Despite political noise, Peza investments rise

Investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) reached P207.58 billion from January to November 2025, a slight increase from the same period last year and almost equal to the full-year total in 2024.

Peza said the figure represents a 2.99-percent rise from P201.55 billion approved in the first 11 months of 2024. It is just P6.6 billion away from matching the 2024 full-year total of P214.18 billion.

Peza Director General Tereso Panga said the increase reflects the agency’s resilience despite domestic and global headwinds.

“Even amid external shocks and a challenging global investment climate, the ecozone industry remains undeterred,” Panga said. “Our consistent growth reflects the trust of investors in the Philippines’ competitiveness coupled with Peza’s brand of service.”

The approved amount covers 281 projects recently approved as pioneer and expansion ventures, up from 239 last year.

Manufacturing dominated the mix with 134 projects, followed by IT-business process management (64), facilities (24), domestic market (23), ecozone development (21), logistics (11) and utilities (4).

These projects are expected to generate $7.39 billion in export revenues, up from $3.9 billion in the same period last year. They are expected to generate 69,737 jobs.

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Big-ticket projects made up for P167.37 billion, or 80.63 percent, of all approvals.

“Despite the headwinds, there is a bright light in Peza as they’re about to breach their 2024 performance,” said Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, who also chairs the Peza board.

Roque added that “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.”