WHEREAS, the arts and letters arc under the patronage of the
State, as embodied in the Constitution;
WHEREAS, the arts and letters are truly reflective of the
national genius, in the manner that they are given expression by artists who can
retrieve, for the nation, what is true and what is beautiful in Philippine
culture; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Government to grant special
privileges to National Artists, in recognition of their contributions to the
cultural heritage of the country, as well as in encouragement of a spirit of
excellence in the arts and letters;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to
Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General Order No. 1, dated
September 22, 1972, and in furtherance of Proclamation No. 1144, dated May 15,
1973, do hereby order and decree:
The following privileges and honors, among others, shall henceforth be made
available to National Artists:
A cash award of ten thousand pesos (P 10,000) upon conferment of the award
and decoration of National Artist;
A life pension of two thousand pesos (P2,000) payable monthly;
Medical and hospitalization benefits;
Coverage by a lifetime insurance policy in the amount of fifty thousand
pesos (P 50,000) by the Government Service Insurance System and/or private
insurance companies from date of conferment of the award, in the event the
National Artist is insurable, the premiums for which shall be paid by the
National Government or by donation from any governmental or private entities;
A place of honor in state functions, national commemoration ceremonies and
all other cultural presentations; and
A State funeral, the arrangements for and the expenses of which shall be
borne by the Government, upon the death of the National Artist.
In addition, the National Artists Awards Committee, composed of the members
of the Board of Trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines created to
administer the Award and Decoration of National Artist under Proclamation No.
1144, dated May 15, 1973, may authorize the disbursement of funds for the travel
expenses of National Artists to and from the places where their works of art may
be on official exhibition, for the benefit of the Philippine public.
Any person who has been conferred the award and decoration of National Artist
shall, as a condition for the retention of such award and decoration, and the
privileges and honors decreed hereunder remain a citizen of the Philippines.
There is hereby created a Special Account in the annual General
Appropriations Act, with an initial appropriation of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
which is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to carry out the purposes of this Decree.
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary to replenish said Special Account shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The National Artists Awards Committee shall make and supervise the
disbursement of funds in the Special Account: Provided, That the
disbursements shall be subject to audit by the Commission on Audit: And
provided, further, That a report of such disbursements shall be
submitted to the Office of the President of the Philippines once every six
months.
This Decree is hereby made part of the law of the land and shall take effect
immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 7th day of June, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy-three.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary