ILIGAN CITY (PIA)–Some 150 local entrepreneurs, business owners, service providers, industry associations, investors, students, and others from this city and Lanao del Norte converged for the Business of Creativity Conference.
Organized by Goldstone Educational Consulting in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the conference aimed to discuss the future of the creative digital industries, investment opportunities, businesses in digital media, and the field of creative process outsourcing.
DTI-10 Regional Director Ermedio J. Abang reaffirmed DTI’s dedicated support for the creative sector as a primary catalyst for regional growth, furthering the development and prosperity of the region.
“DTI remains supportive of the initiatives intended to contribute to the growth of the creative sector. We have convened the key players and clusters to set the direction of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act (PCIDA). We also demonstrated our support for the creative works of artists by giving them platforms to widen their audience through training and exhibit,” he said.
He also noted that the creative industry in the region is just starting but is growing rapidly, particularly in digital marketing, advanced software, animation, gaming, design, and the arts.
To harness these opportunities, according to him, it is essential to prepare local creative talents and connect them with available opportunities in the locality, as Iligan City offers many opportunities for creative individuals to thrive and contribute to this emerging industry.
On the other hand, Jhonny Paul Lagura, city consultant and deputy chair of the Iligan Information and Communication Technologies Council, highlighted the significance of innovation and digitally smart cities within the context of the PCIDA. He connected these advancements to the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who emphasized the importance of freelancers in driving the country’s creative economy. Lagura underlined Iligan’s transformation into a hub for digital freelancers and their pivotal role in bolstering the nation’s creative economy.
Meanwhile, DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group-Bureau of Competitiveness Director Lilian Salonga further shared valuable insights about the PCIDA. She highlighted its role in driving economic growth through cultural and innovative products and services.
The law aims to support various domains within the creative industry, spanning audio-visual media, creative services, design, digital interactive media, publishing and printed media, cultural sites, traditional cultural expressions, visual arts, and performing arts.
Salonga shared that the creative industry is a significant contributor to economic performance and is characterized as large, diverse, dynamic, and continually expanding. It has also played a vital role in generating jobs, as the sector’s talents and goods have also been exported.
Other topics discussed during the conference were creative talent and competencies, creative hubs and information technology parks, and financing, among others. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
