Investment approvals by the Board of Investments (BOI) climbed sharply in February, fueled by strong activity in energy and a surge in foreign capital.
The agency greenlit P36.5 billion worth of projects during the month, up 27.2 percent from P28.7 billion a year earlier and a steep 217 percent increase from January 2026, according to data released Sunday, April 5.
This pushed total approvals for the first two months of 2026 to P47 billion, alongside a marked expansion in project volume.
Approved projects reached 35 from January to February—up 338 percent from just eight in the same period last year—pointing to a robust and accelerating investment pipeline.
Domestic investors continued to dominate, accounting for P44 billion of total commitments. However, foreign investments posted the fastest growth, soaring 943.4 percent to P3.1 billion from only P300 million a year ago, signaling renewed global interest in the Philippine market.
By sector, energy—particularly renewable projects—led the pack with P22.4 billion, representing 47.7 percent of total approvals.
Accommodation and food services followed with P7.6 billion, while real estate, mainly mass housing, drew P6.4 billion. Manufacturing secured P5.3 billion, and transportation and storage, including port projects, attracted P3 billion.
Singapore emerged as the top source of foreign investments, contributing P1.8 billion, largely tied to a solar energy project.
Other notable contributors included China, Canada, Australia, and the United States.
Regionally, Central Luzon captured the largest share of approved investments at P21.5 billion, followed by Central Visayas and the National Capital Region.
The strong February performance highlights sustained investor confidence, particularly in sectors such as energy and infrastructure that are seen as critical to long-term economic growth.
