INTERNATIONAL think tank Stratbase Institute strongly urges the Senate to immediately pass the Site Blocking Bill, citing its 90-percent average success rate worldwide in effectively combating online piracy.
In a press statement, Stratbase Institute president Dindo Manhit said the measure is essential, not only to prevent further economic losses, but also to address the growing security threats posed by digital piracy.
Manhit cited the success of site blocking laws in the UK, France, and Italy that have seen piracy site reductions of up to 95 percent, while in Asia, nations like South Korea and Indonesia have reported drops of 98 percent and 95 percent, respectively.
“Online piracy thrives on a simple supply-and-demand dynamic. To break this cycle, we must strike at the root by aggressively cutting off the supply. It’s time to take bold action and show zero tolerance for these illegal operators. The Site Blocking Bill is our strongest weapon—let’s use it to dismantle piracy networks and send a clear message: we will not stand by while our economy and national security are undermined,” Manhit explained.
A survey commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) revealed that the Philippines is the second-largest consumer of pirated online content in the Asia-Pacific region, with 70 percent of Filipinos accessing pirated materials, next to Vietnam’s 71 percent.
“As a result, Filipino consumers are nearly 30 times more likely to encounter cyber threats when using piracy sites compared to mainstream websites, according to the Motion Picture Association (MPA), underscoring the severe risks associated with this issue,” Manhit said.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) warned earlier that failure to enact the Site Blocking Bill, which has been stalled at the committee level for three years, could result in a loss of up to US$1 billion in revenue by 2027.
“We believe that the law must adapt to changes. We must lobby in Congress and the Senate for this law to be passed, as it benefits not only our shareholders, but also our economy as a whole,” IPOPHL director of the IP Rights Enforcement Office lawyer Christine Pangilinan-Canlapan said in an anti-piracy symposium last Nov. 13.
Manhit said the creative industry, which includes influencers, content creators, and entertainers, is particularly impacted by the absence of the Site Blocking Bill.
According to latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2023, the Philippine creative economy outpaced national economic growth, contributing P1.72 trillion in total value, generating more jobs, and making a significant 7.1 percent impact on the country’s gross domestic product.
However, a troubling statistic by the Motion Picture Association reveals that 63 of the top 100 most popular streaming sites in the Philippines are piracy websites. Notably, ABS-CBN, the country’s largest media network, ranks fourth, outpaced by piracy site, hianime.to.
“Piracy undermines the profitability of the creative industry, and the resulting loss of revenue directly translates into job losses. Therefore, we reiterate that the Site Blocking Bill, which has been pending in the Senate for three years, has the full support of all sectors in the creative industry. We hope that the Senate will again demonstrate its responsiveness to urgent reforms and swiftly pass the site blocking Bill,” Manhit said.
Similarly, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment Content Protection Counsel Daniel Lye also lamented the severe consequences of online piracy on employment.
“The loss in revenue results in budget cuts and layoffs within the film industry, impacting not only actors and directors but also crew members, support staff, and other related professionals,” Lye said.
He also noted that these adverse effects trickle down to secondary industries such as advertising, marketing, and post-production.
Telecommunications representatives underscored the urgency of passing the bill, citing the narrow window for its passage ahead of the 2025 mid-term elections.
With a new Congress set to be elected, failing to pass in this Congress will require the bill—already approved by the House of Representatives—to be refiled, further prolonging its enactment into law, Stratbase said.
