Legarda Urges Stronger Support for PH Creative Economy

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda called for stronger protection of and investment in Filipino culture and creativity as the country observes Philippine Creative Industries Month this September, saying economic growth in the sector should translate into sustainable livelihoods and wider opportunities for creative workers. This year’s celebration carries the theme “We Are a Creative Nation.” Philippine Creative Industries Month is observed every September under Republic Act No. 11904, or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, which Legarda authored. The law promotes the development of Philippine creative industries and recognizes their contribution to nation-building and socioeconomic development. “Filipino creativity is more than talent to be admired. For many of our fellow Filipinos, it is a job and a livelihood. Our responsibility is to make sure that the people behind our music, films, crafts, designs, stories, food, and traditions are given the support and opportunities they deserve,” Legarda said. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the Philippine creative economy reached P2.12 trillion in 2025, up 6.9 percent from P1.98 trillion in 2024 and accounting for 7.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Creative industries supported 8.71 million jobs, equivalent to 17.8 percent of total employment in the country. “These figures show how much Filipino creativity already contributes to our economy. But the important question is whether economic growth has reached the very people who create. Does the weaver in the province earn enough from her craft? Can a musician make a living from his original composition? Can a filmmaker, designer, artist, or young creative turn talent into a stable career? Can a local artisan find a market beyond his or her community?” Legarda said. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, Legarda has pushed to connect cultural preservation with economic opportunities. She initiated the National Arts and Crafts Fair in 2016, providing a national platform for local artisans and cultural communities to showcase their work, reach consumers, and find wider markets. “Our artisans should not have to choose between preserving their craft and earning a decent living. When we give them access to markets and opportunities, we help keep traditions alive while allowing families and communities to benefit from the skills and knowledge they have carried for generations,” Legarda said. Legarda has also filed several cultural measures in the 20th Congress, including Senate Bill No. 817, or the proposed Department of Culture Act; Senate Bill No. 822, or the Philippine Culinary Heritage Act; Senate Bill No. 824, or the Philippine Indigenous Writing Systems Act; Senate Bill No. 826, or the Philippine Music Industry Act; and Senate Bill No. 827, or the Philippine Rondalla Training Program Act. “A stronger creative economy needs more than recognition. Applause, admiration, and awards are not enough if there is insufficient support to help it thrive. Our artists and cultural workers need institutions that work, laws that protect them, opportunities to develop their skills, and markets where Filipino creativity can grow and compete,” she said. Legarda has also pushed for the institutionalization and strengthening of the Schools of Living Traditions, including through Senate Bill No. 1507, to support the transmission of indigenous knowledge, skills, practices, and cultural expressions within communities. “Culture survives because people continue to live it, teach it, create from it, and pass it on. When no one wants to learn weaving, play traditional music, write, or continue an old practice because it no longer provides a livelihood, we gradually lose the very culture we seek to protect. We cannot build a creative economy by allowing the very traditions and knowledge that give Filipino creativity its identity to disappear,” Legarda said. She added that strengthening the creative sector requires an ecosystem in which artists and creators can develop their skills, protect their work, secure financing, reach bigger markets, and build sustainable careers and enterprises while preserving the Filipino character of their work. “The Filipino has never lacked imagination or talent. What our creatives need are doors that stay open, with access to training, protection, financing, markets, and institutions that believe in their work,” Legarda said. “Protecting our culture and building a stronger creative economy are part of the same work, creating better opportunities for our people while ensuring that the knowledge, traditions, and skills that make Filipino creativity distinct continue to have a future,” she added.