BENGUET is looking to continue the School of Living Tradition (SLT) program after the Provincial Tourism Office announced earlier this year a new SLT center will be established in Datakan, Kapangan.
Provincial Tourism Office chief Claire Prudencio said the new SLT will boost programs in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in sustaining the rich heritage of Benguet.
According to Prudencio the on-going project is on its way to be completed after the NCCA approved the funding.
“The SLT center in Datakan is ongoing, we have no definite date when it will be completed but so far we are looking to have it available as soon as possible.”
The NCCA has allotted P150,000 for the province to complete the first phase of construction of the SLT center while lot acquisition is still being verified.
The SLT center will be one of 15 cultural centers to be setup in the entire Philippines explained the provincial tourism chief.
Prudencio said the site was selected based on the recommendation made by the province of Benguet and soon approved by the NCCA.
She added the LGU is looking for more assistance from the NCCA in adding an additional SLT center in the province in the future “So far this is the first SLT center for the whole province, perhaps the SLT programs in the 13 municipalities will continue to grow according to target, soon enough baka madagdagan pa.”
The Datakan, Kapangan SLT will function as information center where groups and individuals may inquire of the different programs the NCCA offers including other concerns about the SLTs.
Since 2008, the Benguet Tourism Office said the LGU already provided a P5 million counterpart to support to SLT’s in the province to add to funding given by the NCCA.
Benguet is known to be one of the most successful SLT project implementers, predominantly during 2014 and 2015 when the province was lauded as one of the most successful proponents with a complete execution for its 13 different municipalities.
SLT is where a living master/culture bearer or culture specialist teaches skills and techniques of doing a traditional art or craft. The mode of teaching is usually non-formal, oral and with practical demonstrations. The site may be the house of the living master, a community social hall, or a center constructed for the purpose.