The National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) should be designated as the National Youth Development Program for Music in recognition of its role in developing young Filipino musical artists and talents, and in promoting Philippine music and culture.
This has been proposed by Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez who filed House Bill No. 7818 to designate the NAMCYA as the key development program for music to assist in the cultivation, development, and advancement of outstanding young Filipino musicians through scholarships, trainings, performances, and other forms of incentives.
Rodriguez is the chairperson of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.
“The bill seeks to strengthen the NAMCYA and provide funding for its operations,” he said in his bill’s explanatory note.
He noted that NAMCYA was created in 1973 under Presidential Proclamation No. 1173, which declares the period from Nov. 26 to December 2, as the National Music Week for Young Artists to preserve, develop and promote Philippine music as an art and as a handmaid of cultural development.
“Since 1973, the main sponsoring institution of the annual events has been the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) whose president sits as chairperson of the national committee which conducts the competitions,” the House leader said.
“The annual competition is rigid. The competitors must win in the district, provincial, then regional competitions to be able to compete on the national level. They are required to perform a cluster of works—classical and contemporary pieces, as well as works of leading Filipino composers,” Rodriguez said.
Under HB 7818, the NAMCYA is tasked to establish a training program for music leaders, experts and teachers in order to maintain and cultivate the highest standard of musical training for the youth, and undertake a continuing program of research, documentation and publication of Philippine music for dissemination to school and the general public.
The bill also mandates the NAMCYA to expand economic opportunities for youth development through music development and diversification of programs that will benefit public and private schools and the general public; and subsidize digital information systems in order to link the development and performance of creative works directed towards the development of culture.
Rodriguez’s bill tasks the Cultural Center of the Philippines to provide the NAMCYA with financial support, office space, and free use of venue and facilities for NAMCYA-organized competitions, festivals, productions, and performances.
It mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to assist the NAMCYA in the identification, selection and training of participants from the different regions of the country.
The measure authorizes the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to utilize its funds for the training of participants and in the conduct of NAMCYA-organized local music competitions and festivals.
Any donation, contribution, bequest and grant which may be made to the NAMCYA to be used actually, directly and exclusively for charitable purposes shall be exempt from donor’s tax, HB 7818 provides.
The measure provides P50 million funding to ensure that NAMCYA fulfills its roles and functions.