PEZA-approved investments hit P109 billion

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May 9, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) jumped by 72 percent from a year ago despite heightened global uncertainty from geopolitical events.

In a statement yesterday, PEZA said it approved P109.43 billion worth of investments from January to April, higher than the P63.52 billion cleared in the same period last year.

The approved investments as of end-April cover 104 projects, up by 21 percent from 86 projects in the same period in 2025.

This year’s approved projects are expected to generate $2.6 billion in exports and 16,117 jobs.

Manufacturing had the biggest share in approved investments as of April with 42 projects.

This was followed by ecozone development with 19 projects, information technology – business process management  and facilities with 12 projects each and logistics with 10 projects.

Other approved projects in the January to April period cover tourism, domestic market activities and utilities.

By location, investments remained concentrated in Luzon with 86 projects, while 15 are in Visayas and three are in Mindanao.

Top sources of approved foreign investments in PEZA zones as of end-April are the Netherlands, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan, showing confidence in the country’s investment environment.

In April alone, PEZA approved investments amounting to P63.9 billion, a more than 13-fold increase from P4.58 billion in the same month last year.

The approved investments in April cover 26 projects that are expected to yield $1.7 billion in exports and provide 7,621 jobs. 

PEZA director general Tereso Panga said that these investment approvals reflect the country’s resilience even as the global economy navigates a complex environment and period of recovery.

“The rise in the number of approved investments emphasizes PEZA’s pivotal role in catalyzing investment inflow and sustaining the country’s economic momentum despite the current global volatility,” he said.

He said the agency remains optimistic that it would sustain the positive growth trajectory in the second quarter as it continues to provide a conducive environment for investments.

“While we remain mindful of the prevailing global headwinds and supply chain pressures, the Philippines continues to offer a sense of stability for capital,” he said.

He said that challenges brought about by the US-Iran conflict provides an opportunity to strengthen trade ties with Southeast Asian neighbors by establishing new supply chains and cooperation on key industries like energy, renewables and agriculture. 

“While these external shifts present new complexities, the Philippines’ commitment to institutional stability and investor-friendly reforms serve as a powerful magnet for long-term capital. We are not just observing global trends and strengthening relations with our regional neighbors; we are positioning the country to lead in the new industrial order,” he said. 

For this year, PEZA’s target is to approve P300 billion worth of investments.

Last year, investments approved by PEZA reached P261 billion.