HARNESSING TALENTS Pulong pushes for the creation of PH High School for Creative Arts System

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Davao City First Congressional District Representative Paolo Duterte has urged for the immediate approval of a bill creating a nationwide network of secondary schools with a specialization in developing the creative abilities and talents of young Filipinos.

Duterte introduced House Bill (HB) 5075, which calls for the formation of the Philippine High School for Creative Arts (PHSCA) System, along with Rep. Eric Yap of Benguet and Rep. Edvic Yap and Jeffrey Soriano of the ACT-CIS Partylist.

In a statement, Duterte said it is only appropriate that the House should pass this legislation quickly in light of the observance of National Arts Month in February.

He also said this will help to ensure the development of the talents of artistically gifted children who will, in the future, take the lead in promoting and preserving Philippine arts and culture. The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture has already approved the substitute bill consolidating HB 5075 with other similar measures.

“We thank the committee for approving the measure last November and hope that Congress will pass it soon. The special programs for the arts in schools usually suffer from neglect and shrinking budgets. It’s about time that we recognize the importance of developing and sustaining a pool of artistically talented young Filipinos who will keep our culture and creative industries alive,” Duterte said.

Moreover, the authors stated that “learning about the arts can help students understand the diversity and complexities of different cultures and societies.”

“Given that culture and the arts are essential to the holistic development of society, it is imperative to work towards more inclusive opportunities for children to engage in the creative arts, for such measures will provide the foundation for their success in the future,” the statement also said.

According to Duterte, the committee-approved legislation would not create new high schools, but will instead create a creative arts system by modifying the arts curriculum and creating specialized programs in already-existing schools under the Department of Education’s supervision (DepEd).

The substitute legislation includes the portion

Arroyo, other solons rally behind Duterte amid ICC drug war probe

of HB 5075 that addresses providing scholarships to worthy students who have exceptional potential in the performing arts, creative writing, visual arts, and applied arts.

Under the substitute bill, the DepEd will craft the curriculum that will deal with functional literacy. The curriculum on arts and design will be drawn up by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in coordination with other cultural agencies.

“National artists and experts in the various fields of the creative arts who have taken the non-Licensure Examination for Teachers would be qualified to teach under the PHSCA system. Governed by a board of trustees, the PHSCA System under the measure shall be administratively attached to the DepEd in consultation with the NCCA,” it said.

Agroup of House members led by former President and Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday filed a resolution defending former President Rodrigo Duterte against any probe by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Through House Resolution No. 780, the lawmakers said Duterte’s presidency “has ushered remarkable accomplishments brought about by his relentless campaign against illegal drugs, insurgency, separatism and terrorism, corruption in government and criminality thus making the life of every Filipino better, comfortable and peaceful.”

They also said the Philippines’ peace and order situation has improved due to the Duterte administration’s holistic and whole nation approach in curbing insurgency and eradicating the country’s drug menace which, according to them, resulted in unprecedented growth in exports and investment.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved as it is hereby resolved, that the House of Representatives declares unequivocal defense of Former President Rodrigo Roa

Duterte, the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines, in any investigation and/or prosecution by the ICC,” the resolution read.

Duterte’s drug war has been blamed for thousands of deaths, with government figures pegging it around 6,000 but human rights groups saying it could reach as high as 30,000.

Aside from Macapagal-Arroyo, those who also introduced the resolution include Representatives Carmelo Lazatin II, Aurelio Gonzales, Anna York Bondoc-Sagum, Jose Alvarez, Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, Richard Gomez, Wilton Kho, Loreto Amante, Edward Hagedorn, Edwin Olivarez, Eric Martinez, Eduardo Rama Jr., Dale Corvera, Zaldy Villa, Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Johnny Pimentel, and Marlyn Primicias-Agabas.

The ICC in January announced that it is reopening its investigation into the killings that happened purportedly as a result of Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, saying it “is not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the court’s investigations.”