Baguio: The creative industry could become a major driver of economic growth in the Cordillera as the government expands support across its various sectors, the regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a press briefing during the Philippine Creative Industries Month celebration, DTI-Cordillera Assistant Director Samuel Gallardo highlighted the significance of the Philippine creative industry, valued at approximately PHP2.12 trillion, which accounts for about 7.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product. This sector directly supports around 8 million jobs. Gallardo indicated the necessity for the industry to maintain a growth rate of 30 to 35 percent from 2025 to 2030 if it continues to be valued at PHP2 trillion.
Gallardo elaborated that the creative economy encompasses not only traditional arts but also digital and interactive entertainment, animation, gaming, advertising, architecture, and design. The DTI is actively working on enhancing the measurement of the sector's economic contributions, including jobs, investments, and income generated by creative enterprises, which may not traditionally be classified under micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Furthermore, the agency is broadening its industry-cluster approach to include the creative sector, joining existing clusters for industries such as coffee, cacao, bamboo, wearables and homestyle products, processed food, and nuts. Gallardo emphasized the potential benefits for the Cordillera's creative sector through strengthened connections among cities and provinces, fostering collaboration, innovation, and market expansion for local creatives. "When we are organized, it is so much easier to market products and services locally and abroad," he stated.
Venus Tan, president of the Baguio Creative Council, remarked on the economic opportunities stemming from Baguio's status as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art. The city tracks the creative sector's impact on livelihoods, poverty reduction, job creation, and economic development as part of its reporting to UNESCO.
The enactment of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, or Republic Act 11904, in 2022 facilitated the creation of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Plan, which envisions a prosperous sector by 2030. The law identifies nine creative domains, including audiovisual media, digital interactive media, creative services, design, publishing and printed media, performing arts, visual arts, traditional cultural expressions, and cultural sites.
Gallardo noted that these nine domains are being actively pursued through the plan's BEAMS strategic framework, which stands for Build, Empower, Accelerate, Mobilize, and Seize.
