Arts & International Affairs Volume 5, Number 1, Summer 2020 | Page 59

ARTS & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Figure 1. Locally-funded projects under the General Appropriations Act
(as of December 2018).
By the end of December 2018, the NCCA disbursed a total of 188.45 million pesos
(approximately $3.6 million USD) for funded projects under the General Appropriations
Act (GAA) for that year. Fifty-six percent of this (106.2 million pesos or $2 million
USD) went to projects under the national cultural agencies. Seventy-two percent of this
56 percent went to “direct” initiated projects of the NCCA. Foremost of these are The
Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale, including participation in other contemporary art exhibitions,
which had a budget of 45 million pesos; scholarships and grants, which were
allocated 10 million pesos; and projects for cultural and heritage mapping and programs
that disseminate cultural information and raise awareness within the greater public, such
as the Buhay na Buhay TV program, the 2018 Sagisag Kultura TV program, and a book
on the National Arts and Crafts Fair, which received 15 million pesos (NCCA 2019).
On the other hand, 44 percent (82.25 million pesos or $1.6 million USD) of the total
spending went to local cultural agencies, foundations, and organizations supporting
projects such as alternative platforms for cultural preservation and dissemination to
younger generations, efforts to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, assistance to Filipino
artisans, creation of centers that support Indigenous artists, and scholarships and
technical aid to train individuals for arts education in higher education (NCCA 2019).
Table B. Approved Budget Allocation for the SCA and SCCTA for 2018.
Subcommision
Amount in
pesos
Amount in US
dollars
Percentage allocation
against overall budget
SCA 83 million 1.58 million 44%
SCCTA 74 million 1.40 million 39%
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