Malacañang has ordered the adoption and implementation of a 10-year national roadmap that seeks to transform the Philippines into Asia’s premier creative hub by 2030 through innovation, cultural entrepreneurship and talent development.
Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin signed Memorandum Circular No. 103, approving and adopting the Philippine Creative Industries Development Plan (PCIDP) 2025-2034.
Under the circular, all government agencies, local government units and government-owned and -controlled corporations are directed to align their policies, programs and budgets with the roadmap.
The circular also stated that the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC) must review the plan every three years from the date of its execution.
‘In this Plan, we are laying down our strategy in strengthening the foundation of a creative ecosystem where creativity can flourish and Filipino talent can thrive,’ President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in his foreword.
The plan, developed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the PCIDC, sets out the strategic framework for expanding the country’s creative economy.
It focuses on five priorities: building creative hubs and clusters, boosting entrepreneurship through research and technology, regenerating local economies through sustainable innovation, strengthening the global Filipino brand and nurturing the next generation of creatives.
The plan will be guided by the BEAMS framework-Build Creative Ecosystems, Empower Creative Workforce, Accelerate Inclusive Innovation, Mobilize Financing Support and Seize Market Opportunities.
The first three years will be focused on strengthening the foundations of the creative ecosystem by creating and refining policies to benefit stakeholders and supporting the workforce by aligning their skills with job market demands.
By 2030, the Philippines is expected to emerge as a ‘beacon of culture-led innovation’ and a ‘preferred partner’ in the global creative economy.
The plan envisions a creative ecosystem that fosters resilient jobs, knowledge exchange and new investments-transforming the country into a top destination for business, tourism, learning, and innovation.
‘By 2034, we will have achieved a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society enriched by vibrant creative industries. We will have helped transform the creative industries toward sustainability,’ the plan stated.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the local creative industries generated P1.94 trillion of the gross domestic product (GDP), an 8.7 percent increase from P1.78 trillion in 2023.
In 2024, the creative industries posted a significant uptick in employment, with a workforce of 7.51 million individuals in traditional cultural expression activities; advertising, research and development; media publishing and printing activities; digital interactive goods and service activities; among others.