The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has delivered a powerful performance for 2025, exceeding its annual investment target by a significant margin and reaching its highest level of approvals in nearly a decade.
A Record-Breaking Year for Investment Approvals
Official data released by the agency shows that Peza approved a total of P260.89 billion worth of investments this year. This figure not only surpasses the P250 billion goal set for 2025 but also represents a substantial 21.91 percent increase from the P214.18 billion recorded in 2024. This marks the highest investment haul for the agency since 2016.
Peza Director General Tereso Panga, in a statement issued on Wednesday, celebrated this achievement. He highlighted that the 2025 approvals now rank as the sixth highest in the agency's history, a feat accomplished "despite global headwinds and economic challenges."
"Peza has defied the odds as it sustained its upward investment growth trajectory, anchored on the continued trust and confidence of investors in the Philippines, and most especially, in our ecozones," Panga stated.
Projects, Jobs, and Future Targets
The impressive investment value covers a total of 314 new and expansion projects, which is 23.14 percent more than the 255 projects approved the previous year. These ventures span a diverse range of critical sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM)
- Logistics and Utilities
- Facilities Development
- Domestic Market Enterprises
- Tourism
- Economic Zone Development
Among these, Peza identified 41 big-ticket projects with a combined worth of P210.9 billion. Collectively, all approved projects for the year are projected to generate up to $11.52 billion in export revenues and create an estimated 78,741 direct jobs for Filipinos.
Building on this strong momentum, Director General Panga announced an even more ambitious goal for the coming year. Peza is now aiming for P300 billion worth of investment approvals in 2026.
Final Board Meeting Seals Major Deals
In its last meeting for the year on December 22, the Peza Board, chaired by Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, gave the green light to several significant projects. The board approved seven new and expansion projects valued at P23.69 billion.
These recently approved projects alone are expected to create 3,821 direct jobs and produce $1.304 billion in exports. Three of them are classified as big-ticket investments, with a combined value of P23.12 billion, and notably include an ultra-luxury hotel brand.
Separately, during the same meeting, the Peza Board also approved an additional P29.62 billion worth of investments outside the main Peza-approved project pipeline.
"Building on this momentum, we remain focused on strengthening our ecozone ecosystem, expanding high-quality investments, and creating more jobs for Filipinos, as we position Peza for sustained growth and greater opportunities in the years ahead," Panga concluded, outlining the agency's forward-looking strategy.
