PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (PIA)- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-9 has taken a significant step to gather local artists in the province through the second leg of the Zamboanga Peninsula Creative Caravan in Zamboanga del Sur, which focused on recognizing and empowering local artists in the province.
Pagadian Artists with Harmonious Interest and Devotion (PAHID), a local organization of artists engaged in visual arts, shared how the event has provided an impact among them.
“We embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly, knowing that our participation would contribute to the collective growth of the industry. The caravan not only allowed us to exhibit our talents but also exposed us to a broader audience, providing a platform for recognition and appreciation,” said Japhet B. Monsion, PAHID president and artist.
The caravan served as a synergized effort to recognize local artists in the province and champion the local creative industry. Around 80 local artists hailing from different municipalities in the province participated in the event.
Meanwhile, Marlon Alabata, the provincial director of DTI Zamboanga del Sur encouraged artists in the province to actively collaborate in the said event, emphasizing the vital role that art and creativity play in economic and cultural development.
“The creative industry thrives on the synergy of diverse ideas, and today’s caravan is a platform for us to collectively shape the future of creativity in our region,” he said.
Alabata also encourages local artists in the province to collaborate with DTI for them to avail programs from the department.
“Sa atong mga artists, feel free to visit our office the DTI, so we can customize programs and plans para makita pod nato kung unsa ang pwede natong matabang nila (For our artists, feel free to visit our office, the DTI, so we can customize programs and plans for us to see how we can help them),” he said.
Part of the said caravan is the awarding of various local government units in the province in recognition for their exceptional level of competitiveness in fostering creative innovations leading to sustainable progress in their respective municipalities. The award is based on the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) ranking under the four convergent pillars namely; Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resilience.
The DTI’s creative caravan is also an effort to amplify the implementation of the Republic Act No. 11904 or the “Philippine Creative Industries Development Act” of 2022 which mandates the promotion and support of the state to creative industries by protecting and strengthening their rights and capacities. (RVC/EDT/SBM/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur with reports from Radyo Bagting interview with DTI)
