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The Philippine Economic Zone Authority approved P154.7 billion worth of investments from January-September 2025, achieving 61.9% of its P250-billion target for the year
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Japan reemerged as PEZA’s top investment source, contributing P14.8 billion or 9.55% of the total
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A flagship P9.1-billion Japanese food processing facility in Tarlac is among September’s big-ticket projects
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PEZA approved 215 projects in the nine-months period
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Other notable commitments have come from firms based in the Cayman Islands, South Korea, China, and the US
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) approved P154.7 billion worth of investments from January-September 2025, achieving 61.9% of its P250-billion target for the year.
From January to September, Japanese firms committed P14.8 billion in new and expansion projects, representing 9.55% of PEZA’s total approvals, the agency said in a press release.
The resurgence was anchored by a flagship P9.1-billion food processing facility in Aboitiz InfraCapital’s TARI Estate, which will serve both domestic and export markets, while reinforcing industrial development across the Luzon Economic Corridor.
The approved projects cover a range of strategic sectors, including 16 in export manufacturing, nine in IT-BPM, five ecozone developments, three facilities, two logistics ventures, and one domestic-market activity.
These investments are geographically distributed across key growth areas, spanning the National Capital Region and Regions I, III, IV-A, V, VII, and XI.
In September alone, 36 projects worth P48.869 billion were greenlit, expected to create over 10,300 jobs and generate $1.1 billion in exports. Eight of these were big-ticket ventures, including the Tarlac food plant and a new ecozone developer in Quezon province.
Overall, PEZA approved 215 projects from January to September, equivalent to 61.9% of its P250-billion target for the year. The figure marked a 33.5% increase from the P115.9 billion approved in the same period of 2024.
Year-on-year, PEZA also recorded stronger fundamentals: the number of projects rose 20.1%, direct jobs climbed 40.6% to over 50,000, and projected exports surged 78.7% to $4.49 billion.
READ: PEZA approves 59.1% more investments in the first half
The manufacturing sector remained the backbone of approvals, led by electronics, automotive, and food processing, which collectively brought in more than P42.4 billion in investments.
“(The Department of Trade and Industry) is advancing a more competitive Philippines. Every ecozone and enterprise approval means new jobs, broader trade opportunities, and stronger industries,” said Trade Secretary and PEZA board chair Cristina Roque.
“These investments reinforce our position as a premier hub in Asia and affirm that the Philippines is fast becoming the destination of choice for global industries,” Roque said.
PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said Japan’s renewed lead highlights the success of outbound investment missions and collaboration with private stakeholders.
“With nearly 10 percent of this year’s total project approvals coming from Japanese companies, we see undeniable proof of the Philippines’ standing as a trusted and highly competitive hub in Asia,” said Panga.
Besides Japan, other notable commitments have come from firms based in the Cayman Islands, South Korea, China, and the US, according to PEZA.
“Given the robust interest and caliber of projects underway, we are not merely on track to meet our goal, we are positioned to deliver even bigger economic wins for the country and our people as we achieve our 2025 investment targets,” Panga said.
