DTI, TikTok study setup of PH content creator academy

Trade and Industry Secretary Fred Pascual with the Philippine delegation during his meeting with TikTok representatives

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and social media giant TikTok are exploring the possibility of establishing a content creator academy in the Philippines.

In a statement on Thursday, the DTI said the proposed collaboration was discussed during a June 5 meeting in Singapore between Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and TikTok company representatives.

The DTI said the goal of the academy was to foster Filipino talent and creativity to pave the way for a deeper digital integration in the country.

Creative economy

Data released last March by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the value of the creative economy—which includes artists, influencers, content creators, and entertainers—has reached P1.72 trillion.

It grew by 6.9 percent last year, outpacing the 5.6 percent growth of the country’s economy.

With the academy, more Filipinos are expected to learn how to develop content best suited for the popular platform for short videos. Through these mobile-first videos, they can improve their chances of gaining an audience. They can also use the site to promote their products through live selling and with the use of its popular e-commerce platform, the TikTok Shop.

This ties in with the discussions by the DTI and TikTok company representatives on improvements to the protection feature of the TikTok Shop.

The DTI said that it welcomes TikTok’s Safety Enforcement Tool, a portal built for verified government agencies and law enforcement representatives to securely request and monitor the progress of content takedown. —Alden M. Monzon