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The Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s (PEZA) approval of investments continued its upward trajectory this year, growing by 112.06 percent by the end of April compared to the same period last year.
PEZA, an investment promotion agency (IPA) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), approved ₱63.52 billion in investment pledges from January to April, up from ₱29.96 billion in 2024.
The pledges, which translate to actual investments over time, cover 86 new and expansion projects. These projects are expected to create 24,290 jobs and $846.74 million in projected exports.
The manufacturing sector topped the list of these projects with 31 investment commitments, followed by the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector with 29 pledges.
Calabarzon—comprising Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon—continues reigning as the top investment destination this year, notching 32 investments.
Metro Manila and Central Visayas followed suit, with 13 investments each.
For April, PEZA approved a total of 20 new and expansion projects worth ₱4.58 billion, which is a massive 69.47-percent decrease from ₱15 billion of the same month last year.
These investments are seen to bring in more than $300 million in exports and directly employ more than 9,000 jobs.
PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said he “remains bullish” on the growth trend this year due to the government’s “strong commitment towards investment promotion and facilitation.”
“Despite the geopolitical challenges, this momentum reflects renewed investor confidence in the Philippines as a resilient and globally competitive destination,” said Panga in a statement.
Over the four-month period, South Korea led the investments, followed by the United States (US), China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Panga said the influx of foreign direct investments into economic zones directly results from the country’s newly signed free trade agreement with South Korea and the China+2 strategy.
“With the current global trade volatilities and uncertainty in the supply chain, we have been receiving more queries about the Philippines and even welcoming several inbound delegations exploring investment opportunities within the ecozones,” the official said.
“We are bullish that more investors will look at the Philippines for the expansion or even transfer of their offshore operations in the coming months,” he added.
IPAs such as PEZA grant tax and other perks to qualified investors, resulting in forgone revenues for the government.
In turn, the government expects these projects to generate economic activity, employment, and export revenues, particularly in the case of PEZA locators.
