PIDS bats for export strategy for creative industries

MANILA, Philippines — State-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is urging the government to come up with an export strategy for creative industries to enable this emerging sector to contribute to the country’s economic growth.

In a statement, the policy research institution said this is in line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 which seeks to promote creative industries engaged in both tangible goods and intangible services.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development classifies the following industries as creative: advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, fashion, film, video, photography, music, performing arts, publishing, research and development, software, computer games, electronic publishing, as well as television and radio.

PIDS senior research fellow Ramonette Serafica said the government should especially promote core copyright-based industries (CBIs), the output of which can be delivered digitally.

As defined by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), core CBIs refer to those that are “wholly engaged in creation, production and manufacturing, performance, broadcast, communication and exhibition, or distribution and sales of works, and other protected subject matter.”

These core CBIs are divided into nine groups: press and literature; music, theatrical productions, operas; motion picture and video; radio and television; photography; software and databases; visual and graphic art; advertising services; and copyright collective management societies.

Citing a 2014 PIDS study, Serafica said the Philippines’ core CBIs made up only 5.11 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) while employment in these industries only made up 8.83 percent of total jobs in 2010.

In terms of trade, exports of core CBIs grew to $21 million in 2012, from $9 million in 2010.

As reported by WIPO in 2005, CBIs linked to the digital revolution have grown faster than the traditional sectors of the economy.

Serafica noted however, that for these industries to flourish, these must be protected from copyright infringements.

Thus, she suggested the implementation of strict monitoring by authorities to avoid copyright breaches.

She also urged the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to regularly provide specific information and statistics to both public and private sectors about the creative economy.

Considering the risks posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution on future employment, Serafica also urged the government to look closely at opportunities for supporting CBIs to enable these industries to create more jobs.