Rep. Javi Benitez Pushes for World-Class Creative Ecosystem, Files House Resolution for National Arts Month

February 10, 2026

Negros Occidental Third District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez, Chair of the House Special Committee on Creative Industries, championed the Filipino creative sector through a pivotal speech on addressing the country’s infrastructure deficit and the filing of House Resolution No. 747, February 9. In celebration of the National Arts Month, Rep. Benitez highlighted the sector’s massive contribution of Php 1.94 trillion to the national GDP. He stressed that the country’s primary challenge is not a talent deficit, but a significant gap in infrastructure, education, and coordination. "The talent has never been the problem. The ecosystem has. A sector that contributes Php 1.94 trillion to the economy and employs over seven million Filipinos deserves more than borrowed parking lots," he said. The lawmaker pointed out that while Filipino artists lead internationally, the local ecosystem remains hindered by broken systems and a lack of purpose-built venues. He noted that world-class art is often relegated to borrowed spaces like parking lots and mall annexes. Rep. Benitez then proposed a platform model where the government builds the necessary foundation, including museum modernization and arts education reform, while the private sector provides the creative energy. "[The] Government's role is not to run the arts. It is to build the platform on which the arts can thrive," he shared. Furthermore, he urged his colleagues to translate legislative plans, such as the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (Republic Act No. 11904), into tangible platforms that foster regional access in provinces like Negros Occidental. "Plans are not platforms. Instruments without infrastructure produce no music," Rep. Benitez remarked. Simultaneously, the lawmaker introduced House Resolution No. 747, recognizing the 2026 National Arts Month under the theme "Ani ng Sining: Giting at Katotohanan". The House Resolution expresses the commitment of the House of Representatives to protect artistic freedom and ensure sustainable development amidst technological shifts like Artificial Intelligence. By affirming the arts as a public good, the Resolution encourages government sectors and educational institutions to collaborate on programs that promote diversity and ethical innovation. Rep. Benitez concluded that these solvable legislative problems are exactly what the chamber was designed to address to give Filipino talent the ecosystem it deserves. *

You Might Also Like

Rep. Javi Benitez to Host Public Consultation as Sugar Prices Plunge in Negros Occidental

Rep. Javi Benitez Pushes Global-Backed Film Reform as House Panel Advances Landmark Creative Industries Bill

Rep. Javi Benitez Files RESCUE Act to Broaden Economic Crisis Response Beyond Bayanihan Framework