In partnership with the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) through the ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB), supported the inaugural conduct of the Philippine Game Development Expo (PGDX) 2023 at the SMX Convention Center Manila last August 18-20, 2023.

PGDX 2023 is a three-day expo that includes conferences, workshops, panels, masterclasses, B2B events, local game showcases, and exhibits, providing a unique opportunity to showcase the potential of the local game development industry to the global market and foster collaboration among developers, game platforms, publishers, and investors. It is the first expo dedicated to the country’s local game development industry.

In her message of support, Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development Jocelle Batapa-Sigue stressed the relevance of games in enriching an individual’s creativity and innovation.

“Games, as we all know, are not just about fun and leisure. They are all about creativity – these games will be vehicles for the rich Filipino stories, history, and culture to be shared with the world. These are really noble initiatives – helping game developers, practitioners, regions, and provinces to scale their ideas,” said Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue.

IIDB Director Emmy Lou V. Delfin reiterated DICT’s commitment to remain at the forefront of advocating for the development of the creative industry. She also encouraged everyone to work together to provide a bigger space for Filipino talent to flourish.

Meanwhile, GDAP President James Ronald Lo discussed the vision for PGDX in strengthening the potential of Filipino talents. “We hope to showcase more of the talent here in the Philippines. We want to be able to welcome more of our international partners to visit the Philippines and see more of [the Filipinos’] fantastic talent,” he said.

Under the DICT’s program called Empowering, Promoting, and Invigorating the Digital Creative Industry (EPIC) and through PGDX 2023, the IIDB aims to provide avenues for learning discussions, business matchmaking, and to highlight the country’s rich game development industry and local talents.

In the long run, initiatives like PGDX 2023 aim to help steer the country towards achieving the IT-BPM Industry Roadmap’s aggressive targets of generating 6,200 new direct jobs and achieving an annual revenue of US$ 177.8 million by 2028.