Legarda files cultural heritage bill

Senator Loren Legarda has filed a bill seeking to institutionalize the Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) to safeguard and promote the Philippines’ diverse intangible cultural heritage.

The measure amends Republic Act 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, and allocates funds to sustain the program.

In her sponsorship speech at the Senate plenary on Wednesday, Legarda underscored the importance of traditional arts, music, and crafts in preserving Filipino identity and collective memory. She cited the Hudhud chants of Ifugao, the Darangen epic of the Meranaw, and Aklan’s piña handloom weaving — all recognized by UNESCO for their cultural value.

“Their rituals, chanting, and craftsmanship are not merely cultural practices — they are living repositories of wisdom, values, and identity,” Legarda said, noting that the Philippines is home to 222 Indigenous Cultural Communities representing over 14 million Indigenous Peoples.

She expressed concern that despite international recognition, many traditions are at risk due to modernization and the lack of institutional support. The SLTs, inscribed in UNESCO’s Register of Good Safeguarding Practices in 2021, currently rely on limited grants.

Under the proposed law, the SLTs will be institutionalized under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and developed into dedicated centers for research, training and community-based education.

Legarda added that the measure links cultural heritage with livelihoods, tourism, and the creative economy.

“Through the SLTs, traditional crafts and practices can be integrated into the creative economy and tourism industries, linking heritage to inclusive growth,” she said.

“Our ancestral wisdom becomes a foundation for sustainable development, where cultural authenticity drives creativity and prosperity.”