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The Board of Investments approved P900 billion worth of investments for the first nine months of the year, a 53% year-on-year increase and already 90% of the P1-trillion full-year target
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In September alone, investment approvals reached P278.21 billion, nearly five times the P56.49 billion recorded in September 2025
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BOI said the approvals reflect sustained investor interest across a broad range of sectors, particularly energy, infrastructure, logistics, digital industries, and tourism-related activities
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Domestic investors continued to account for the bulk of investment approvals, contributing P808.96 billion, which was also a 60.5% year-on-year increase
The Board of Investments (BOI) approved P900.06 billion worth of investments for the first nine months of the year, a 53.05% year-on-year increase and already 90% of the P1 trillion full-year target.
The 207 projects approved from January to September 2026 are expected to generate 21,524 jobs for Filipinos, BOI said in a statement.
In September alone, investment approvals reached P278.21 billion, nearly five times the P56.49 billion recorded in September 2025. The monthly figure represented a 392.5% increase and covered 27 approved projects projected to create at least 2,068 jobs.
Trade Secretary and BOI chair Cristina Roque said hitting the P900-billion investment approvals with a full quarter still remaining proves the effectiveness of reforms to improve the country’s business environment.
“The surge in investment approvals recorded during the first nine months of 2026 reflects growing investor interest in the Philippines as a premier destination for growth and expansion. The DTI through BOI will continue pursuing investments that advance our industrial capabilities, drive technological innovation, and generate high-value employment nationwide,” Roque said.
Top sectors
BOI said the approvals reflect sustained investor interest across a broad range of sectors, particularly energy, infrastructure, logistics, digital industries, and tourism-related activities, underscoring interest in the country’s long-term growth prospects.
Notably, the electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply industry remained the main driver of the investment approvals, accounting for P740.14 billion, or 82.23% of the total approved investments. This highlights the continued momentum of investments in the country’s energy sector.
Investment approvals in the sector rose by 75.2% from P422.34 billion in the first nine months of 2025 to P740.14 billion during the same period in 2026. These projects are expected to generate 1,903 jobs, representing a 71.6% increase from 1,109 jobs recorded a year earlier. The sector’s performance was driven by the approval of major hydropower, wind, solar, and other energy projects.
Other leading sectors included real estate activities with P46.66 billion in approved investments, transportation and storage with P36.47 billion, information and communication with P18.36 billion, and manufacturing with P14.86 billion. Investments in the information and communication sector nearly doubled, posting a 96.47% increase from the previous year.
Several sectors also posted significant gains.
Accommodation and food service activities grew by 265.5% to P8.13 billion, while water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities surged 3,116.6% from P209.73 million to P6.75 billion. Wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, increased by 314.7% to P3.75 billion.
READ: BOI-approved investments in 2025 reach P1.56T
Domestic investors continued to account for the bulk of investment approvals, contributing P808.96 billion, or 89.88% of the total approved investments. This represented a 60.5% increase from P503.95 billion during the same period in 2025.
By region
Among regions, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) attracted the highest level of approved investments at P218.48 billion, followed by the Ilocos Region with P199.75 billion, Central Luzon with P130.81 billion, Eastern Visayas with P76.84 billion, CALABARZON Region with P58.37 billion, and the National Capital Region with P49.88 billion.
Caraga registered the fastest growth, with investments rising 1,731.5% from P924.7 million to P16.94 billion. Western Visayas posted a 296.5% increase, from P10.79 billion to P42.77 billion, while the Ilocos Region recorded 136.6% growth from P84.41 billion to P199.44 billion.
Foreign investor interest likewise remained robust, with several of the Philippines’ key investment partners significantly increasing their commitments during the period.
Foreign investments reached P90.40 billion as of September 2026. Singapore remained the top source of foreign investments with P42.71 billion, accounting for 46.9% of total foreign investment approvals, followed by South Korea with P27.44 billion, China with P4.07 billion, Japan with P3.11 billion, the Netherlands with P2.15 billion, Australia with P1.57 billion, and the United States with P1.33 billion.
Compared with the same period in 2025, investments from South Korea increased by 10,332.7%, from P263 million to P27.44 billion; investments from Australia increased by 657.3%, from P207.9 million to P1.57 billion; while investments from China grew by 348.1%, from P908.2 million to P4.07 billion.
“As we enter the final quarter in 2026, the BOI will continue to actively promote the Philippines as a prime destination for investments. The strong approvals recorded thus far demonstrate not only the resilience of the Philippine economy but also the interest of investors in the country’s long-term growth prospects. We remain optimistic that investment momentum will continue through the remainder of the year,” said Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo.
As the nation’s primary investment promotion agency, BOI said it continues to strengthen the country’s investment climate through policy development, investment facilitation, and strategic promotion initiatives.
This year, the agency spearheaded the formulation of the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), which identifies priority sectors and activities eligible for incentives under Republic Act No. 12066, or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act, while also leading the implementation of the Green Lane for Strategic Investments to expedite the processing of high-impact projects.
READ: PH 2026 investment priority plan covers logistics, shipbuilding
