SB19 is taking its influence beyond the stage as the P-Pop group works with Senator Bam Aquino on a proposed measure aimed at strengthening government support for Filipino creatives working locally and abroad.

The development was revealed Monday after the Senate recognized SB19 for its historic performance at Lollapalooza earlier this year. During a livestream following the ceremony, Aquino joined the group and shared that a bill developed with input from SB19 and its management company, 1Z Entertainment, is set to be filed in the Senate.

Senate Bill No. 2517, or the Philippine Agency for the Creative Economy (PACE) Act, seeks to establish a government agency focused on supporting the country’s creative sector. Among its proposed functions are assistance with visa processing, travel documentation, logistics, international showcases, tours, festivals, and other opportunities for Filipino creative workers overseas.

Aquino said the proposal stemmed from a May 26 meeting with SB19 members Pablo and Josh Cullen, who discussed challenges Filipino artists encounter when pursuing opportunities abroad. The senator said these conversations led to discussions about creating an agency modeled partly after South Korea’s Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), which supports the country’s creative industries in international markets.

The proposed PACE framework also aims to expand global market access for Philippine creative products and services, strengthen business partnerships, and develop programs supporting international promotion.

According to Aquino, the creative industries contribute around 7.6% of the Philippines’ GDP and provide work for more than 7.5 million Filipinos.