ILOILO City – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is positioning esports and game development as key drivers of the country’s digital economy, saying the rapidly expanding industry is no longer merely about entertainment but has become a major source of jobs, innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment opportunities for millions of Filipinos.
Speaking at the opening of GAME ON – AI Fest 2026 at the Iloilo Convention Center on Tuesday, Aug. 4, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said it is time to abandon the outdated notion that gaming is simply a distraction for the youth, emphasizing that the industry has evolved into a multibillion-peso economic sector with enormous growth potential.
“For many years, gaming has been viewed as a distraction — a waste of time, a hobby that takes people away from studying or working. But today, we know a different story,” Solidum said.
“Gaming is no longer just play. It is now a multi-billion-dollar global industry that creates jobs, drives innovation, fuels creativity, and opens opportunities for entrepreneurship. Behind every game are programmers, artists, writers, designers, engineers, marketers, data analysts, and business professionals. For many, gaming is not just entertainment – it is a career, a livelihood, and a platform for innovation,” he added.
Solidum also appealed directly to parents and guardians to recognize the opportunities emerging from the digital gaming industry.
“So, to all the parents and guardians out there, perhaps it is time to update the old saying. Because sometimes, ‘kaka-cellphone’ and ‘kaka-kompyuter’ can lead to skills, careers, and even thriving businesses,” he said.
The science chief noted that the Philippines now has more than 43 million gamers, making it one of Southeast Asia’s largest and fastest-growing gaming markets. He said the local esports industry was valued at P1.47 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand at a 23% compound annual growth rate, reaching approximately P5.5 billion (US$93.34 million) by 2032.
“These numbers show the high potential of the Philippine esports market,” Solidum said.
He added that the country has also become a preferred outsourcing destination for global game development companies, with Filipino developers producing game assets, animation, and engineering services while local studios increasingly create original games inspired by Filipino culture and folklore.
To sustain the industry’s growth, Solidum said DOST has identified game development, animation, and film as priority sectors under the Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) 2022-2028, recognizing their role in advancing science, technology, innovation, education, and economic development.
Since 2017, the agency has invested P142 million in 18 research and development projects supporting the gaming, film, and animation industries, alongside P7.46 million for game development training programs and esports initiatives.
Solidum said DOST is also expanding innovation hubs nationwide and strengthening partnerships with universities, startups, and industry stakeholders to further develop the country’s esports ecosystem.
He highlighted locally developed games such as Sepak U, Trash Teammates, and Langit Lupa Office Wars as examples of how Filipino-made games can promote the country’s culture, traditions, and environmental awareness.
“With the potential of Filipinos on esports and game development, it is high time to shift our perspectives—one that looks at the game development and esports sectors as a platform to creatively showcase Filipino culture, traditions, and practices,” Solidum said.
“DOST is committing its all-out support for this sector. With our Esports and Game Dev Program, and our initiatives and investments for the creative sector, we believe that one day, this sector will bring about more enterprises that will create more job opportunities for skilled, creative Filipinos,” he added./PN
