Featured image above shows DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia (left) and PCIEERD Deputy Executive Director Niñaliza H. Escorial as they open the Creative Summit 2026 at Dusit Thani Manila, Makati City. (Photo: SDN)
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MANILA, November 5, 2026 (SDN) — If there’s one economic engine the Philippine government must drive harder, the creative industries should be at the top of the heap.
“Creative industries” refer to economic sectors powered by individual creativity, skill, and talent for the production of intellectual property and cultural goods.
Consider figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on the country’s creative economy, the results of talented Filipino creatives burning candles, so to speak, wracking their brains to create world class products and services.
In 2025, the PSA showed that in one of its studies, the creative economy ballooned to 6.9 percent, which accounted for 7.6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The PSA released it’s study to the public on March 19, 2026, revealing the economic impact of what Filipino creatives were able to and can do more given a stronger support.
It clear government support is not a problem as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its Innovation Council, the Philippine Council on Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), amply shows.
Proof: today, Thursday, PCIEERD is holding a one-day CREATIVE SUMMIT 2026 with the theme revolving around “Powering Innovation at the Heart of the Creative Economy” here at Dusit Thani Manila, Makati City, Metro Manila.
The Summit is held to support the 10-year “Philippine Creative Industries Development (PCID) Plan” created by virtue of Republic Act No. 11094, or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act.
A media briefer shared by PCIEERD, headed by Executive Director Dr. Julius J. Leaño, Jr. to SDN Chronicle said the Creative Summit “highlights the importance of innovation, collaboration and technology to hone the country’s creative edge to position its creative industries to succeed on the global arena.
Back to the figures from the PSA, here’sore to illustrate further the Filipino creatives’ contributions to the country’s economy powered by the creations of 8.71 million work force.
Still last year’s numbers, the creative economy registered Php2.12 trillion, growing by 6.9 percent on a year-on-year basis from Php1.98 trillion in 2024.
However, the creative workforce slid to 8.17 million in 2025 from 2024’s 8.74 million.
Comprising the creative economy are the following nine industries, or domains:
- Audio and audiovisual media activities;
- Digital interactive goods and service activities;
- Advertising, research and development, and other artistic service activities;
- Symbols and images and othenr related activities;
- Media publishing and printing activities;
- Music, arts and entertainment activities;
- Visual arts activities;
- Traditional cultural expression activities; and
- Art galleries, museums, ballrooms, conventions and trade shows, and related activities.
- — EDD K. USMAN / SDN
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This story will be updated for more information and details.