President-CEO: Anti-piracy crucial to DTI-forecast P2T creative economy contribution to GDP
Globe Telecom Inc. has urged lawmakers to pass site-blocking legislation that would empower the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to direct telecommunications operators to block piracy websites.
The call comes as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) projected the Philippines’ creative economy could contribute up to P2 trillion to gross domestic product this year, building on the P1.94 trillion in gross value added recorded in 2024. That shows an 8.7 percent increase from the year-earlier period.
Globe President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carl Cruz said protecting Filipino talent from piracy is essential if the country is to sustain that growth.
“The creative industry has the potential to be one of the Philippines’ most powerful drivers of growth. Protecting it from piracy means protecting jobs, investments, and the future of Filipino talent,” Cruz said in a statement on September 14.
“Every illegal download is a peso taken from Filipino artists and the economy. We cannot allow illegal sites to rob creators of their hard work and deprive the economy of billions in value,” he added.
Globe said site-blocking is already standard practice globally and should be adopted in the Philippines to ensure artists, musicians, animators and writers are fairly compensated while preserving competitiveness in the global creative economy.
Efforts in the 19th Congress have gained some traction.
House Bill 7600, authored by former Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda, was approved on third reading in May 2023.
Companion measures were also filed in the Senate by former Senator Ramon Revilla and Senators Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda and Mark Villar.
The proposals advanced through two public hearings but stalled after the Senate Committee on Trade failed to complete a committee report.
With the 20th Congress now in session, Globe is pressing lawmakers to refile and act on the measure, calling it critical to safeguarding the creative sector from piracy and securing the gains made by the country’s growing creative economy.
