• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on second, third and final reading Feb. 21 an ordinance that seeks to establish the Bacolod Creative Industries Development Office (BCIDO), authored by Councilor Em Ang.
The ordinance, approved under suspended rules of the SP during its regular session this afternoon, “seeks to harness and promote the creative potential within Bacolod, contributing to the growth of creative industries, and enhancing the city’s cultural and economic landscape”.
Ang, chairperson of the SP Committee on History, Culture and Arts, said that Bacolod continues to be a vibrant hub for artistic expression and innovation, and noted the city’s “rich cultural heritage, combined with a growing community of talented individuals, who have been contributing to the flourishing creative landscape.”
Bacolod’s creative talents are gaining recognition beyond local borders, with artists participating in international exhibitions, collaborations, and competitions. This global exposure is positioning Bacolod as a noteworthy contributor to the Philippine creative scene, she added.
The creative industry in Bacolod needs to be further developed to sustain the ever-growing love of Bacolodnons for culture and arts, Ang stressed.
The BCIDO shall be under the City Mayor’s Office, and shall serve as a focal point for the planning, implementation, and coordination of activities related to the creative industries within the city.
The BCID officer shall formulate a three-year, six-year, and 10-year creative development plans, and create and maintain a database of relevant data and information regarding stakeholders in creative industries, among others.
The ordinance, with initial allocation of P1 million, complements Republic Act No. 11904, or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act of 2022, which seeks to promote and support the development of creative industries, by protecting and strengthening the rights and capacities of stakeholders in the performing arts; visual arts; publishing, printing and literature; design; audiovisual and new media; creative services; cultural sites; and traditional cultural expressions.
Ang said that in the latest economic data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector ranked as second top-performing economic sector, next to accommodation and food service activities.
“The Philippine creative industries contributed P52.8 billion in terms of gross value-added to the domestic economy in the third quarter of 2023, up 15.5 percent year-on-year, and one of the significant catalysts for the country’s growth, as per the Department of Trade and Industry,” she added. | CGC
