Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10557)
The short title of Republic Act No. 10557 is the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act of 2013.
The declared policy is to enhance the competitiveness and innovation of Philippine products, create market-responsive design services, advocate economic and environmental sustainability, promote a design-driven economy and society reflecting Filipino culture and identity, and protect intellectual property rights related to design.
The objectives include creating a long-range strategy for the design industry, promoting national awareness of design as a strategic tool, integrating design into other industries and society, incorporating design in national planning, and encouraging innovation leveraging Filipino creativity and resources.
The Design Center of the Philippines, formerly the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP), is attached to the Department of Trade and Industry and is mandated to promote design as a creative tool to improve quality, competitiveness, and branding of Filipino products globally, support sustainable economic growth, and enhance quality of life.
The Design Center shall develop creative research programs, conduct design trend research, promote and upgrade Philippine product designs, hold seminars and exhibitions, publish design materials, ensure protection of Filipino design outputs, promote design education, and represent Philippine design locally and internationally.
The NDP is the State's strategy to promote design as a driver for sustainable economic growth, development, and increased country competitiveness, including goals like global competitiveness, institutionalizing design culture, creating demand for good design, design protection, design education, and using design as a problem-solving tool.
The DAC is a public-private partnership advisory body to the Design Center, providing advice on policies to enhance Philippine product competitiveness and innovation. It is composed of 15 members from government departments and private-sector representatives appointed by the President.
The DAC advises the Design Center, advocates design's role in government policies, reviews policies involving design, acts as a liaison among design stakeholders, and guides design education for quality standards.
The Council is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry and a private sector representative appointed by the President. A quorum of eight members is needed, and decisions require a majority vote of the quorum.
The Executive Director administers and implements policies approved by the DAC, executes plans and measures, and reports quarterly to the DAC on the Center’s accomplishments.