A consumer group renewed its push for the upper chamber to pass the Site Blocking Bill to protect the creative industry and the digital security of Filipinos.
In a recent statement, Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) Convenor Atty. Karry Sison said that the Senate continues to ignore the challenges on intellectual property.
"Ang Site Blocking Bill ay hindi lamang para sa protection ng intellectual property, kundi para rin sa digital na seguridad ng bawat Pilipino. Huwag nang ipagpaliban (The Site Blocking Bill is not just for the protection of intellectual property, but also for the digital security of every Filipino. Let's not delay it any further)," Sison said.
"Sobrang tagal na ang paghihintay ng ating mga Pilipinong malikhaing manggagawa laban sa online piracy na sumisira sa kanilang kabuhayan at seguridad ng bansa (It's been a long time that our Filipino creative workers have been waiting for action against online piracy, which is destroying their livelihood and the country's security)," she added.
Senator Mark Villar previously chaired the Senate 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 Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., 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.
"Yumayaman ang mga kriminal na pirata habang ang ating artistang manlilikha at lahat ng nabubuhay sa ating creative industry ay patuloy na ninanakawan. Sayang ang galing nating mga Pilipino kung nanakawin lamang ng online piracy (Criminals and pirates thrive while our creative industry's talented artists are continually plundered. It's a shame that our Filipino talent is stolen by online piracy alone)," Sison said.
Earlier, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) 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.