PEZA nears target with P175.37-B approved investments

Proving that both foreign and local investors remain keen on investing in the country, investment promotion agency, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), reported that it has posted more than P175 billion of approved investments, and is nearing its conservative target of P250-billion investments by the end of the year.

During its Board meeting last 24 October 2025, it was reported that a total of P175.37 billion in investments from approved new and expansion projects were recorded, reflecting the continued trust of investors in the stability and opportunities offered by the country’s ecozones.

“We recognize the current global and domestic factors influencing overall investment sentiment. Within this context, based on PEZA’s performance, this reflects the continuing confidence of our locators and partners in the ecozone program and the country’s long-term investment potential,” said PEZA director general Tereso Panga.

“Our focus remains on strengthening our ecozone program and ensuring a stable, transparent, and competitive business environment that supports sustainable growth,” he added.

Based on its records, PEZA, from January to October, approved a total of 243 new and expansion projects, a 41.72 percent increase from the same period in 2024.

The approved investments are seen to generate $6.079 billion in exports and create 59,937 direct jobs for Filipinos, reinforcing PEZA’s continued contribution to countryside development, industrial expansion, and sustainable economic growth.

In terms of investor nationality, Japanese investors have reclaimed their spot as the leading contributors to PEZA’s approved investments, followed by investors from the Cayman Islands, South Korea, China, Singapore and the USA, among others.

A significant increase in domestic market-oriented investments has also been recorded at P84.312 billion — a testament to both strong domestic investor confidence and the sustained interest of global players in PEZA ecozones.

Highlights

Further, the PEZA Board said in October alone, the agency registered P20.661 billion in approved investments from 28 new and expansion projects, a 162.64 percent increase versus P7.869 billion recorded in the same month last year.

These projects are expected to generate $1.588 billion in exports, an impressive 182.33 percent year-on-year growth, and create 9,507 new jobs, reflecting a 95.53 percent increase compared to October 2024.

The newly approved projects are spread across key sectors led by export-oriented manufacturing, followed by IT services, domestic market enterprises, facilities management, logistics, and ecozone development, reflecting a healthy diversification of economic activity under PEZA.

Meanwhile, regional strength remains evident. In particular, the CALABARZON region continues to be the powerhouse of investment, with Laguna emerging as a standout location.

Notably, the three big-ticket projects (P1 billion and up) approved, accounting for P16.327 billion of investment, are all located in the area, reflecting PEZA’s intensified efforts to spur regional development, generate local employment, and decentralize progress beyond Metro Manila.

While the broader investment environment remains cautious amid global uncertainties, PEZA’s positive performance — with both cumulative and monthly results showing double- to triple-digit growth across all key indicators — provides a measure of optimism for the country’s investment landscape.

“With over 70 percent of our investment target already achieved within 10 months — and with strong pipelines of projects still under review — we are confident and optimistic of meeting and hopefully even exceeding our 2025 investment goal of 250 billion,” according to Panga.