Imee says proposed Department of Culture ‘not happening’

A PHILIPPINE senator on Wednesday rejected the proposal to create a separate Department of Culture (DoC) since the government is in the middle of streamlining and “rightsizing” the bureaucracy.

“It is not happening (Department of Culture). That’s the reality,” Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said during a Senate Foreign Relations hearing in mixed English and Filipino. “We are rightsizing the government and, as you know, the government is still looking for money to recover… It’s very unlikely that you will get a new department.”

Ivan Anthony S. Henares, secretary general for the Philippine National Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), had called for the creation of the new department that would take on cultural affairs and streamline the programs of agencies that deal with programs promoting Filipino culture.

Several bills have been filed before the House of Representatives calling for the establishment of the DoC to coordinate state efforts in promoting national identity and culture.

Ms. Marcos also pushed for the ratification of the 19-year-old 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression, which aims to promote the creation of state policies to promote cultural activities and values.

“This overwhelming delay simply underlies the lack of prioritization of culture and the arts in the Philippines. It’s tremendously sad. And truly unacceptable,” she said. – John Victor D. Ordoñez