA has 19 committees, which cover various art forms and cultural disciplines such as architecture and the allied arts, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, literary arts, music, visual arts, archives, art galleries, historical research, libraries and information service, monuments and sites, museums, communication, language and translation, cultural education, and cultural communities in the north, central, and southern Philippines.
Each committee will decide on the mode through which their respective budget will be allocated. However, if a committee deems that cash assistance is the best aid right now, its budget may so be allotted with a maximum of P5,000 net of tax per beneficiary.
For inquiries, visit NCCA Facebook Page or email info@ncca.gov.ph.
Photo: Toa Heftiba