MANILA CITY–In celebration of the 50th year of Philippine design, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual, recognized the ingenuity of Filipino artisans during a special reception for the launch of ART x DESIGN, led by the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP).

Highlighting the country’s creative strength on the global stage, Secretary Pascual shared the significance of innovating the design industry in opening opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to expand their consumer base and promote locally-made products.

Following the first Making Design Count report, Secretary Pascual emphasized the rapid growth of the design industry providing an economic impact of PHP 1.2 trillion on gross value added (GVA) and supporting the jobs of approximately 705,000 people. He added that the design economy contributes to 6.6% of our national economic value and 1.8% of the country’s total employment.

The DCP is an attached agency of DTI which aims to promote the design industry’s innovativeness and progressive spirit towards sustainable development. Through the ART x DESIGN launch, the DCP is empowering Filipino artisans to create diverse outputs from the modern and traditional era.