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The final reading of House Bill (HB) 10107, or Philippine Creatives Industries Act of 2021, was approved by the House of Representative last Monday, September 20. House Speaker Allan Velasco noted the advantages of the act  in improving the economic woes caused by the current pandemic. �

The house bill garnered 175 affirmative votes, 0 negative votes and 0 abstain. 

HB 10107 aims to institutionalize and develop the creative sector, while providing more job opportunities and generating employment. The bill also seeks to promote entrepreneurship among local artists.

“The coronavirus has had an enormous impact on every person and industry in the Philippines, but the creative sector has been uniquely affected by Covid-19. One and a half years into the pandemic, cinemas, theaters and museums remain closed, and music concerts and art festivals are still not allowed,” Velasco said.

Based on the 2020 Labor Market Report by the International Labour Organization, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector has been the “high-risk sector” or the least operated industry with its strict health protocol implementation and restrictions. The sector has also been struggling and is experiencing a decrease in demand.

Velasco added that strong governmental support can “change the tide” for the sector and allow the creative industries to reach their full potential.

“As a nation filled with creative and artistically talented people, we never fail to display national pride whenever our fellow Filipinos would gain international recognition in their artistic endeavors. Without government intervention, the creative industries generated around PHP661 billion or 7.34 percent of our GDP (gross domestic product) in 2014,” Velasco highlighted.

Velasco emphasized that this bill would not only help the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector to recover but can also improve economic growth

The bill necessitates  a PCID Plan Committee headed by the Secretary of Trade and Industry with the support of the Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).  Representative organizations will also be needed for the nine creative industry domains in the country such as:

• Audio and audiovisual media
• Digital interactive media
• Creative services
• Design
• Books, publishing and printed media
• Performing arts
• Visual arts
• Traditional cultural expressions
• Cultural sites

The House Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts and Pangasinan Representative Christopher De Venecia welcomed the bill’s approval and emphasized the two notable features of HB 10107, including sections on the Creative Voucher System, which would allow artists and creative practitioners to qualify for government support, and the Ecozones establishment foreseen to thrive in the industry. 

“In ecozones for creatives, more global talents like John Arcilla, Erik Matti, Jaclyn Jose, and Brillante Mendoza can come together to create and collaborate on projects and masterpieces for the whole world to experience,” he added.

In connection, John Arcilla recently won Best Actor at the 78th Venice International Film Festival for his performance in the movie “On The Job: The Missing 8”. De Venecia added that the bill defines the creative industries as “trades involving persons, whether natural or juridical, that produce cultural, artistic, and innovative goods, products, and services, where such goods and services originate in individual creativity, skill, and talent and have a potential to create wealth and livelihood through the generation and utilization of intellectual property.”

The Creative Economy Council of the Philippines (CECP) reports that the arts sector has contributed around 6.5%-7% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). 

Last September 14, Baguio City’s city council proposed a resolution that seeks to enjoin public spaces, such as malls, to allot spaces for art and creativity. The city council elaborates that this will entail further appreciation for the city’s culture as it is a prominent tourist hotspot in the country. 

Philippine Creative Industries Act of 2021  is  submitted to the Senate for approval, and while there are required processes to be followed until it is fully enacted as law, the art and creative community regards the HB 10107’s passage in the House of Representatives as a victory.

Featured image courtesy of Yahoo! News