The Board of Investments (BoI), the premier investment promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, has currently logged 203 projects in Green Lane amounting to P5.168 trillion ($91.042 billion) across all sectors, namely renewable energy (RE), digital infrastructure and public-private partnerships (PPP), food security, and manufacturing.

In its report on Wednesday, the BoI also said that from January to April, 26 projects were given Green Lane status, with a total cost of P631.223 billion.

BoI Investment Assistance Service and One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSACSI) Director Ernesto C. Delos Reyes Jr. disclosed that RE leads with 159 projects, making up 78.33 percent of the total and 91.86 percent of the project cost at P4.747 trillion.

“This sector significantly drives foreign investments (P1.35 trillion) and is expected to create over 272,000 jobs, highlighting its importance for environmental and economic growth,” he said.

On the other hand, he said digital infrastructure and PPP account for 9 projects (4.43 percent) and 7.06 percent of total costs, totaling P364.877 billion, with P283.562 billion from foreign sources.

These projects are expected to create over 20,500 jobs.

Furthermore, Delos Reyes Jr. said food security has 31 projects (15.27 percent) but only contributes 0.36 percent of total costs, with investments of P18.698 billion and around 7,319 jobs to be created, indicating a focus on community initiatives.

“Manufacturing includes 4 projects (1.97 percent) with investments of P36.905 billion (0.71 percent of total costs) and 3,998 jobs, showing growth potential. Overall, the projects aim to attract P1.656 trillion in foreign investments and generate over 303,000 jobs, supporting national economic goals and renewable energy initiatives,” the BoI official noted.

Signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in February 2023, Executive Order 18 establishes the OSACSI to give Green Lane treatment to strategic investments in national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs) by simplifying and streamlining their approval process.

New telco operator

Meanwhile, BoI-Infrastructure and Services Industries Service director Mary Ann Raganit disclosed that GLOBE STT GDC, INC. has applied for registration at the BoI.

Raganit said the firm applied as a new operator of telecommunication infrastructure (STT Fairview 1 Data Center) with a capacity of 28 MW and 4,200 racks, under Tier I (Preferred Activities - Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs) of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan under Republic Act No. 11534 (CREATE Act), as amended by RA No. 12066.

The project has a project cost of P9.3 billion, and the construction of the sites is ongoing, expected to be operational by August 2025.

STT GDC Philippines is a joint venture between Globe, the Ayala Corporation, and Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC).