More than 50 pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing-related locators have invested at least PHP18 billion and created over 31,700 jobs in various economic zones in the country.
Tereso O. Panga, director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), said this momentum is expected to grow further as projects registered in 2025 are expected to start mobilizing operations.
Approved pharmaceutical-related investments in 2025, include projects by Victoria Pharma Park II, Zen Lifesciences Inc., International Vitamin Corporation Philippines, and P. IMES Corporation. These projects have combined total investment of PHP4.653 billion.
DG Panga said PEZA is already fast-tracking the development of a competitive pharmaceutical and healthcare ecosystem in collaboration with the critical partners like the Department of Trade and Industry and the Food and Drug Administration.
Notably, dedicated pharma ecozones are now currently being developed in Tarlac, Bulacan, and Laguna as a direct response by PEZA to the Directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to create Pharmazones to reduce the cost of medicines for Filipinos and eventually mold the Philippines into a Pharmaceutical exporter in the ASEAN region.
These developments are supported by the Pharmazone Guidelines issued in March 2025, providing investors with a clear and predictable framework for Lo pharmaceutical investments. Complementing this, FDA also highlighted initiatives strengthening regulatory quality systems to ensure faster and safer access to medicines for Filipino patients.
Meanwhile, discussions on the Tatak Pinoy Act underscored its strategic role in enhancing the productivity and global competitiveness of Philippine industries through targeted programs designed to help Filipino firms move up the global value chain.
As the Philippines strengthens its life sciences ecosystem, partnerships among industry, regulators, and investment promotion agencies are paving the way for a more resilient and innovation-driven pharmaceutical sector.
