More than P1.06 trillion in cumulative investments has poured into Philippine economic zones since 1995, cementing electronics as the backbone of the country’s manufacturing engine, according to Tereso O. Panga, director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
Speaking at the first-quarter general membership meeting of Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) at Manila Hotel on Tuesday, February 10, Panga said the ecozone-based electronics manufacturing services and semiconductor manufacturing services (EMS-SMS) sector has generated over 358,000 direct jobs — “real, tangible outcomes of focused industrial development, business innovation, and inclusive growth.”
Under the stewardship of PEZA, the EMS-SMS ecosystem now counts 471 registered enterprises, with cumulative investments reaching P1.098 trillion from 1995 to 2025 and exports hitting USD64.482 billion in 2025.
Top investors this year include SunPower Philippines Manufacturing Ltd. with P13.14 billion, Toshiba Information Equipment (Philippines), Inc. with P9.65 billion, and Ibiden Philippines, Inc. with P5.91 billion — underscoring continued confidence in the country’s high-value manufacturing play.
Electronics remain PEZA’s export powerhouse, accounting for 34 percent of approved investments and anchoring a 23 percent surge in outbound shipments to USD49 billion last year.
With global supply chains reshaping amid geopolitical tensions and tariff pressures, Panga said resilience, inclusivity and innovation are no longer buzzwords but economic imperatives.
Armed with enhanced fiscal incentives, longer land leases and digitalized processes, PEZA is targeting P300 billion in new investments in 2026, alongside 100,000 fresh jobs and 30 additional ecozones — reinforcing a trillion-peso foundation built to power the Philippines’ next innovation leap.
