Manila: The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) surpassed its PHP250 billion investment target this year, achieving PHP260.89 billion, which marks a 21.91 percent increase from the previous year's PHP214.18 billion and stands as the highest since 2016.
According to Philippines News Agency, PEZA Director General Tereso Panga stated in a press release that their 2025 approvals are now the sixth highest for the agency, accomplished 'despite global headwinds and economic challenges.' Panga emphasized that PEZA has maintained its positive investment growth trend due to the continued trust and confidence of investors in the Philippines, particularly in its economic zones.
With this achievement, PEZA is now setting a goal of PHP300 billion in investment approvals for the upcoming year. This year's approvals involved 314 new and expansion projects, representing a 23.14 percent increase compared to the 255 projects in 2024. These projects span various sectors, including manufacturing, information technology-business process management (IT-BPM), logistics, utilities, facilities, domestic market enterprises, tourism, and economic zone development.
The data from PEZA indicates that 41 of these projects are substantial investments amounting to PHP210.9 billion. Collectively, these projects are expected to generate up to USD11.52 billion in export revenues and create 78,741 direct jobs.
In the PEZA Board's final meeting of the year on December 22, seven new and expansion projects valued at PHP23.69 billion were approved. These projects are anticipated to create 3,821 direct jobs and generate USD1.304 billion in exports. Of these, three are significant investments totaling PHP23.12 billion, including an ultra-luxury hotel brand.
In addition to the approved projects, the PEZA Board, led by Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, also approved PHP29.62 billion in investments during the meeting. Panga expressed commitment to further strengthening the ecozone ecosystem, attracting high-quality investments, and generating more employment opportunities for Filipinos, positioning PEZA for sustained growth and increased opportunities in the future.
Furthermore, Panga thanked the Marcos administration for approving the creation of 10 new and expanded ecozones this year. He mentioned that 14 ecozones are still pending proclamation, with new developments like the first Mega Ecozone in Ihawig, Palawan, and a Pacific gateway in Pantao, Albay, expected to attract more investments and project expansions at PEZA. He noted that investors are recognizing the benefits of expanding and consolidating their supply chains in the Philippines.
