PEZA exceeds 2024 investments with PHP 237.1B approvals

1 of 2

MANILA — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has surpassed its 2024 investment performance, reporting a total of PHP 237.10 billion (USD 4.20 billion) in approved investments as of its Dec. 12, 2025 board meeting, setting the stage for a strong year-end finish.

This year-to-date figure represents a 10.7 percent increase from PHP 214.18 billion (USD 3.79 billion) recorded in the same period last year.

The agency approved 307 projects from January to December 2025, a 20.39 percent rise from 255 projects in 2024.

Projected exports from these projects more than doubled, climbing 117.92 percent to USD 10.22 billion from last year’s USD 4.69 billion.

Projected job generation also grew by 3.13 percent to 74,678 positions, compared to 72,413 in 2024.

PEZA said the investment activity remained broad-based, with 146 projects in manufacturing and 67 in IT and business process management (IT-BPM).

Other sectors included ecozone development (26), facilities (25), domestic enterprises (25), logistics (13), and utilities (5).

A key driver of growth was the approval of 38 big-ticket projects totaling PHP 191.48 billion (USD 3.39 billion), underscoring investor confidence in capital-intensive and high-impact industries.

For December alone, PEZA approved 26 new and expansion projects worth PHP 29.84 billion (USD 528.31 million), marking a 136.35 percent increase from PHP 12.63 billion (USD 223.74 million) and a 62.5 percent rise in project volume compared to the same month in 2024.

December projected exports surged 261.43 percent to USD 2.83 billion, while projected employment soared by 390.35 percent to 5,183 jobs, compared to the previous year.

Six big-ticket projects—three in manufacturing, two in ecozone development, and one in domestic enterprise—accounted for PHP 24.107 billion (USD 426.97 million) of December’s approvals, contributing significantly to the agency’s final-quarter momentum.

“Surpassing our 2024 investment milestone ahead of year-end strongly reflects growing confidence in the Philippines as a stable, competitive, and future-ready investment destination,” said PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga.

“And as our country prepares to take on a more prominent leadership role in the region, PEZA will remain committed to ensuring that these investments translate into jobs, exports, and long-term economic value for Filipinos.”

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque praised PEZA’s performance, saying, “Congratulations to PEZA, under the leadership of Director General Theo Panga, for a job very, very well done!”

She added that foreign investors consistently commend PEZA’s professionalism and seamless transactions.

As of mid-December, the PHP 237.1 billion figure reflects only partial data. PEZA’s final Board Approval Meeting for the year is scheduled on Dec. 22, and the agency remains optimistic about reaching—or exceeding—its full-year target of PHP 250 billion (USD 4.43 billion).

With the Philippines set to assume the Chairmanship of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), PEZA’s performance bolsters the country’s position as a reliable hub for regional manufacturing, services, and sustainable investment growth.