Pasay City – The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) opened 2026 with solid investment momentum, approving 18 new projects during its first Board meeting of the year, reflecting sustained investor confidence in the Philippines as a competitive and reliable destination for export-oriented investments.
The approved projects, comprising 13 locator enterprises and five ecozone developers—underscore a forward-looking investment mix focusing on exports, regional expansion, and long-term industrial development.
Total approved investments for January reached PhP 12.86 billion, with projected exports of US$59.74 million and 1,005 jobs, reaffirming the Philippines’ active role in regional and global value chains.
PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said, “Investors today are taking a more deliberate approach—prioritizing resilience, efficiency, and long-term value. What is encouraging is that the Philippines continues to offer stable fundamentals that allow export-oriented investments to move forward with confidence.”
January 2026 Board Approvals
The PEZA Board, led by Trade Secretary and PEZA Board Chair Cristina Roque, greenlit the 18 projects approved in January, reflecting a geographically balanced investment footprint and reinforcing PEZA’s commitment to inclusive growth beyond traditional industrial hubs.
“These approvals reflect the continued confidence of investors in the Philippines’ long-term growth story and our ability to deliver a stable, predictable, and competitive investment environment,” Roque said.
“By encouraging investments that are export-oriented and geographically diverse, we are strengthening the foundations for inclusive growth and ensuring that more regions benefit from global trade and economic opportunities,” she added.
New investments span key growth corridors across CALABARZON, covering Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas, as well as strategic urban and emerging locations in the National Capital Region, including Parañaque City, Quezon City, and Marikina.
Outside Luzon, approvals extend to Cebu, Camarines Sur, Misamis Occidental, and General Santos City, highlighting continued investor interest in regional expansion supported by PEZA’s ecozone framework.
Notably, investments from key international markets—including Japan, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore, and China—were recorded during the month, with Japan emerging as PEZA’s leading source of approved investments for January.
Big-Ticket Approvals
January’s approvals were anchored by three large-scale projects, reinforcing confidence in PEZA’s medium- to long-term development pipeline.
A major tourism ecozone enterprise with an investment value of more than PhP 5 billion was approved for establishment in Parañaque City, supporting the country’s efforts to strengthen high-value urban tourism, hospitality, and services exports within integrated and sustainable ecozone developments.
This was complemented by two ecozone development projects located in Misamis Occidental and Batangas, with a combined estimated investment of PhP 5.9 billion. These developments will expand PEZA’s registered land bank in the regions and ensure the availability of future-ready industrial and commercial spaces for export-oriented enterprises seeking locations outside Metro Manila.
Steady Direction Amid Adjustment and Transition
As investment strategies continue to evolve, PEZA views the current environment as a period of measured adjustment rather than withdrawal. Investors remain engaged in the Philippine market, taking a more thoughtful approach to timing and scale while continuing to prioritize efficiency, export capability, and long-term positioning.
“Resilience is built not just in times of expansion, but in how economies navigate transition. What we are seeing today is a steady recalibration—one that keeps the Philippines firmly in investors’ long-term plans,” Director General Panga noted.
Looking ahead, PEZA remains focused on sustaining investor confidence through policy stability, ease of doing business, and the continued competitiveness of its ecozones.
Targeting PhP 300 billion investments and 100,000 new jobs for 2026, the Director General reassured, “We are realistic about the environment, but we are equally confident in our direction. With a robust pipeline and consistent investor engagement, PEZA is well-positioned to work toward achieving our target for this year.” END
For further information on the release, please get in touch with:
DTI-IPG-Philippine Economic Zone Authority
8-10F Double Dragon Center West Bldg.,
DD Meridian Plaza, Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City
Trunkline: (+632) 8551.3436 to 37
Email: info@peza.gov.ph
Website: www.peza.gov.ph