SENATOR Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada filed a measure that aims to strengthen the special program in the arts for Junior and Senior High School.

In his Senate Bill 2345 or the proposed Special Program in the Arts Act, Estrada said that the Department of Education’s Special Program in the Arts aims to develop the potential of artistically inclined students.

The SPA will allow learners to develop their talents in several disciplines such as Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance, Media, and Creative Writing.

“Through the SPA, the preservation of Philippine culture in various art forms among the younger generation is ensured,” Estrada said in his explanatory note.

The senator stressed that this will also help fuel the growth of creative industries in the country.

Estrada’s bill seeks to strengthen the SPA to provide a continuous source of artists and leaders in the preservation and promotion of Philippine culture, arts, and creative industries.

Under the bill, a Special Program in the Arts Council will be created and placed under the supervision of DepEd.

The DepEd wy formulate the academic curriculum and set the standards in the selection or qualification of schools with SPA.

The DepEd shall also hire and retain experts in various creative arts domains to teach pertinent subjects in the curriculum.