Speaker Cayetano bats for a Department of Arts and Culture

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday proposed the creation of a Department of Arts and Culture to boost government support for individuals who were involved in the creative and performing arts in the country.

Cayetano made the remark after the House Committee on Legislative Franchises denied the franchise application of ABS-CBN, which threatened the jobs of the artists and talents who had been working there.

In a press conference in Taguig City, Cayetano recognized how the performing arts industry in other countries had helped them boost their economies, such as in the case of K-Pop for South Korea.

"Personally I’d really like to have a Department of Arts and Culture, and magfo-focus ito sa performing arts and also marketing artwork ng mga Pilipino around the world," he said.

"Yes, may mga mawawalan ng trabaho sa ABS-CBN, pero walang dahilan na hindi magkaroon ng golden age of Philippine cinema of Philippine performing arts," he added.

According to Cayetano, the Philippines is rich with talented artists, singers, painters, sculptors, and other artists who are internationally-recognized yet do not receive enough support from the government.

"I think lamang na lamang ang Pilipinas not only because we’re English-speaking but also because of the quality of the entertainment that we can offer, very adaptable ang Pilipino,” he said.

“But as I said, like ‘yung sa K-Pop at K-Drama, hindi aksidente ‘yun. Pinlano iyon ng private sector, gobyerno, ‘yung mga performing artists nag-aral talaga para mahasa,” he added.

Cayetano also recognized the difficult situation of performing artists nowadays, especially since the country still faced the threat of COVID-19.

For one, he said that advertisers would rather spend money on aid rather than put up commercials, so there is less opportunity for artists. It is also difficult to shoot TV shows and movies now due to the COVID-19 situation, he added.

"So that's why I really believe performing artists at lahat ng creatives sa bansa deserve to have a voice in the Cabinet. Ang laki-laki ng potential talaga ng sining sa Pilipinas," he said.

With the creation of a Department of Arts and Culture, Cayetano believes that Filipino talents will not only be recognized but also be supported and incentivized so it can create more jobs and attract investments.

"So, sa akin, ang sining, whether it’s for advertising, whether it’s for movies, it’s for telenovelas, whether it’s for marketing ng mga projects, whether it’s OPM as an album or a jingle ng isang produkto, very creative tayo doon. I don’t think we should lose our advantage there, or whatever we lost, I think we should gain it back," he said.

Cayetano is hoping to collaborate with personalities in the culture and arts sector as well as in the creative industry to come up with a plan to harness new markets and opportunities in the Philippines and abroad for Filipino artists. — DVM, GMA News