As the Senate continues to take action on the Site Blocking Bill, a consumer group asked the chamber to pass the measure to protect the creative industry.
In a statement, Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) convenor Karry Sison said the Senate continues to ignore the challenges on intellectual property.
She said the Site Blocking Bill would not only protect intellectual property, but would also ensure digital security of Filipinos.
Senator Mark Villar previously chaired the Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship. Under Villar’s leadership, the committee conducted public hearings on Senate Bill Nos. 2150 and 2385, which were introduced by Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, respectively. It is now being chaired by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
Citing the data, the group said that 60 percent of Filipinos are watching pirated content which causes a huge loss on the creative industries.
Sison said digital pirates were stealing from artists and creative workers.
Earlier, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said that due to online piracy, the country lost $781 million in 2022 and if remained unaddressed, the revenue loss would increase up to $1 billion.
