AWPI Calls for a General Assembly!
About the Company
The Artists Welfare Project, Inc. (AWPI) is a Philippine non-profit, non-stock, non-government organization that became registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2007. It was set-up by a group of Filipino artists from various disciplines in an effort to contribute to artists’ well-being by:
1) tapping into government agencies that provide welfare benefits to Filipino citizens; and by
2) pushing for legislation that will provide long-term solutions to Filipino artists’ vulnerable conditions.
AWPI’s efforts are mainly supported by friends from the private and public sectors who realize that the wellbeing and development of artists, translates, in many ways, to the wellbeing and overall development of the country.
The Work of the Company
The Artists Welfare Project, Inc. was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-profit, non-stock corporation in 2007. Behind it are Filipino artists from all artistic disciplines, including the traditional arts.
In its 9 years of existence, AWPI has facilitated its members’ enrollment in Philhealth and the SSS. It has accessed assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for some of its members’ hospitalization needs. It has further mounted fundraising events for some of its ailing members.
This 2016, AWPI aims to draft a bill that will push for artists’ health, housing, and retirement benefits. It plans to mount lecture-workshops on a variety of subjects from arts management to financial literacy and bookkeeping; provide basic legal information; and facilitate Philhealth registration and payment for artists it works closely with.
AWPI’s operations have been mainly supported by friends from the private and public sectors who realize that the wellbeing and development of artists in many ways translates to the wellbeing and overall development of the country.
AWPI’s Board of Trustees
Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Mae Paner, Nanding Josef, Ronnie Lazaro, Bernardo Bernardo, Jenny Jamora, Dennis Marasigan, Bal Endriga, Karen Ocampo Flores, Raffy Tejada, Joanna Lerio, Ted Camahalan, Katsch Catoy, Fread Demesa, Kate Lim
Current Programs of AWPI
A. Philhealth, SSS, and Pag-ibig coordination. These agencies will give orientation talks, and be available for new member registration and accounts updating for artists. Artist groups in all regions are encouraged to organize into groups of 100 interested in this service to mount similar events in their areas through AWPI’s facilitation.
B. Artists’ Welfare Bill (Draft currently under review). This further pushes for self- employed Filipino artists’ healthcare, housing and retirement benefits.
C. Artists Village. This is an initial exploration with Pag-IBIG Fund re. housing loans for individual artists who wish to be part of a future Artists’ Village.
D. Artist capacity-building talks-workshops on:
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Entrepreneurship, 2nd Careers and Diversification
• Financial Literacy and Bookkeeping
• Marketing and Public Relations
• Taxation Information and Legal Obligations
• Wellness and Preventive Healthcare
E. Legal information Service for arts-related matters (consultation and referrals)
F. NCCA coordination re. AWPI Bill and Magna Carta for Artists
G. CCP coordination re. standardization of artists’ work-hours
