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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Developers line up for Metro Manila IT ecozones after ban lift

Developers line up for Metro Manila IT ecozones after ban lift

Published Jul 29, 2026 03:51 pm
High-rise buildings in the Ortigas Business Center are seen on Wednesday, Nov. 5. In a report by Bloomberg, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index has dropped 20 percent over the past decade, ranking as the worst performer among major global benchmarks. In contrast, Asia-Pacific stocks climbed 72 percent, while Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index soared 82 percent. Photo by Santi San Juan | MB
High-rise buildings in the Ortigas Business Center are seen on Wednesday, Nov. 5. In a report by Bloomberg, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index has dropped 20 percent over the past decade, ranking as the worst performer among major global benchmarks. In contrast, Asia-Pacific stocks climbed 72 percent, while Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index soared 82 percent. Photo by Santi San Juan | MB

Real estate developers are already lining up to register their properties as information technology (IT) ecozones after the lifting of the moratorium on new applications in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters on Wednesday, July 29, that the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) can now process five pending ecozone applications following the issuance of Administrative Order (AO) No. 45.

These include Ayala Land Inc.’s (ALI) ARCA South 1 in Taguig City and San Lorenzo Ruiz Investment Holdings and Services Inc.’s The Yuchengco Centre in Makati City.

Also pending are Aseana Holdings Inc.’s Parqal, MJ Landtrade Development Corp.’s Altaire, and Triumvariate Development Corp.’s One Trium Tower.

“Now that it’s there, I have a feeling that a lot more will avail,” said Roque.

Under AO 45, the processing and evaluation of applications for IT centers and parks in National Capital Region (NCR) are exempt from the broader moratorium on ecozones under AO 18.

Issued in 2019 by the previous Duterte administration, AO 18 prohibited all applications for ecozones in NCR to encourage development in the provinces.

Under AO 45, PEZA is directed to accept, process, and evaluate all applications for IT ecozones, including the issuance of corresponding guidelines.

Roque said lifting the restrictions on IT ecozones is a “big win” for the IT and business process management (IT-BPM) sector, as it gives companies greater flexibility in locating their operations in Metro Manila.

According to the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), NCR remains the country’s largest concentration of digital talent, business infrastructure, and global delivery operations.

IBPAP president and chief executive officer (CEO) Jack Madrid said the issuance of the new AO restores Metro Manila as a strategic investment hub for IT-BPM firms.

He said the policy gives prospective and existing investors greater flexibility to establish or expand their operations in the country.

“This is a timely and pragmatic policy that strengthens the Philippines’ competitiveness for new investment,” said Madrid, who noted that it also supports the creation of new high-quality jobs.

At the same time, he said AO 45 preserves the country’s long-term commitment to countryside development.

“IBPAP remains fully committed to accelerating the industry’s growth across emerging cities nationwide,” Madrid said.

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