Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque on Saturday underscored the importance of embracing digital transformation to boost the country’s creative industry and bring Filipino talents to global stages.
Speaking at the Go Negosyo Creative Entrepreneurship Summit held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Roque assured micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the creative sector of the government’s strong support in navigating business development and digitalization.
“To our MSMEs in the creative space, you are not alone. We’re here to help you navigate business development, digitalization, and scaling up,” she said. “Going digital is the quickest path to success.”
Roque lauded internationally acclaimed Filipino designers Michael Cinco and Monique Lhuillier as examples of the sector’s global potential, emphasizing that creatives — from fashion designers and filmmakers to digital artists and weavers — are vital to nation-building.
“What you do is not just art. It is an enterprise. It is a livelihood. And it is definitely nation-building,” she added.
She highlighted the creative industry’s role as a major economic pillar, contributing PHP1.94 trillion in revenues and 7.5 million jobs in 2024 alone. In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, the DTI is committed to expanding the sector further.
Roque also shared success stories, including a Baguio-based gaming firm that grew from a small startup into a thriving business — showcasing the government’s aggressive support for animé and game design industries.
She encouraged creatives to register at malikhaingpinoy.com.ph, the official website of the DTI’s Malikhaing Pinoy Program, which connects Filipino creatives to learning opportunities, business support, and global networks.
“We already have 900 people that are actually part of that website,” she said. “The government is here. The DTI is here to help each and every ‘negosyante,’ whether you are in the regular business or in the creative industry.”