Malacañang has lifted the moratorium on the expansion of IT economic zones in Metro Manila, allowing more information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) firms to locate in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Administrative Order (AO) No. 45, issued on July 23, 2026, amended AO No. 18, which was issued in 2019 and imposed a ban on the expansion of IT centers and IT parks in Metro Manila as part of efforts to spur economic activity in the provinces and decongest the capital.
In lifting the moratorium, AO 45 said allowing the establishment and expansion of IT centers and IT parks in the NCR would attract more investments, generate more jobs, and strengthen Metro Manila’s position as the country’s leading information and communications technology hub.
The order also seeks to expand employment opportunities by promoting investments that enhance productivity, in line with the Marcos administration’s 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda.
With the moratorium lifted, AO 45 directs the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to evaluate and process all applications for IT centers and IT parks in Metro Manila.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which chairs the PEZA Board, said AO 45 is a major policy reform that will further strengthen the country’s position as a premier global destination for digital services.
“By reopening the NCR to new IT ecozones and targeted expansion, we are addressing long-standing investor demand, unlocking significant real estate opportunities, and revitalizing the ecosystem that drives our country’s digital economy,” said DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque.
Roque said the policy positions PEZA to generate thousands of high-quality jobs, attract foreign direct investments, and support economic growth nationwide. She also invited global partners and prospective investors to take full advantage of the renewed momentum and build their future in the Philippines.
