THREE committees of the House of Representatives have approved a bill that seeks to discover, help and develop Filipino musical talents and promote Philippine music.

On Monday, the House committee on ways and means endorsed House Bill (HB) 7817, authored by Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

Earlier, the House committees on appropriations and on sports and development supported the proposed law, which is titled, “An Act designating the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NMCYA) as the National Youth Development Program for Music, defining its role and functions, and appropriating funds therefor.”

Rodriguez said his bill seeks to encourage young artists who excel in music competition and performance to preserve, develop and promote Philippine music as an art.

“It also aims to discover young artists in the field of choral singing, piano, chamber music, family ensemble, and indigenous instruments,” Rodriguez said.

He said the competitions are rigid, with contestants having to win in the district, provincial and regional levels to qualify for the national event.

“They are required to perform a cluster of works – classical and contemporary pieces, as well as works of leading Filipino composers,” he stressed.

Rodriguez added that since the competitions were launched in 1973 under Presidential Proclamation No. 1173, which declares the period between November 26 and December 12 of every year as National Week for Young Artists, their main sponsor has been the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), whose president chairs the national committee that conducts the events.

The Rodriguez bill mandates the CCP to provide financial support, office space and free use of venues and facilities for NMCYA-organized competitions, festivals, productions, and performances.

Aside from CCP financial assistance, the bill appropriates P50 million for NMCYA-related activities.

The Departments of Education (DepEd), of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are mandated to help in the identification, selection and training of participants in different levels. State colleges and universities are to provide free use of facilities.

Financial, technical, scholarship, and research assistance would also come from the National Commission for the Arts and Culture.

Government corporations and the private sector are encouraged to donate to finance NMCYA activities. Donations would be exempt from donor’s tax and may be deducted from gross income.

The CCP, in coordination with relevant agencies, would issue implementing rules and regulations.