The Philippine Senate has filed a measure seeking to establish a national creative agency that would help Filipino artists and other creative workers expand their global reach.
Senator Bam Aquino, on September 30, filed Senate Bill No. 2517, also known as the Philippine Agency for the Creative Economy (PACE) Act, in collaboration with P-pop group SB19 and its label 1Z Entertainment.
The measure seeks to strengthen the Filipino creative sector and address the challenges they face when pursuing international opportunities.
Beyond the stage
Aquino said discussions with SB19 helped him better understand the difficulties artists face when performing overseas, including visa processing, travel documentation and limited support for international activities.
“We know there are many Filipino creatives who experience their own version of this journey,” SB19 said as reported by The Philippine Star.
“The proposed PACE Act is a step toward giving them more support and more opportunities to take their work beyond the Philippines.”
The senator also cited SB19’s song “Visa” in the bill’s explanatory note as a reflection of the challenges faced by artists abroad.
While the boy group’s global activities helped bring attention to the issue, the proposed agency would cover a wider range of creative fields beyond music.
“This [bill] is not only for performers, but for the entire creative sector – creators, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, designers, producers, writers, weavers and other creatives,” Aquino added.
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National creative framework
Aquino said that Filipino creatives have the talent to compete globally but need stronger institutional support and opportunities to showcase their work abroad.
The proposed measure seeks to establish a national framework that would help Filipino creatives gain opportunities abroad through stronger, institutionalised programmes, support systems and partnerships.
In addition, it would help creatives take part in overseas activities by easing travel requirements and supporting their participation in festivals, showcases, tours and other international events.
The bill also aims to strengthen the promotion and distribution of Philippine creative goods and services through business-matching initiatives and improved market access.
“The Philippines has already demonstrated that it can produce world-class creative talent,” the senator stated as per the Manila Bulletin.
“It is now time to build a world-class government framework that enables Filipino creativity to reach its full global potential.”
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