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The Philippine Economic Zone Authority approved a total of P309.629 billion of investments from January to October 2026, already surpassing its full-year investment approvals target of P300 billion
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The latest figure also represents a 76.56% year-on-year increase, and involves 240 new and expansion projects expected to generate US$9.124 billion in exports and create 38,815 direct jobs for Filipinos
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With the current performance, PEZA said it is set to beat the all-time investment high of P311.9 billion recorded in 2012 during the Aquino Administration
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) approved a total of P309.629 billion of investments from January to October 2026, already surpassing its full-year investment approvals target of P300 billion.
The latest figure also represents a 76.56% increase from the P175.365 billion approved during January-October 2025.
“This is a significant milestone for PEZA and our country. Surpassing our P300-billion investment target ahead of year-end reflects the confidence investors continue to place in the Philippines,” PEZA director general Tereso Panga said in a statement.
“Our priority now is to sustain this momentum and help translate these investment commitments into actual operations, more exports, and high-value employment for Filipinos,” Panga added.
Beating the 2012 record
With the current performance, PEZA said it is set to beat the all-time investment high of P311.9 billion recorded in 2012 during the Aquino Administration. PEZA said it is confident that it will set a new investment record this year-end as it receives more inquiries and interest from potential investors.
From January to October 2026, the PEZA Board approved 240 new and expansion projects expected to generate US$9.124 billion in exports and create 38,815 direct jobs for Filipinos.
The substantial increase in approved investment value underscores the scale of business opportunities entering the pipeline, PEZA noted. These projects span export manufacturing, information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), facilities, economic zone development, logistics, domestic-market enterprises, utilities, and tourism sectors.
READ: PEZA approves P297B investments in 9 months, aims to beat annual record
Taiwan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia remain among the leading sources of foreign direct investment in PEZA zones, reflecting the country’s continued engagement with key regional and international markets.
“Our investment performance is not measured by project count alone. These results show that the Philippines can capture a larger share of global investment as companies look for competitive production and export locations. By building on our international partnerships and improving the ease of doing business in our economic zones, we can attract investments that strengthen local supply chains, support technology transfer, and create more opportunities even for Filipino enterprises to participate in the economy,” Panga said.
October approvals
For October alone, the PEZA Board had greenlit 18 new and expansion projects with total investments of P12.487 billion. These projects are expected to generate $178.203 million in exports and create 5,484 direct jobs.
The October approvals will bring investment activity to key economic centers across Luzon and the Visayas. Fifteen projects are located in Luzon, including six in the National Capital Region (NCR), eight in CALABARZON, and one in Central Luzon. The remaining three projects are in the Visayas region, with two in Cebu and one in Iloilo.
PEZA said the geographic spread of these projects reinforces the role of economic zones in supporting investment activity across key growth centers. Beyond attracting capital, new and expanding businesses can generate demand for local services, logistics, infrastructure, and suppliers, creating opportunities for surrounding communities to participate in economic growth, it added.
READ: PEZA aligns strategies with 2026 investment priority plan
To sustain the momentum, PEZA said it recognizes the need to provide responsive support for businesses navigating an evolving and challenging economic environment. The agency said it will continue working with locators and prospective investors to resolve operational and regulatory bottlenecks to help businesses maintain and expand their operations in the country.
“While we have exceeded our target, we recognize that businesses continue to face cost pressures and economic uncertainties,” Panga noted.
He said PEZA remains committed to working closely with locators and prospective investors to address operational concerns, streamline processes, and help them sustain and expand their presence in the country.
“Supporting our investors also means protecting existing jobs and creating opportunities for more Filipinos,” Panga pointed out.
