“I want to see infrastructures, like a library, a design library, a place where people and students can go study in the on design, have seminars, workshops, and trainings,” said Jowie Alviar, Creative Director/Co-founder, Team Manila.
MANILA, JUNE 3, 2013 – Since its passing on May 15, 2013, the Republic Act 10577 or the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act of 2013, has been celebrated by Filipino design professionals as it slates in the developmental prospects of the Philippines’ design and economic industry.
According to Alviar, he was one of those involved with initiating the pursuance of the law, borne from the idea of having the country’s own Design Council.
“With the proposal na magkaroon ng design council sa Philippines, it was me who invited the group, a couple of years ago – people from different representatives of the creative industry from photography, illustration, academe and graphic design studios, and also we held it at colab here in Makati,” said Alviar.
He further expounded that, from the idea of having a genuine, design council in the PH, several presentations on its importance were executed as Arriane Serafico proposed the idea to incumbent Senator Teofisto Guingona III, for whom she works as a Creative Communications Consultant.
“She [Arriane] invited the group of TG Guingona, and then from there, when the proposal was given which was to have a design council in the country and that it would help the creative industry, because it’s a really growing industry and it includes the support of the government. We need policies that will improve the creative industry, so from there that’s when it started and then Senator TG went around, interviewed different agencies and then he drafted the bill,” he enlightened.
ON PROGRESSIVE VIEWS, DESIGN POLICIES AND DIALOGUES
Alviar gave his insights on the potential boost the design competitiveness the country would have with the help of the PH Design Act, stating that the Filipino design professionals should represent the creative industry of Philippines outside the country to expand job opportunities and mentioned comparisons with countries like Brazil and Thailand which market their art and design trade to other countries.
Moreover, prior to R.A 10577, the Design Center of the Philippines is mandated to establish a dialogue among Government officials and representatives from the design industry. With this in mind, Alviar cited that the Design Center focused on product development which was only one aspect of the design industry.
“With this new law, it will be bigger, the scope will be bigger,” he said.
“Occurring topics would be is how the creatives can be helped by the government like with establishing an international network and businesses since when you’re creative, as we all know, you’re too detached when it comes to entrepreneurship, more trainings must be initiated by the Design Council to inspire the creatives in the Philippines,” he added.
THE DESIGN ADVISIORY COUNCIL AND EXPECATIONS
“We want this not to start flimsy but downright,” Alviar expressed on the creation of the country’s own Design Council where six of its members would come from several representatives in the creative industry.
He also said that he hasn’t been approached yet regarding his major involvement in the said council but affirms that he would be interested in being part of it, even as consultants of the new institution.
Alviar mentioned that the Association of Animators here in the country has suggested an addition to the concept of the Design Council, which is to establish organizations or associations focusing on different fields in the design industry.
Furthermore, with the Design Council’s supervision, the Filipinos are to expect more changes and, in particular, development.
“Kailangan hindi lang start, kailangan long term plan like a five-year plan or goals, as they say. You’re working on a plan not just starting with another idea. You should think of the concrete, specific projects that need to be done to attain those goals. It needs to be achievable,” Alviar said.
Alviar didn’t find any major loophole on the Design Act but advocates to raise more suggestions and ideas to enhance the scope of the law instead of constantly criticizing its existence.
However, after such passing, Alviar remarked that the Design Act proves the government’s support in it. “The Government is recognizing the industry, a potential industry that would be important enough contribute to the economic growth of the country.”
