Seizing the opportunity

Philippines’ creative industry’s long, winding road to its own Hallyu

Artificial intelligence and automation is threatening the Philippines’ largest private employer: the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. Learning from South Korea, a new bill hopes to arm animators, designers, and other creative professionals with the same perks that made BPO so huge

Isabel Martinez, 16 Mar 2022

The Philippine Creative Industries Development Act hopes to equip creatives with the same financial incentives that the lucrative BPO sector has

With BPO threatened by AI and automation, the country needs the bill to become law. Artists and animators could be the key in fighting off the threat of automation

Even though the incentives were created for BPOs, creatives can leverage them to turn the Philippines into Southeast Asia’s creative capital by 2030

Despite its name, the bill can boost more than just the creative sectors. The government has a more ambitious endgame in mind

Christopher de Venecia is in a race against time.

The 35-year-old former child actor, writer, and director, who is currently a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, has only six Congress session days left to turn a bill that’s very close to his heart into a law.

In September, the House of Representatives had unanimously approved House Bill 10107 House Bill 10107 Philippine Senate Explanatory Note Read more , otherwise known as the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act.

AUTHOR

Isabel Martinez

Isa is based in Manila. She covers Southeast Asia's and the Philippines' media, employment and work, policy and investments, and other sectors reshaping consumer life.

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