In Photo: (From L-R) DTI officials Undersecretary and Supervising Head of the Regional Operations Group Blesila A. Lantayona, and Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head of the Competitiveness and Innovation Group Nylah Rizza D. Bautista, together with Newport World Resorts officials Mr. Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez and Mr. John Lucas, formalizing the partnership with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
In Photo: (From L-R) DTI officials Undersecretary and Supervising Head of the Regional Operations Group Blesila A. Lantayona, and Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head of the Competitiveness and Innovation Group Nylah Rizza D. Bautista, together with Newport World Resorts officials Mr. Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez and Mr. John Lucas, formalizing the partnership with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Pasay City, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC) Secretariat of the Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG), formalized a partnership with Newport World Resorts (NWR) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 30 July 2025 at the Newport Grand Wing in Pasay City.

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to promote and grow the Philippine creative economy through cultural showcases, capacity-building initiatives, and strengthened public-private cooperation. This initiative aligns with the objectives of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (RA 11904) and DTI’s flagship Malikhaing Pinoy Program.

Under the MOU, DTI and NWR will co-develop and implement programs such as creative showcases, business-to-business (B2B) networking events, and performances that empower Filipino creatives and cultural entrepreneurs. NWR has committed to providing access to performance venues, convention centers, and studios for these initiatives.

“With Newport’s strong push for all-Filipino casts and original works, there’s a real opportunity to make theater a more stable and sustainable career. Through business registration, workshops, and access to our growing creative economy network, we can support artists in building long-term, future-ready careers.” said Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head of the DTI-CIG, Nylah Rizza D. Bautista. 

Echoing this sentiment, NWR Senior Vice President Kathy Mercado shared the resort’s enthusiasm for this initiative and emphasized the significance of this collaboration.

Beyond program implementation, NWR has committed to championing creative innovation and supporting creative talent development. This partnership also opens opportunities to advocate for creative-friendly policies and explore the establishment of creative hubs within NWR’s integrated resort ecosystem. These efforts will help bolster the global presence of Filipino creativity by  leveraging NWR’s expansive platform to engage international audiences and partners. 

As a demonstration of its commitment, NWR is also set to participate in the highly anticipated Malikhaing Pinoy Creative Expo this September, a key highlight of the annual Philippine Creative Industries Month.

The signing ceremony, led by Assistant Secretary Bautista, was graced by the following key DTI officials: Undersecretary and Supervising Head Blesila A. Lantayona, Assistant Secretary Dominic R. Tolentino, Jr. and Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut of the Regional Operations Group;  Director of Finance Service Maria Asuncion H. Cruzada; and Director General Atty. Brigitte M. da Costa-Villaluz from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

This MOU forms part of the broader Malikhaing Pinoy Program, which serves as the DTI’s flagship initiative for creative industry development. As the implementing arm of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council, the program seeks to spotlight Filipino ingenuity and scale creative sector contributions to national growth, cultural identity, and international recognition.
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Date of Release: 30 July 2025