MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Creatives from Pangasinan are encouraged to avail of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Malikhaing Pinoy Program to have the funding for their projects and to further hone their talents.
The program is part of the implementation of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act enacted last year, and is a holistic approach to address constraints and barriers of the creative industries.
DTI Pangasinan director Natalia Dalaten, in a phone interview on Wednesday, said the program has funded, among others, the Galila (Come On) Arts Festival, which provides opportunities for the creatives to promote their projects and services in time with the celebration of the Philippine Creative Industries month this September.
Earlier, Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Christopher de Venecia, the principal author of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, said the Malikhaing Pinoy Program was allocated with PHP360 million budget this year.
The budget will be used for the programs of the Philippine Creative Industries Council such as talent development and training, incubation and acceleration, networking and promotions, export development, intellectual property, research and development, establishment of creative clusters and hubs, policy advocacy, and market access, according to DTI.
Dalaten said DTI has been encouraging the creatives to register with the agency and join various activities to highlight their talents.
“We wrote the four cities of the province since they are the priority for the Lungsod Lunsad. Alaminos City submitted its proposal and have been granted for the second year already with PHP757,760,” she said.
Dalaten said Alaminos City received PHP400,000 grant in 2023 for its various programs and projects for the creative industry.
Lunsod Lunsad is focused on supporting and empowering local creative talents, promoting economic sustainability, and developing the cultural and creative landscapes of the country’s cities.
De Venecia said they are working with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, as well as other educational institutions to encourage enrollment in arts and design.
He said creative industry encompasses not only the artists but also the software and games developers, animators, content creators,chefs, architects, interior designers, landscape and urban planners, videographers, photographers, videographers, and graphic designers among others. (PNA)