HB02648: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LINANGAN NG LIKHANG-BAYAN (INSTITUTE FOR LIVING TRADITIONS) TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION, PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRYꞌS COMMUNAL TRADITIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10066 OR THE NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE
This bill aims to establish the "Linangan Ng Likhang-Bayan (Institute for Living Traditions)" to protect, promote, and develop the communal traditions of the Philippines. This institute will serve as a central hub for technical, basic, and higher education, focusing on traditional and indigenous knowledge systems, and will be attached to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Its creation signifies a crucial step in preserving the rich and diverse cultural identity of the Philippines, which is currently threatened by foreign influences, internal struggles, and global modernization. The bill seeks to ensure that these living traditions, which are an expression of Filipino identity, are given due importance by the government and are not relegated to the fringes of the nation's development agenda.
The Institute for Living Traditions will be responsible for creating and maintaining "Schools of Living Traditions" and will coordinate with various government entities and private institutions to develop its core courses and areas of specialization. The establishment of this institute, with an initial appropriation of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00), underscores a commitment to safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage that defines the Filipino people. This legislation is vital for fostering a stronger sense of national identity by ensuring the viability and transmission of ancestral traditions to future generations.