The city government has set aside P1 million for the council’s budget.
The panel will take charge in preparations of the city’s annual plan for promoting culture and the arts.
The council will have the city mayor, the chairman of the council committee on cultural affairs office, the city planning and development officer, the head of the public affairs and information office, city budget officer, six representatives from the private sector and one representative each from the indigenous peoples and cultural communities as members.
The council was formed by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. in line with a memorandum from the Department of Interior and Local Government aimed at preserving and promoting Filipino culture.
Aside from preparation of the city’s annual plan on culture and the arts, the newly formed body is also tasked with formulating programs in developing a pool of cultural and artistic talents for the city.
It will also conduct a periodic inventory of local cultural sites in coordination with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.
The creation of the culture and arts council was provided for in an ordinance authored by Councilor Elizabeth Delarmente, the chairwoman of the city council’s committee on cultural affairs and tourism. — Perseus Echeminada