THE DAVAO City Arts and Culture Office is targeted to be completed by next year to enhance the city’s cultural landscape, promote cultural and historical heritage, and support local artists.
Davao City Arts and Culture Office head Oscar Casaysay said in an interview that the office will temporarily operate at the 5th floor of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) while it is still being developed as there is no existing physical office yet.
For now, the budget for this year is small at P1.3 million, which already includes the salaries and equipment. He said that they will have meetings with Mayor Sebastian Duterte to fix the budget for next year.
Casayasay hopes to push Davao City to be included in UNESCO’s creative cities for performing arts.
The Philippines currently has three creative cities: Baguio for folk arts, Cebu for designs, and Iloilo for gastronomy.
He also said that they had been slowly implementing the city ordinance of the Davao City Office for Culture and Arts as a division under the city mayor’s office since its creation and his recent appointment as the head.
Lawmakers passed City Ordinance No. 0332 last Nov 2023, mandating the creation of a Culture and the Arts Office that is vital in promoting a balanced and sustainable development of Davao City.
Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines says that the state shall foster the preservation and promotion of national culture. Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act mandates local government units to create and maintain an inventory of cultural properties in their area.
“So, binuo ang opisina nito para tutukan yung conservation, promotion ng ating mga cultural properties sa entire Davao City,” Casaysay said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Mar 3.
