Pharma firm invests P1.2B in Tarlac ecozone
A Filipino-owned pharmaceutical company is investing P1.2 billion to establish operations in a special economic zone in Tarlac, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) said on Wednesday.
Peza approved the registration of Zen LifeSciences Inc. —which specializes in medical, wellness and general health-care products—as an export-oriented enterprise.
This allows Zen LifeSciences to avail of incentives for Peza-registered firms. These include an income tax holiday of four to seven years and an option of a 5-percent special corporate income tax or enhanced deductions for up to 10 years.
The project will be located at the Luisita Industrial Park Special Economic Zone in Tarlac.
Zen LifeSciences is expected to begin commercial operations in January 2027 and generate at least 90 jobs.
“By locating in a PEZA ecozone, this project will not only help ensure a stable supply of quality, locally made health products here and abroad, but also create meaningful employment and economic opportunities for communities in Tarlac and nearby areas,” said Peza Director General Tereso Panga.
Panga signed the registration on Jan. 19 with Zen LifeSciences president Maximo Balajadia.
The investment expands Peza’s pharmaceutical footprint in Tarlac.
In 2025, Peza broke ground on the Zen Industrial Pharma Ecozone. It is a manufacturing plant for sterile injectables and biopharmaceuticals. It is the country’s first production plant certified by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Peza said Zen LifeSciences’ registration aligns with the government’s push to reduce reliance on imported medicines.
According to the Board of Investments, the country has only 46 local pharmaceutical manufacturers, compared with about 650 importers as of 2025.
The Philippine pharmaceutical industry is projected to grow 4.1 percent annually through 2029 from its current valuation of $4.5 billion.
Foreign investments are expected to provide a boost to the Philippines’ standing as a potential regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.
For instance, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. last year announced plans to invest more than P7 billion in the country’s first pharmaceutical innovation hub.
