Senator Loren Legarda has filed a bill seeking to institutionalize the Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) to safeguard and promote the country’s diverse intangible cultural heritage. The proposed legislation amends Republic Act No. 10066, also known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, and provides for the appropriation of funds to sustain the program.

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

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

The senator noted that while many traditions have received international acclaim, their continuity remains fragile due to modernization, declining intergenerational learning, and limited institutional support.

She stressed that the SLTs, which were inscribed in UNESCO’s Register of Good Safeguarding Practices in 2021, currently operate largely on grant funding without a stable long-term budget.

The proposed law would institutionalize the SLTs under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and establish dedicated centers to provide sustainable platforms for research, training, and community-based education.

Legarda emphasized that the program would also link cultural heritage to livelihoods, tourism, and the creative economy.

She added that the measure recognizes that Filipinos’ living traditions “are not only cultural treasures but also sources of livelihood and innovation.”

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

“In this way, our ancestral wisdom becomes a foundation for sustainable development, where cultural authenticity drives creativity and prosperity.”

Legarda called for the swift passage of the bill, urging lawmakers to ensure that progress and tradition advance hand in hand while safeguarding the nation’s cultural identity.

“May the flame of our living traditions continue to illuminate our nation’s journey—reminding us that our heritage is not a relic of the past, but a living legacy that shapes our tomorrow,” she concluded.