Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque announced these figures at the Creative Entrepreneurship Summit 2025 held on May 31, affirming the sector’s expanding role in driving national development.
The creative economy's contribution in 2024 marks a substantial increase from ₱1.72 trillion and 7.26 million jobs in 2023. This accounts for 7.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), underscoring a shift in perception—where creativity is no longer viewed as a niche, but a critical component of economic planning and innovation.
Addressing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the creative sector during the summit, Roque said, "We are with you in navigating the challenges of business development, digitalization, and scaling up. We believe in your talent, and more importantly, your potential."
"What we are seeing is the rise of a movement—one where creativity is no longer seen as a hobby, but as a business, a profession, and a national growth driver," she said.
With this momentum, the DTI is leading the charge to establish the Philippines as the premier creative economy in ASEAN by 2030. Through the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, the agency is working to institutionalize support for Filipino creatives, from policy reforms to infrastructure, digital upskilling, and global market access.
The Creative Entrepreneurship Summit 2025, organized by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship – Go Negosyo, brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, and creative entrepreneurs to celebrate and strengthen the sector.
The event featured interactive panels, mentorship sessions, and the honorary recognition of seven Filipino creative icons, presented jointly by Roque and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion.
Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to uplift lives through entrepreneurship, the DTI is aligning programs and partnerships to fuel what it calls the creative “Bagong Pilipinas”—a vision of a globally competitive, innovation-driven nation.
Roque urged creatives to “turn passion into profit and creativity into commerce,” emphasizing the transformative potential of the industry not only for today’s entrepreneurs, but also for future generations of Filipino innovators. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
