SENATOR Nancy Binay is pushing for a measure establishing the Philippine High School for Creative Arts System.

In filing her Senate Bill 1786, Binay said the State shall foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression.

At present, the Philippine High School for the Arts in Laguna and the Bataan High School for the Arts are the only two specialized arts-focused public high school in the country

Binay said her bill aims to establish a specialized high school system intended to hone the artistic skills and talents of the youth throughout the country, as well as to provide a continuing source of artists of notable excellence and leaders in the preservation and promotion of culture, arts and creative industry in the Philippines.

“Furthermore, education, arts and culture play an important role in fostering patriotism and nationalism. Thus, there Is a need to rekindle the love and passion for the arts of the Filipino people in order to preserve the richness and depth of our culture,” Binay said in her explanatory note.

Under the bill, Philippine High School for Creative Arts System are secondary schools offering full scholarships to deserving students with considerable potential in the fields of performing arts, creative writing, visual arts, and applied arts.

Admitted students shall be trained under a special curriculum oriented in the fields of architecture and allied arts, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, literary arts, music, visual arts, design, digital fabrication and new media, along with financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills, and basic knowledge on intellectual property rights, with the end in view of providing quality education to students while preparing them for various creative industry related career as well a readiness for entrepreneurial endeavors or employment.

The PHSCA System shall be administratively attached to the Department of Education in consultation with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts for program implementation.

State also in the measure that all incomes and donations to the PHSCA created shall formed into a fund, to be known as the Creative Arts School Fund.