PASAY CITY — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual affirmed that the country’s future is creative as he laid out the agency’s plans and programs under the banner “Malikhaing Pinoy” during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2nd Philippine Creative Industries Summit (PH CIS 2023) on 7 March 2023 at the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). 

As the Chairman of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council, Secretary Pascual is optimistic that the creative economy, as a priority industry, will create more stable and better-paying jobs for Filipino artists, artisans, creators, content providers, and creative workers, and contribute to the country’s pursuit of inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development. 

Recognizing creativity as a crucial component of driving industrial innovation, the Department also aims to integrate creativity not only to services but also to agriculture, manufacturing, and other industries. Thus, part of the initiatives of DTI also includes Creative Market Acceleration Program and Startup Incubation Program to put the Philippine creative industries in the global arena. 

“The development of the creative economy is central to DTI’s industrialization and industrial transformation agenda, which is driven by science, technology, and innovation. We at DTI endeavor to uplift the skills of Filipino artists and the quality of their outputs to be able to compete in the larger international market,” Secretary Pascual said. 

Secretary Pascual also mentioned that “To allow us to measure the creative industries’ economic contributions accurately, we will continue working with the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to establish a well-defined and reliable statistical system through the Creative Industries Satellite Account.” 

Further, Secretary Pascual highlighted the establishment of a Creative Venture Fund and other financial support schemes to help creative enterprises and workers sustain and expand their operations. 

Moreover, DTI will focus on building Creative Learning Academies where creative professionals and aspiring creators can collaborate and conduct networking and access new technologies. 

Likewise, Secretary Pascual shared that the Department would expand the Philippine Skills Framework to ensure that the country’s workforce will have the necessary skills that match the requirements of future jobs. This, in turn, will ensure that Filipino artists and talents will be more competitive as the industry landscape changes over time. 

Secretary Pascual also encouraged the four hundred (400) attendees of the Summit composed of government agencies, policymakers, industry associations, diplomatic corps, and international partners, to join hands in its efforts to achieve a unifying creative agenda and drive growth and innovation in the sector. 

“While the task at hand is colossal and may seem formidable, our willingness to join hands in shaping the future of our country gives me comfort and confidence that the best is about to happen for the Philippine creative industries,” he concluded. 

With support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and British Council, the CIS is a two-day event aimed at celebrating the passage of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA) or the Republic Act No. 11904 and elevate Filipinos’ creativity by forming a unified front in the development of the creative industries. *

Date of release: 20 March 2023