The administrative order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to reopen Metro Manila to new Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered IT parks and centers is expected to unlock about 1.2 million square meters of future office space, easing a growing shortage of PEZA-accredited facilities in the capital’s key business districts.
Under Administrative Order No. 45, the President lifted the seven-year moratorium on new Information Technology parks and centers in the National Capital Region, allowing PEZA to resume processing applications for IT economic zones while keeping restrictions on other ecozone types.
Property consultancy Colliers said the move comes as demand for PEZA-accredited offices continues to outstrip supply in prime business districts favored by multinational companies and IT-business process management firms.
Metro Manila currently has about 7.9 million square meters of PEZA office stock, with roughly 1.46 million square meters available for lease. However, only around 496,000 square meters of vacant space is located in major central business districts such as Makati, Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas Center.
The consultancy estimates that about 681,000 square meters of office space currently undergoing PEZA processing or application could be added to the accredited inventory once approved under AO 45.
The policy’s longer-term impact could be even greater.
Between 2026 and 2030, around 607,000 square meters of office developments are already PEZA-proclaimed, while another 604,000 square meters of planned projects may now qualify for accreditation under the revised rules.
Together, they represent roughly 1.2 million square meters of potential new PEZA office space over the next five years.
Beyond expanding supply, the order signals a shift in the government’s investment strategy. Rather than fully reversing efforts to decentralize development, the administration carved out an exception for the country’s largest technology and business hub, acknowledging that demand for high-quality office space remains concentrated in Metro Manila.
Colliers said AO 45 restores a healthier pipeline of PEZA-compliant developments, gives occupiers more location options, and encourages developers to pursue new projects, reinforcing Metro Manila’s position as the country’s leading IT and business hub while complementing investment growth in the regions.
