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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villafuertes upbeat over pro-esports bill after Philippines SEA Games' gold

Villafuertes upbeat over pro-esports bill after Philippines SEA Games' gold

Published Dec 20, 2025 02:17 am

At A Glance

  • Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. Luigi Villafuerte and Camarines Sur 5th district Rep. Migz Villafuerte are pushing for the creation of a Philippine Esports Commission (PEC) to serve as the primary policy-making and regulatory agency to oversee the grassroots-level development of more world-class champions in esports activities.
Camarines Sur 5th district Rep. Migz Villafuerte (left), Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. Luigi Villafuerte (Facebook)
Camarines Sur 5th district Rep. Migz Villafuerte (left), Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. Luigi Villafuerte (Facebook)


Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. Luigi Villafuerte and Camarines Sur 5th district Rep. Migz Villafuerte are pushing for the creation of a Philippine Esports Commission (PEC) to serve as the primary policy-making and regulatory agency to oversee the grassroots-level development of more world-class champions in esports activities.
The solon-siblings were especially upbeat with their proposal following the Philippines' gold medal win in esports in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand.
PEC is envisioned as a separate agency from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) that would take charge of developing esports, where Team Philippines has consistently produced world champions in the past, especially in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).
The Villafuerte said that the PEC needs to take main and exclusive charge of developing esports for our country to: 1) fully harness the talent and strategic acumen of Filipinos in video-gaming, especially in multisport competitions; 2) provide a new channel to harness the youth in sports development; and 3) cash-in on the fast-growing global esports market whose value is seen to leap from $1.97 billion in 2023 to $5.18 billion by 2029.
The creation of the PEC is provided for under the Villafuertes' HB No.3751 or the Esports Act.
“The esports industry has emerged as a dynamic driver of economic activity and a platform to showcase the talent and strategic acumen of Filipino players on the global stage at this time when the Philippines has emerged as one of the most vibrant esports markets in Southeast Asia," Rep. Luigi said.
Rep. Migz, citing data from the YCPS Marketing & Communication Group, said “Proof of the phenomenal rise of the Philippine esports market is that it  now has over 43 million active gamers, growing by an average of 12.9 percent annually since 2017.”
The Villafuertes said that Filipino teams have achieved remarkable international success, with the Philippine-based team TNC Predator netting over $4.6 million in total winnings since its inception in 2013. 
During the 2019 SEA Games, which was the first to feature esports as a medal event, Filipino athletes secured five medals, including a gold in MLBB, which is one of the world’s most popular competitive multiplayer video games. 
In this year's games, Philippine esports team Sibol completed a 4-0 sweep of Malaysia in the men's category of the MLBB tournament, netting a gold for our players Sanford Vinuya, Kiel Soriano, Karl Nepomuceno, Jaypee dela Cruz, Alston Pabico and John Carlo Roma.
Team Sibol competed in just two of the four esports events, apparently in the absence of enough world-class players to ensure a strong podium finish for the country in the 2025 Games.
Sibol sent teams for the MLBB and Arena of Valor events only, and not for the Football title, EA Sports FC Online and shooting game Free Fire.
Luigi and Migz pointed out that the  Philippines has hosted several prestigious tournaments that have not only elevated the Philippines' esports reputation but also brought significant benefits to the tourism sector. 
In fact, they said, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has acknowledged the sector’s capacity to create jobs and drive the digital economy, and has projected the Philippines to likely become a regional center for game development and esports.
Despite these gains, Reps. Luigi and Migz noted that, “Challenges that hinder the growth of the local esports ecosystem remain. Filipino players have faced barriers such as visa denials because of the absence of an official representative body.”
In HB No.3751, its authors said that, “Esports is no longer limited to gaming alone; it spans a broader ecosystem involving analytical tools, broadcasting platforms, education, and wellness support. As such, safeguards, especially around the participation of minors, must be enforced through regulatory frameworks.”
The PEC shall coordinate with the PSC and other agencies like the Departments of Education (DepEd), of Tourism (DOT), of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), of Trade and Industry (DTI); Commission on Higher Education (CHED); National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in fostering infrastructure development, talent support programs, and international competitiveness for the Philippine esports industry.
Camarines Sur 5th district Rep. Tsuyoshi Horibata and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon are co-authors of the measure.
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