The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has surpassed its P300-billion investment target for 2026 and is nearing its highest annual investment approvals in 14 years, with two months left in the year.
PEZA approved P309.629 billion in investments from January to October, just P2.271 billion below the P311.9-billion record set in 2012 under the Aquino administration, according to the agency.
The latest tally marks a 76.56-percent increase from the P175.365 billion recorded in the same period last year, putting the agency within reach of a new annual high. However, the record remains to be broken, with year-end approvals still to come.
PEZA Director General Tereso Panga attributed the performance to sustained investor confidence, pointing to continued inquiries and interest in expansion projects.
“Surpassing our P300-billion investment target ahead of year-end reflects the confidence investors continue to place in the Philippines,” Panga said.
He said the agency’s next priority is to translate approved investments into operating facilities, export revenues and high-value jobs — outcomes that will determine how much of the investment pipeline feeds into actual economic activity.
The PEZA Board approved 240 new and expansion projects in the first 10 months of the year. These are projected to generate USD9.124 billion in exports and create 38,815 direct jobs.
Taiwan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore and Indonesia ranked among the leading sources of investment.
In October, PEZA approved 18 projects worth P12.487 billion, with projected exports of USD178.203 million and 5,484 direct jobs. Fifteen projects are located in Luzon, while the remaining three are in Cebu and Iloilo.
Panga said PEZA would continue working to address regulatory bottlenecks and operating costs to speed up project implementation and help protect existing employment.
While the investment approvals signal a strong pipeline of prospective economic activity, the agency’s ability to convert commitments into operational projects, exports and jobs will be a key measure of whether the surge translates into sustained gains for the economy.
