Creative entertainment sector pushed

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) said it supports the development of the creative entertainment sector here so it could generate at least P500 million in annual revenue in the next two years, and as much as P30 billion by 2030.

“The initial target for Cebu is we want to reach P500 million per year and P30 billion by 2030,” CCCI trustee Mario Panganiban told reporters. 

Panganiban said this can be achieved with the support of the various sectors and agencies of government. 

The CCCI said the revenue target can be achieved through the support of the City of Cebu and the Animation Council of the Philippines Inc., the Creative Content Creators Association of the Philippines, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and Cultural Center of the Philippines. 

CCCI president Felix Taguiam also said that they have witnessed innovations through the ingenuity of the Cebuano creative sector, adding Cebu City having been designated as a world-class "Creative City" by UNESCO. 

Taguiam said Cebuano artists kept their creative juices flowing despite the threats brought by the pandemic. “Home businesses and start-ups propelled by creativity thrived. CCCI acknowledges not only the entertaining side of creativity but also its role as a driving force of the economy,” he said, adding, creativity is the fuel of innovation that grows out of crisis, and it could be the most relevant skill that the workforce needs for the businesses to grow beyond the new normal. 

Entrepreneur Mike Cubos, CCCI vice chairman, also underscored the role of creativity among Cebuanos. “Creativity nurtures us. We may come from different backgrounds, but I believe all of us cannot imagine a life without creative arts, be it in the form of music, film, animation, or games,” said Cubos. 

“During the pandemic, many found comfort in art. We’ve witnessed the rise of many Cebuanos getting creative in their kitchens and eventually turning their creations into viable businesses that continue to prosper today. We envision the CEW to function as a hub for our creative artists to engage with other artists and business leaders in order to open global opportunities,” he said. (Carlo Lorenzana)