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The Philippine Economic Zone Authority approved 100% more investments in the first seven months of the year to P90.96 billion from P45.48 billion year-on-year
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The 150 newly-approved and expanding projects mark a 25% increase from 120 projects approved during the same period last year
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At its July 17 Board meeting, PEZA green lit P18.6 billion in new and expansion projects
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) approved 100% more investments in the first seven months of the year to P90.96 billion from P45.48 billion year-on-year.
PEZA director general Tereso Panga said the “100% surge in investment approvals in just seven months is a resounding vote of confidence in the Philippines as a competitive, resilient, and innovation-ready investment destination.”
He added that “investors are scaling up in our ecozones because they recognize our stable policies, world-class talent, and our whole-of-government commitment to building smarter, greener, and more inclusive growth centers across the country.”
The 150 newly-approved and expanding projects in the first seven months of the year mark a 25% increase from the 120 projects approved during the same period last year.
The ventures are expected to create 35,874 direct Filipino jobs — a 42.02% rise from the 25,259 jobs generated in the same period in 2024.
Moreover, PEZA posted a 24.37% growth in its projected exports, hitting $2.003 billion.
PEZA said this underscores its strategic role in driving “high-value, technology-driven, and job-generating investments” aligned with the country’s priority industries and economic roadmap.
For July alone, the PEZA Board approved 17 new and expansion projects that are set to inject P18.6 billion in investments, generate an estimated $744.06 million in annual export revenues once fully operational, and create 2,891 direct jobs, the agency said in a statement.
These include 11 in export manufacturing, three in facilities development, two in IT-BPM, and one in domestic-market-oriented manufacturing.
Located across Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, and Central Visayas, the ventures support PEZA’s mission of expanding industrial and innovation hubs, driving balanced regional growth across the countryside, and advancing the country’s overall global competitiveness.
According to Panga: “Every approved ecozone project becomes an anchor for supply chains, MSME linkages, technology transfer, and quality jobs where they are most needed. Countryside ecozone development remains a core PEZA mission — we are bringing opportunities to the countryside, ensuring growth reaches every region.”
Among the approved July projects, PEZA greenlit one major venture set to invest more than P13 billion in an advanced manufacturing expansion under the Electronics/Semiconductor Manufacturing Services (EMS-SMS) sector.
Soon to operate in Batangas, the facility will specialize in the manufacturing of computers, electronics, optical products, semiconductor devices, and other electronic components, 100% of which will be exported to the US.
With the 100% year-on-year surge, PEZA is confident in sustaining its upward growth trajectory for the remainder of the year.
The agency is converting the momentum into a strategic advantage for global manufacturers seeking a reliable China+1+1 location amid US tariff shifts, advancing a strong pipeline in electronics, EV components, healthcare IT, aerospace, and smart logistics — all backed by policy stability, globally competitive incentives under the CREATE MORE law.
“The EMS-SMS [Electronics Manufacturing Services-Semiconductor Manufacturing Services] expansion in Batangas worth above P13 billion and fully dedicated to US exports, proves how PEZA locators can diversify supply chains while ensuring quality and efficiency amid global trade shifts,” said Panga.
Following the recent US-Philippines trade deal sealed last week, PEZA remains optimistic as the Philippines continues high-level negotiations to compensate the newly adjusted 19% US-imposed tariff on Philippine exports.
READ: US resets tariff on PH exports to 19%
Led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, Trade Secretary and PEZA Board chair Ma. Cristina Roque, and the country’s economic team, the development signals a step forward in strengthening trade ties and expanding market access between the two countries, PEZA said.
As the Philippines remains among countries with lowest US tariff rates in Southeast Asia, government and industry leaders are hopeful the renewal of the US Generalized System of Preferences and the start of free trade agreement negotiations with the US will drive the country’s future growth, the agency added.
