Village Connect
The growing influence of Filipino music, film, dance, design, and other creative fields on the international stage could receive stronger government backing under a proposed measure seeking to turn the country’s creative talent into an even greater economic force.
Senator Bam Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 2517, or the Philippine Agency for the Creative Economy (PACE) Act, proposes a more coordinated government system for helping Filipino creatives pursue opportunities locally and abroad. Aquino co-developed the measure with P-pop group SB19 as part of efforts to address challenges faced by artists and other creative professionals seeking to enter global markets.
The creative industries already account for approximately 7.6 percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product and support more than 7.5 million Filipino workers, according to Aquino. He said these numbers demonstrate why the sector deserves greater attention and long-term institutional support.
“By helping Filipino creatives reach the world and enabling Philippine creative goods and services to thrive in international markets, this measure seeks not only to generate jobs, investments, and economic growth, but also to showcase Philippine culture, creativity, and national identity on the global stage,” Aquino said.
At the center of the proposed legislation is the creation of the Philippine Agency for the Creative Economy under the Department of Trade and Industry. PACE would become the principal implementing agency and permanent secretariat of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council.
The agency would develop a national Creative Global Market Strategy and coordinate programs involving agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and Cultural Center of the Philippines.
For Filipino creatives, this could mean more organized assistance in reaching overseas markets. PACE would oversee Creative Industry Desks abroad, facilitate business matching and international partnerships, and support participation in international festivals, exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences, cultural exchanges, and market missions.
Funding is another major component. The bill seeks to strengthen the Creative Industries Development Fund established under Republic Act No. 11904, allowing it to support international mobility, promotions, market development, and other activities that expand global opportunities.
Sector-specific funding windows may also be created. One proposed example is the Music Global Opportunities Window, designed to help Filipino musicians, songwriters, producers, and other music professionals strengthen their international presence. Similar programs could eventually support other creative sectors.
The measure also addresses one of the practical challenges creatives face when pursuing opportunities overseas—documentation and mobility.
A Creative Mobility Endorsement System led by the DFA, in coordination with the DTI, would provide qualified creatives and enterprises with government endorsements supporting visa applications and participation in legitimate international engagements.
A separate fast-track mechanism involving the DFA, Department of Migrant Workers, Bureau of Immigration, and other agencies would seek to streamline permits, certifications, clearances, and related requirements.
Aquino has also pushed recognition of Filipino performers succeeding internationally, including BINI’s historic Coachella appearance and Filipino dance groups that competed at the 2026 World Hip Hop Dance Championship.
For the Philippines’ creative community, the PACE Act represents an effort to move beyond simply celebrating Filipino talent after international success. Its broader goal is to build the government infrastructure, funding, mobility assistance, and global connections that can help more Filipino creatives reach that stage in the first place.
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