DTI Ecozone Drive Attracts PHP66B Investments by May 2025

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has secured over PHP66 billion in new and expansion investments through economic zone initiatives as of May 2025, reinforcing the Philippines’ appeal as a future-ready investment hub in Asia.

The investments were approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) under the Marcos administration’s push to accelerate industrial development and generate inclusive growth.

“The continued rise in investments affirms the Philippines’ position as a competitive and future-ready destination in Asia,” said DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque.

“Backed by the strong leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we are accelerating ecozone growth to generate jobs, empower industries, and contribute to a Bagong Pilipinas—where prosperity is shared and progress reaches every Filipino,” she added.

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga reported that from July 2022 to May 2025, the PEZA Board approved 694 new and expansion projects amounting to PHP574.44 billion.

These projects are expected to generate over 160,000 jobs across the country, highlighting the agency’s vital role in driving national economic development.

Despite setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, PEZA rebounded from a four-year decline in 2022 and returned to its 2018 investment levels.

PEZA exceeded its 2024 investment target, reaching PHP214.18 billion in approvals, and is maintaining strong momentum in 2025.

As of May, the PEZA Board has approved 102 new and expansion projects valued at over PHP66 billion—already 28% of its annual target.

This surge in investments reflects continued foreign investor interest from countries such as South Korea, the United States, China, and Japan.

Much of this inflow is attributed to the country’s newly signed free trade agreement with South Korea and the rise of the “China+2” strategy, where companies diversify operations beyond China to Southeast Asia.

The passage of the CREATE MORE Act has further incentivized investments by enhancing fiscal benefits for both export- and domestic-oriented enterprises.

This legislation promotes a performance-based, transparent incentive framework aimed at making the Philippines more competitive and investment-friendly.

Since 1995, PEZA has remitted PHP10.82 billion in dividends to the national government, with PHP3.69 billion contributed under the Marcos administration, including over PHP1.3 billion in 2023 and 2024 alone.

Despite operating with just over 600 employees, PEZA manages more than 400 ecozones nationwide and supports over 4,000 locator companies while remaining financially self-sustaining.

“We remain true to our quest of eco-zoning the Philippines towards inclusive and sustainable development,” said DG Panga.

“The ecozones will continue to serve as eco-shields to soften the landing of the headwinds, the external constraints, and all these global disruptions, and shall be drivers of continued economic recovery and growth,” he added.

The DTI continues to position the Philippines as a smart investment destination in the region, aligned with President Marcos Jr.’s vision of an upper-middle-income Bagong Pilipinas where no one is left behind.