PEZA hits PHP 260.89 billion in approvals, targets 2026

PASAY CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) approved PHP 260.89 billion in investments in 2025, beating its target and posting 21.91 percent growth compared with January–December 2024.

PEZA stated that the result ranks as the sixth highest in its 30-year history and represents its largest investment growth since 2016, underscoring what it described as rising investor interest in the Philippines.

With the 2025 performance, PEZA sets a PHP 300 billion investment target for 2026 to sustain growth and reinforce the country’s pitch as an investment destination.

“We are proud to share that despite global headwinds and economic challenges, PEZA has defied the odds as it sustained its upward investment growth trajectory—anchored on the continued trust and confidence of investors in the Philippines, and most especially in our ecozones. We not only surpassed our PhP 250 Billion low-end target for the year but also achieved an all-time high since 2016,” said PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga.

BREAKDOWN OF 2025 APPROVALS

PEZA stated that the PHP 260.89 billion total was supported by 314 new and expansion projects, representing a 23.41 percent increase from the previous year.

The approved projects span manufacturing, information technology–business process management, logistics, utilities, facilities, domestic market enterprise, tourism, and ecozone development.

Most projects will be located in Luzon, especially in CALABARZON, an industrial region south of Metro Manila, along with the Luzon Economic Corridor areas, while others are spread across the Visayas and Mindanao.

The 2025 approvals are projected to generate 78,741 direct jobs, an 8.74 percent increase compared with 2024.

The projects are projected to produce up to USD 11.522 billion in export revenues, a 145.73 percent increase versus the same period last year.

PEZA said 41 big-ticket projects accounted for PHP 214.603 billion of the total, which it said reflects continued demand for Filipino workers and rising global demand for Philippine-made products.

DECEMBER BOARD APPROVALS

PEZA said its board approved seven new and expansion projects worth PHP 23.689 billion at its Dec. 22 meeting, its last board meeting for the year.

The Dec. 22 approvals, set to be located in the National Capital Region (NCR), CALABARZON, and Region III, are expected to create 3,821 direct jobs and generate USD 1.304 billion in exports.

Three major big-ticket investments with a combined value of PHP 23.123 billion were included in the Dec. 22 approvals.

PEZA said those big-ticket projects include a tourism enterprise that will develop an ultra-luxury hotel brand and meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) facilities in the NCR.

The same batch also includes an enterprise that will manufacture medical and non-medical gloves in Batangas.

The Dec. 22 approvals also include a manufacturing firm that will expand its Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) and Semiconductor Manufacturing Services (SMS) operations in Laguna.

PEZA said the Dec. 22 approvals came on top of PHP 29.624 billion in investments greenlighted during a Dec. 12 meeting led by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and PEZA Board Chair Cristina A. Roque and board members.

The two meetings brought total approvals for December to PHP 53.313 billion.

“The continued momentum in investment approvals reflects a stable and predictable policy environment that supports long-term business decisions, with the DTI committed to advancing initiatives that enhance competitiveness, strengthen investor confidence, and drive sustained economic growth,” Secretary Roque affirmed.

PEZA Director General (DG) Tereso Panga noted, “Building on this momentum, we remain focused on strengthening our ecozone ecosystem, expanding high-quality investments, and creating more jobs for Filipinos, as we position PEZA for sustained growth and greater opportunities in the years ahead.”

NEW ECOZONES EYED

PEZA said it will push to expand the country’s ecozone development program and create new types of ecozones to serve different industries.

“We thank Executive Secretary Ralph Recto for conveying the Marcos Jr. administration’s support in creating new hubs that will push to spread investments nationwide and fast-track job creation,” said DG Panga as PEZA welcomed 10 new and expanded ecozones approved by the President for 2025.

The DG added, “There are still 14 ecozones in the pipeline ready for proclamation. And, as more ecozones are proclaimed by the President like that of the first Mega Ecozone in Ihawig, Palawan, and a Pacific gateway in Pantao, Albay, we are confident that the influx of investments and expansion of projects at PEZA will continue. Locators are seeing the value of expanding and consolidating their supply chains in the Philippines.”

BROADER CONTEXT

PEZA is the investment promotion agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry that registers export-oriented and other qualified enterprises in economic zones and facilitates incentives and investor services, according to the agency.

PEZA incentives have historically included time-bound income tax holidays and, for some exporters, after the holiday period, options such as a special corporate income tax on gross income, as outlined.

Based on performance data PEZA attributed to the Philippine Statistics Authority and the DTI, the agency said it remains among the country’s leading generators of approved investments and that export-oriented manufacturing investments lodged with PEZA contribute to 54 percent of Philippine exports.

PEZA said that realized investments from newly approved ecozone projects, concentrated in manufacturing, Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) services, and ecozone development, are expected to translate into immediate employment, added income for host local governments, and broader socio-economic gains.