DAVAO del Sur Rep. Mercedes Cagas filed a measure that seeks to establish a high school for the arts in her province.

House Bill 9963 mandates the creation of the Davao del Sur High School for the Arts to be administered and supervised by the Department of Education in coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

In her explanatory note, Cagas stressed that art is an important pillar in nation building.

“Through its different forms, the arts provide continuous development of the roles of talented and passionate individuals in the preservation and promotion of Filipino artistic and cultural traditions,” she said.

The lawmaker pointed out that Filipinos are born natural artists.

“It is high time for the national government to give due importance to the arts as they serve as an integral part of our youth’s development and cultural awareness,” Cagas said.

The school of arts shall implement a general secondary curriculum prescribed by the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, with special focus on the arts that shall aid in recognizing early the talent and exceptional giftedness of young children.