Investment approvals at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) skyrocketed in April, jumping to P63.9 billion from just P4.6 billion in the same month last year. The surge was driven by 26 newly approved projects, signaling strong investor confidence in the country’s economic zones.
The robust April performance pushed PEZA’s total investment approvals for January to April 2026 to P109.4 billion, up 72 percent from P63.5 billion during the same period in 2025, underscoring sustained investor interest despite global economic uncertainties.
“The rise in the number of approved investments emphasizes PEZA’s pivotal role in catalyzing inflows and sustaining the country’s economic momentum amid external volatility,” said PEZA Director-General Tereso Panga. He added that the agency remains optimistic about continued growth in the second quarter as it streamlines processes and supports both new and expanding locators.
From January to April, PEZA approved 104 projects, a 21 percent increase from 86 projects a year earlier, with expected exports of USD2.601 billion and 16,117 direct jobs.
Manufacturing led approvals with 42 projects, followed by ecozone development, IT-BPM, logistics, and infrastructure facilities, reflecting ongoing industrial diversification.
Regionally, CALABARZON led with 15 projects, followed by Central Visayas and Central Luzon, while activity in the Visayas and Mindanao continues to grow, aligning with PEZA’s push for balanced regional development.
Notably, PEZA also approved five large-scale projects worth P60 billion, spanning EMS-SMS manufacturing, tourism development, logistics, and ecozone expansion in Baguio, Clark, Cebu, Iloilo, and Tarlac.
Panga highlighted that shifting global supply chains and the rise of “friend-shoring” are driving multinational firms to seek stable, integrated production hubs. He said the Philippines is positioning itself to capture these opportunities through policy alignment and investor-friendly reforms, strengthening its role in emerging regional value chains.
