The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it has already achieved 72 percent percent of its investment registration target this year with project approvals already hitting PHP216.46 billion in the first eight months this year.
“Reaching more than 72 percent of PEZA’s annual target in only eight months shows that investor confidence in the Philippines is translating into real commitments. Our job now is to move these projects forward quickly and ensure their benefits reach more Filipino workers and communities,” Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, who is also chairman of PEZA, said during the PEZA Board Meeting on August 20, 2026.
DTI Secretary and PEZA Chairperson Cristina Roque presiding the monthly PEZA Board meeting on August 20, 2026.
For his part, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said, “These results are a clear vote of confidence in the Philippines’ capacity to compete for high-value investments. With PHP216.46 Billion already approved, we are building stronger production and export capabilities, creating more jobs, and deepening our integration into global value chains. We will sustain this momentum and continue turning investor confidence into tangible economic opportunities for Filipinos.”
Panga noted that surpassing 72 percent of its annual target in just eight months further highlights the Philippines’ growing strength as an investment destination. “We will use this momentum to push further, attract more high-value investments, expand our export capacity, and create more quality jobs for Filipinos. With four months to go, PEZA remains relentless in turning investor confidence into lasting economic opportunities for the country,” DG Panga said.
January-August approvals
Panga reported that during their August 20 Board meeting alone, the PEZA Board approved 22 new and expansion projects worth PHP64.565 billion, 334.13 percent up from the PHP14.872 billion approved in August 2025.
For the seven month period, PEZA registered a total of 196 new and expansion projects, up 9.50 from 179 projects in the same period last year.
The approved projects are projected to generate USD6.604 billion in exports and create 26,994 direct jobs nationwide.
Manufacturing continued to lead PEZA’s investment portfolio accounting for 80 of the 196 approved projects from January to August 2026. This was followed by 31 ecozone development projects, 30 IT-BPM, 19 for facilities, 15 for logistics, 15 export-oriented projects for domestic market, 4 tourism, and 2 utilities, reflecting the diverse range of industries expanding and establishing operations within Philippine economic zones.
Geographically, 161 of these projects are to be located in Luzon, 23 will be created in the Visayas, and 12 in Mindanao, supporting PEZA’s push for more balanced regional development while reinforcing established industrial corridors.
Investor confidence likewise remained broad-based, with the Philippines emerging as the top investment source, followed by the Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Thirty-four of these projects were classified as big-ticket investments worth a combined PHP193.713 billion, reflecting sustained investor confidence in large-scale, long-term operations in the country.
Among these, nine big-ticket projects worth PHP62.05 billion were greenlighted in August. These include two facilities enterprises with combined investments worth PHP35.39 Billion to be located in Tarlac; two EMS-SMS projects with combined investments worth over PHP3 billion to be created in Laguna; and a billion-peso export-oriented enterprise to venture into domestic market to be located in Tarlac. Meanwhile, four ecozone development projects with combined investments worth PHP22.39 billion will soon rise in Cavite, Bataan, Davao del Sur, and Cebu.
In addition, ecozone reports for the first half of the year recorded actual exports of USD32.89 billion, 2.35 percent higher compared to the same period last year, with actual direct employment totaling to 1.82 million or 1.56 percent higher than that in H1 2025.
