Congress must treat funding for the creative industries as an investment—not an expense—because it will return billions of pesos in future dividends, Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez said, pressing lawmakers to rethink budget priorities for one of the country’s strongest economic performers.
During recent deliberations on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) budget, Benitez pointed out that government support for the sector remains far below its actual contribution to the economy.
In 2024, the creative industries accounted for 7.94 percent of gross domestic product, or roughly P1.94 trillion, while employing about 7.5 million Filipinos—15.4 percent of total national employment.
“This is already a proven growth engine,” Benitez said, describing the sector as a rare bright spot that delivers jobs, exports, and global visibility. The creative industries cover film, music, design, animation, gaming, publishing, fashion, and digital content—areas where Filipino talent is increasingly competitive on the world stage, he added.
Despite these numbers, funding remains thin. The DTI’s flagship Malikhaing Pinoy Program currently has an approved budget of just P50 million. Lawmakers noted that a proposed P660-million allocation had been approved by the House but was later rejected in the budget process, widening the gap between economic output and government support.
Benitez argued that the mismatch undermines the country’s ability to scale a sector already generating strong returns. “This is not subsidy spending. This is capital that multiplies,” he said.
The case for higher funding is reinforced by Republic Act No. 12023, which imposes a value-added tax on digital services starting June 2025. The law mandates that 5 percent of VAT proceeds be channeled into creative industry development, including the Creative Industries Development Fund.
Senate Committee on Finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian acknowledged that timing issues between the law’s rollout and the budget cycle may have affected allocations, but stressed that the mandate stands.
Benitez estimates the VAT measure could generate P4–5 billion in its first year and up to P10 billion annually thereafter—returns, he said, that justify bold upfront investment today.
