SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Municipal Tourism Office (MTO) of San Jose is encouraging artists and cultural groups to draft proposals for the 2025 National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) program grants.
The NCCA gives financial support to projects directed for the development, protection, preservation, and dissemination of Philippine arts and culture.
During the recent Kapihan sa PIA Occidental Mindoro, Vince Casimero of the MTO explained how the intervention helped uplift the culture and the arts sector in the municipality, which amounted to P3 million.
“Through this grant ng Luzon Dap-ayan project, nagkaroon tayo ng cultural hub at nakapag-conduct po tayo ng 12 na mga cultural seminars and workshops, so nakatulong po sa mga dancers natin, mga visual artist, mga photographers natin, mga IP groups natin para mahone pa at madevelop pa yung mga skills nila when it comes sa arts at sa culture,” Casimero shared.
(Through this Luzon Dap-ayan Project, we were granted a cultural hub and we were able to conduct 12 cultural seminars and workshops that helped honed our local dancers, visual artists, photographers, IP groups, and develop their skills when it comes to the arts and culture.)
These projects carried San Jose as the Best Program for Culture and the Arts during the 23rd Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines – Department of Tourism (ATOP-DOT) Pearl Awards.
Casimero said that any individuals involved in the culture and the arts, provided that they do not have any relatives in the NCCA, can apply for the grant. For groups, associations, and CSO, the same requirement applies to having no unliquidated projects.
The first step is to report to the MTO to prepare for the NCCA assessment.
Casimero reiterated that the grant is available nationwide, and interested entities should report to their respective MTOs.
There are four people’s organizations, two individuals, four institutions, and one local government unit (LGU), totaling 11 applicants from the municipality.
The deadline for proposal submission is on August 31, 2024. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
