The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has greenlit 52 new and expansion projects with a total value of P35.37 billion during the first two months of 2026. This significant move aims to bolster ecozone investments while the agency maintains a vigilant watch on potential risks arising from escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Strong Investor Confidence and Diversification
Peza Director General Tereso Panga emphasized that these approvals reflect sustained investor confidence and underscore the agency's strategic focus on diversifying industries and expanding economic zones across various regions. "While Peza is cautiously optimistic about achieving double-digit growth in investment approvals this year, the approval of 52 projects already highlights the continued diversification of industries within our ecozones and the steady expansion of investments across the countryside," Panga stated.
Projected Economic Impact
The projects approved from January to February are anticipated to create more than 5,000 direct employment opportunities and generate $10.44 billion in projected exports. This figure marks a substantial 33.3 percent increase compared to the 39 projects approved in the same period in 2025.
Foreign investors from South Korea, Indonesia, the British Virgin Islands, China, and Japan are behind these initiatives, demonstrating a broadening investor base within Peza zones. The approvals encompass 40 locator firms engaged in manufacturing, information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), logistics, and facilities development, along with 12 ecozone development projects.
February Approvals Breakdown
In February alone, the Peza Board sanctioned 34 projects valued at P22.5 billion, which are expected to yield 4,044 direct jobs and $10.38 billion in exports. These projects include:
- 13 export manufacturing firms
- 5 IT-BPM companies
- 5 facilities development projects
- 2 logistics firms
- 1 domestic market enterprise
- 1 tourism venture
- 7 ecozone developments
These developments are spread across Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Central and Western Visayas, and the Ilocos Region. Notably, three major ventures are set to invest P18.37 billion in projects located in Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac, indicating continued expansion of economic zones in growth corridors outside Metro Manila.
Prudent Outlook Amid Global Uncertainties
Despite this robust project pipeline, Peza is adopting a prudent investment outlook due to geopolitical tensions, particularly conflicts in the Middle East, which are creating uncertainty in global markets. Panga noted that the agency is closely monitoring developments that could affect supply chains, energy costs, and investor sentiment.
Asia depends heavily on energy shipments from the Middle East, with nearly 80 percent of oil and 90 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. "I understand the uncertainty that these global challenges pose, but Peza remains confident in the Philippines’ long-term competitiveness," Panga affirmed, adding that the agency is prepared to recalibrate investment targets if global conditions shift.
