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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider PEZA's 11-month investment pledges breach ₱200 billion despite November plunge

PEZA's 11-month investment pledges breach ₱200 billion despite November plunge

Published Dec 9, 2025 02:11 pm
Investment pledges registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) breached the ₱200-billion mark from January to November, just around 20-percent short of its conservative target for the year.
In a statement, PEZA said investment approvals rose by three percent to ₱207.58 billion in the first 11 months from ₱201.55 billion in the same period last year.
These pledges, which eventually translate into actual developments within ecozones, cover a total of 281 new and expansion projects.
Combined, the projects are estimated to create 69,737 jobs and generate up to $7.39 billion in projected exports.
The manufacturing sector received the highest share of approved projects during the 11-month period, with a total of 134 projects, or nearly half of the total haul.
Other leading sectors include information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) with 64 projects, the facilities sector with 24 projects, and the domestic sector with 23 projects.
In terms of investment source, PEZA said Japan was the leading foreign investor during the period, followed by Cayman Islands, South Korea, China, and the United States (US).
PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said the continued upswing in investments this year affirms the investment promotion agency’s (IPA) strategic focus on fostering projects in emerging industries and the success of its foreign roadshows.
Ultimately, he said this also reflects the robust confidence of investors in the country’s ecozone system.
“Even amid external shocks and a challenging global investment climate, the ecozone industry remains undeterred. Our consistent growth reflects the trust of investors in the Philippines’ competitiveness coupled with PEZA’s brand of service,” he said.
Foreign and domestic investors register their projects with PEZA to enjoy fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, alongside streamlined business processes and other benefits.
However, for November alone, investments approved by PEZA plunged by 59 percent to ₱32.21 billion from ₱77.79 billion in the same month last year.
These investments cover 38 new and expansion projects, which are expected to generate $1.74 billion in exports and 9,802 new jobs.
Despite the November decline, PEZA Board Chair and Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said a bright spot for the month was the approval of five big-ticket projects with a proposed cost of ₱27.26 billion.
Four of these projects will manufacture electronic and pharmaceutical products, while one is dedicated to ecozone development.
“Investment acquisition is on stream as we enter 2026, and remains bullish on the upcoming investment prospects into the country as we create more ecozones,” said Roque.
With less than a month left in 2025, PEZA-approved investments have now achieved more than 80 percent of its lower-end target of ₱250 billion for the year.
Panga earlier said he is confident that PEZA will reach this goal given the pipeline of projects still under review.
If the IPA reaches this number, approved investments for this year would be 17-percent higher than last year’s record of ₱214.17 billion.
PEZA previously set a higher-end target of ₱300 billion for 2025.
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