LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) held a game development industry roadshow in Legazpi City, which brought together pioneers and young talents in the digital creative industry. 

Rachel Ann Grabador, officer-in-charge of DICT in Bicol, emphasized the importance of the creative industry in the growth of the country's economy and job creation. 

According to Grabador, the creative economy is a crucial pillar in the nation's growth trajectory. 

She highlighted the remarkable achievements of the Philippine creative industry, which reached a milestone value of P1.72 trillion last year, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product by employing millions. 

Despite these promising achievements, Grabador acknowledged the need to expand the pool of local talents and provide a supportive environment to boost the digital creative industry further. 

“Yet, as promising as these achievements may be, there remains ample room for growth and improvement. We recognize the need for concerted efforts to bolster marketing, promotion and talent acquisition activities,” she said.

The DICT organized the event in collaboration with the Game Developers Association of the Philippines and the Legazpi chapter of Developers Connect, a non-profit organization for Filipino developers in the academe and information technology (IT) sectors.

The roadshow highlighted the opportunities in the creative industry sector and included workshops and talks by game developers and IT experts.

It concluded with an e-sports tournament and a cosplay competition to showcase creativity and fun.

The roadshow was attended by 500 senior high school and college students, including Reuben Bien and Aaron Labini, who are both BS Information Technology students at Bicol University College of Science. 

The students gained insights into the game development industry and various aspects of the tech industry.

Bien found the event particularly enlightening, and he appreciated the discussions on 2D animation techniques and the critical role of quality assurance in ensuring stellar game development outcomes. 

He felt that the event equipped him with a solid understanding of what to anticipate as he ventures into this dynamic and exciting industry.

“The event provided a platform for speakers to discuss their journeys, shedding light on various aspects of the industry. Particularly enlightening were discussions on 2D animation techniques and the critical role of quality assurance in ensuring stellar game development outcomes,” he said.

Some 500 senior high school and college students in private and public schools in Albay participate in the Game Development Industry Roadshow in Legazpi City organized by the DICT Region 5 to pool potential young talents in the digital creative industry. (Contributed photo/ DICT5)

“The learnings from the event have equipped us with a solid understanding of what to anticipate as we venture into this dynamic and exciting industry,” he added.

Labini, who is about to graduate with a BS in Information Technology, expressed his gratitude to the DICT for the opportunity to learn and enjoy the workshops. 

He had always seen game development as a career option, and the roadshow broadened his insight into the tech industry.

“Gaming has been a hobby of mine since high school, and while I've always seen game development as a career option. The roadshow broadened my insight into the tech industry, which holds significant relevance for me as a graduating student,” Labini said.

The roadshow was part of the empowering, promoting, and invigorating the digital creative industry initiative of the DICT. 

The initiative aims to promote and sustain the competitiveness of the country’s original content creation industry and Filipino original content creators through talent attraction, marketing and promotion, and research.

Legazpi City was chosen to host the roadshow as one of the 25 priority areas in the country for the implementation of the Digital Cities 2025 program. 

The DICT initiated this program to drive inclusive growth in the countryside by selecting high-potential areas throughout the country that will serve as investment destinations for a thriving digital economy. 

The program aims to transform these areas into IT and business process management hubs by the year 2025. (PIA 5/Albay)