The Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Council for Culture and Arts (NVPCCA) conducted their 3rd Regular Meeting in the PIHO Function Room of the Capitol Compound, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. The agenda for the meeting included the customary presentation of proposed local cultural inventory (LCI), reports from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) concerning upcoming projects and programs, resolutions on cultural matters, and reports and updates on the Grand Ammungan Festival (GAF) 2026.
The items discussed for the LCI are Kasibu’s Edralin Falls, Aritao’s pottery making, and the Gaddang indigenous dish ‘fulutan’. A representative from the Department of Trade and Industry offered support in securing intellectual property, expressing that this is essential for a higher score in the competitiveness index. The proposed LCI submissions came under great deliberation from the council, with particular consideration toward the indigenous peoples’ property.
The NCIP representative reported on the ancestral domains profile and planned sustainable development and protection plan for the information of the council, as well as a refresher on the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) for indigenous people. A report on the reduced bureaucratic processes for basic services and/or livelihood projects was also delivered. Beyond these reports, the NCIP also informed the council of their upcoming activities, which included a cultural learning exchange on September 20, and a capacity-building seminar for youth leaders on September 23.
The resolution ‘Enjoining all Educational Institutions and Local Government Units in Nueva Vizcaya to Promote and Visit the People’s Museum and Library’ was discussed during the meeting, ending in a motion of approval from the council. The second resolution titled ‘Recognizing Jota Vizcayana as one of the Official Folk Dances of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya’ came under longer contention on its terminology, history of performance, and designation as ‘one of the official folk dances’, ending in renewed avowals for continued research and requests for full documentation from the academic sector. Information on the final report on a proposed Nueva Vizcaya Center for Culture and the Arts was also presented to be endorsed to the Governor.
The tentative schedule of activities for the Grand Ammungan Festival 2026 was presented to the council. In an earlier order from the Office of the Governor, BM Eunice Galima-Gambol was designated as the Director-General of the GAF 2026. The GAF 2026 may take place from May 20 to May 24, 2026, with the potential to introduce new activities into the roster while also continuing the success of the previous festival.
The council’s due diligence toward the province’s intellectual property and cultural spirit is manifested not only in regular meetings, but with sustained activity for the constituency. Through the efforts of the council and the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office, the oft-phrased ‘rich cultural heritage’ of the province is officialized and truly belongs to Nueva Vizcaya. /igmb
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