Capping a year of accelerating investment momentum, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has decisively surpassed its 2024 full-year investment milestone, recording a total of PhP237.10 billion in approved investments as of its 12 December 2025 Board Meeting—a compelling affirmation of sustained investor confidence in the Philippine economy!
Year-to-Date Performance
This year-to-date performance already exceeds the PhP214.18 billion posted in the same period last year, marking a 10.7% increase and positioning PEZA on a strong trajectory toward a record-setting close for 2025. From January to December 2025, PEZA approved 307 projects, reflecting a robust 20.39% growth compared to 255 projects approved in 2024. These approvals translated into US$10.22 billion in projected exports, more than doubling last year’s US$4.69 billion, or an impressive 117.92% increase. Projected employment likewise rose to 74,678 jobs, up 3.13% from 72,413 jobs in 2024—underscoring PEZA’s continuing role as a key generator of quality employment nationwide.
Furthermore, investment activity remained broad-based and diversified, led by Manufacturing (146 projects) and IT-BPM (67 projects), alongside Ecozone Development (26), Facilities (25), Domestic Enterprises (25), Logistics (13), and Utilities (5). Notably, PhP191.48 billion of the total approved investments came from 38 big-ticket projects, signaling strong capital commitments in strategic and high-impact industries.
December 2025 Approvals
December approvals further amplified PEZA’s momentum heading into year-end. The Board approved 26 new and expansion projects, a 62.5% increase from 16 projects in December 2024, with total investments surging to PhP 29.84 billion—a sharp 136.35% year-on-year increase. Moreover, projected exports for December alone reached US$2.83 billion, posting an exceptional 261.43% growth, while projected employment climbed to 5,183 jobs, a staggering 390.35% increase compared to the same month last year.
Driving this performance were six (6) big-ticket projects amounting to PhP24.107 billion, spanning three (3) manufacturing, one (1) domestic, and two (2) ecozone development projects—reflecting sustained expansion in both production capacity and ecozone infrastructure.
PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga underscored the significance of these gains amid evolving regional and global conditions, stating that, “Surpassing our 2024 investment milestone ahead of year-end, strongly reflects growing confidence in the Philippines as a stable, competitive, and future-ready investment destination! And as our country prepares to take on a more prominent leadership role in the region, PEZA will remain committed to ensuring that these investments translate into jobs, exports, and long-term economic value for Filipinos.”
Building Toward a Strong 2025 Finish
EZA Board officials led by DTI Secretary Ma. Christina Roque during its Board meeting on 12 December 2025
Remarkably, PEZA’s strong performance earned commendation from Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque, conveying “Congratulations to PEZA, under the leadership of Director General Theo Panga, for a job very, very well done!” She further shared that investors from different countries that are PEZA-registered have consistently expressed their commendation for PEZA’s professionalism and seamless transactions.
Meanwhile, the PhP 237.1 billion in approvals recorded to date represents only a partial figure, with PEZA set to conduct its final Board Approval Meeting on 22 December 2025. With a solid investment pipeline and accelerating year-end momentum, PEZA is much more optimistic about achieving—or even surpassing—its PhP 250 billion investment target for CY 2025.
As the Philippines prepares for its ASEAN Chairmanship, PEZA’s strong performance reinforces the country’s position as a reliable regional hub for manufacturing, services, and sustainable investments—setting the stage for an even more dynamic investment landscape in the year ahead.
