The manufacturing industry remains the Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s (PEZA) largest sector and continues to drive its investment approvals, exports and employment, a PEZA top official said in a weeklong forum.

“The manufacturing sector accounts for more than P2 trillion in overall PEZA investments and creates 720,000 jobs. The leading sector remains electronics manufacturing services and semiconductor manufacturing services,” said PEZA deputy director general Vivian Santos during the Philippine Manufacturing Week 2026, which kicked off the 3rd Auto Parts and Vehicles Expo Philippines (APVE) 2026 and the 12th Philippine Die and Mould Machinery and Equipment Exhibition (PDMEX).

Santos maintained that the government and the private sector should work hand-in-hand to discover more technologies, strengthen supply chains, and explore more investment opportunities.

“More importantly, it shows that we can achieve more when government and industry work together towards the same goal. That is exactly the momentum we want to sustain. The Philippines is entering a new phase of industrial development through the CREATE MORE Act and the recently approved Strategic Investment Priority Plan. The government is focusing on investments that bring in advanced manufacturing, create quality jobs, strengthen local industries, and make our economy more competitive,” she stressed.

From January to July 2026, the PEZA Board approved 174 new and expansion projects, up 16 percent from 150 projects in the same period last year, with total approved investments reaching P151.901 billion, a 66.99 percent increase from P90.961 billion in 2025.

Manufacturing accounted for 76 approved projects, followed by 28 IT-BPM, 26 ecozone development, 15 facilities, 13 logistics, 10 domestic market, four tourism, and two utilities projects.

APVE, PDMEX

The APVE and PDMEX have brought together a comprehensive showcase of manufacturing technologies and innovations at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, and created an integrated platform for the country’s automotive aftermarket, manufacturing, and precision-engineering industries.

For his part, Ferdinand Jesus Ortega, chairperson of the Cooperative Development Authority, highlighted the agency’s dedication to empowering transport cooperatives and automotive enterprises through capacity-building programs and financial mechanisms.

He relayed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment in which both large-scale manufacturers and micro, small and medium enterprises can thrive in the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

The third edition of the APVE also demonstrated the event’s continued growth, reflecting increasing market demand for automotive aftermarket solutions in the country.