Globe Telecom Inc, the financial technology and telecom unit of the Ayala Group, has warned that online piracy could undermine the growth of the Philippine creative industry, which the Department of Trade and Industry expects to contribute up to P2 trillion to gross domestic product this year.
Last year, the creative economy generated P1.94 trillion gross value added, an increase of 8.7 percent increase on account of the booming sectors of film, music, gaming, digital content, and design.
However, this momentum faces a major hurdle: online piracy.
Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz stressed the urgency of site-blocking legislation to protect the sector. “The creative industry can be a powerful growth engine,” Cruz said. “But piracy steals from artists and the economy. Every illegal download is a peso lost.”
Illegal streaming and downloading sites not only reduce revenues but also expose consumers to scams, malware, and identity theft.
In the 19th Congress, House Bill 7600, authored by former Rep. Joey Salceda, was approved on third reading in May 2023. Similar bills were introduced in the Senate by Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, and Mark Villar. Despite two public hearings, the Senate Committee on Trade failed to complete a report.
With the 20th Congress now in session, Globe is renewing its call for legislators to refile and pass site-blocking legislation empowering the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to shut down piracy sites.
Such legislation, already standard in other countries, is seen as essential to safeguarding jobs, investments, and the global competitiveness of Filipino creatives.
Globe has committed to complying with any future site-blocking mandates and continues to support anti-piracy efforts through partnerships and public awareness campaigns.
