Globe Pushes Site-Blocking Law to Protect ₱2-Trillion Philippine Creative Economy from Online Piracy

Book Jet Blue | MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) projects that the Philippines’ creative economy could generate as much as ₱2 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, building on the ₱1.94 trillion posted in 2024—a robust 8.7% year-on-year growth. This rapid expansion highlights the global competitiveness of Filipino talent in film, music, gaming, animation, design, and digital content, but also raises urgent concerns over the threat of online piracy.

Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz emphasized the need to safeguard the industry from illegal streaming and downloading platforms:

“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. 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.”

Online Piracy: A Persistent Risk to Consumers and Creators

Online piracy remains one of the biggest threats to the Philippine creative economy. Unauthorized sites divert billions in potential revenues from artists, studios, and businesses. At the same time, consumers who use these platforms face risks such as malware infections, phishing scams, and identity theft.

Push for Site-Blocking Legislation in the 20th Congress

Efforts to address piracy through site-blocking laws began in the 19th Congress with House Bill 7600, authored by then-Representative Joey Sarte Salceda, which was approved on Third Reading in May 2023. Companion bills were also filed in the Senate by Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, and Mark Villar, but progress stalled as the Senate Committee on Trade did not release a committee report.

With the 20th Congress now in session, Globe is renewing its call for lawmakers to refile and pass site-blocking legislation that would authorize the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to order telecommunications operators to restrict access to piracy websites.

According to Globe, this move is not only vital to securing the growth of the creative economy but also necessary to protect Filipino consumers from online threats.

Aligning the Philippines with Global Standards

Countries around the world already employ site-blocking as a standard anti-piracy measure. Globe stressed that passing such legislation will help ensure Filipino creators—musicians, filmmakers, writers, and animators—are fairly compensated, while also strengthening the Philippines’ position in the global digital economy.

Globe’s Role in Anti-Piracy Efforts

As one of the nation’s largest telecommunications providers, Globe has partnered with government agencies and industry groups to raise public awareness, enforce anti-piracy measures, and safeguard consumers. The company reiterated its readiness to comply with site-blocking orders once empowered by law.

“Piracy hurts not only artists but the entire value chain of the creative economy,” Globe noted, stressing its commitment to supporting policies that drive inclusive growth.