Investment pledges registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) reached PHP48.869 billion in September, bringing total approvals in the first nine months this year to PHP154.70 billion, 33 percent higher than the PHP115.89 billion registered in the same period last year.
PEZA reported that from January to September, its Board approved the registration of PHP154.70 billion worth of investments from 215 new and expansion projects.
The approvals already accounted for 61.9 percent of its PHP250 billion target for 2025.
In September alone, PEZA approved 36 new and expansion projects worth PHP 48.869 billion, which are expected to generate 10,312 direct jobs and USD1.113 billion projected exports. These projects are in strategic sectors: 16 in export manufacturing, nine in IT-BPM, five ecozone developments, three facilities, two logistics ventures, and one domestic-market activity, with investments strategically spread across NCR and Regions I, III, IV-A, V, VII, and XI.
For the entire nine-month period, PEZA registered a total of 215 projects, 20.11 percent higher than the 179 projects in 2024. These projects are set to generate 50,430 direct jobs, a 40.59 percent increase compared to that of last year, and is expected to generate USD4.49 billion in exports, a 78.71 percent surge over last year’s USD2.513 billion.
The manufacturing sector remains the backbone of PEZA’s growth, with notable gains in electronics (EMS-SMS), automotive and auto parts, and food processing. This sector accounts for over PHP42.4 billion in approvals from January to September 2025, reinforcing the Philippines’ position as a vital hub for advanced and diversified manufacturing in Asia.
PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said DG Panga said the growth trajectory points to the agency on track for a record-breaking year. “These approvals demonstrate enduring investor confidence in the Philippines. Backed by sustained momentum and robust investment activity, we are on track to attain our PHP 250 billion goal and strengthen our standing as a leading investment destination in Asia,” said Panga.
Notably, Japanese investors contributed the bulk of investment pledges for the period with Japanese firms committed to invest PHP14.778 billion in new and expansion projects, accounting for 9.55 percent of PEZA’s total approvals.
PEZA is a one-stop shop for export-oriented manufacturing companies. It also administers juicy incentive packages to its locators.
