This Creatives Industry Bill Seeks to Protect You

It’s a joke as old as time: You won’t get a decent living pursuing the arts. And it’s no secret for creatives working in the Philippines. Here, freelancers slave over below-industry wages while artists have to fend off online content thieves. 

But a new bill seeks to recognize the creative industry and the people in it as an economic force to be reckoned with. After all, it is an industry that employs millions and generates 7.34 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. And with the pandemic affecting the arts and pushing Filipinos to freelance, the new bill is needed now more than ever to protect artistic labor. 

Aside from artists, the bill seeks to protect creative spaces too. 

A new effort by a coalition of legislators known as The Arts and Culture Creative Industries Block of 18th Congress (ACCIB) is leading the way for The Philippine Creative Industries Charter or Senate Bill 2455. pIf passed, the bill will institute funds and grants to advance the development of the sector, institute a Creatives Council, and more. 

As of writing, it only needs to pass the final reading sessions in the Senate before it is signed into law.  

What’s creative, anyway?

The bill defines the scope of the local creatives scene into nine domains: audio and audiovisual media; digital interactive media; creative services; design; books, publishing, and print media; performing arts; visual arts; traditional cultural expressions; and cultural sites. 

The bill also proposes the creation of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Council, which is tasked to create long-term growth plans for the sector in coordination with other government bodies like TESDA, DepEd, and NEDA.  

State support will also be provided through fiscal grants via the Creative Voucher System and other state-sponsored funds, and infrastructure aid via the establishment of ecozones and creative cities.

But don’t let the word “creative” limit your understanding of just how comprehensive this bill can be. Green spaces are credited as creative spaces, and even intangible heritage and customs like local food, festivals, and customs are considered traditional cultural expressions. 

In fact, even the trailblazing esports and game development industry are getting its day in the sun. In a House of Representatives inquiry hearing last February 24, Marlon Marcelo, who represents the Philippine Esports Organization lent his insights as a resource speaker on the field.  

Of course, introducing a bill that promotes the creative industry is just half the battle. Showing solidarity with Filipino artists, especially those not typically in the limelight, will require more than legislation. One thing is for sure, though, we’re going a step forward in the right direction. 

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the bill can follow ACCIB’s Instagram and Facebook pages. Special committee hearings are also livestreamed in the official Facebook page of the House of Representatives.