3 days ago
Approved commitments hit P90.96B in Jan-July 2025, up 100% —PEZA
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) saw a big increase in the value of investment commitments approved in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
In a statement on Saturday, PEZA said it approved P90.96 billion worth of pledged new and expansion projects from January to July 2025, up 100% from P45.48 billion worth of green-lit investment commitments year-on-year.
The investment promotion agency said 150 newly approved and expanding projects saw a 25% increase from the 120 projects approved during the same period in 2024, 'highlighting strong investor confidence and sustained trust in the Philippines as a premier investment hub.'
The approved investments are expected to create 35,874 direct Filipino jobs, up 42.02% from the 25,259 jobs seen in the same period in 2024.
The PEZA is also projecting a 24.37% growth in exports, reaching $2.003 billion.
'This 100% surge in investment approvals in just seven months is a resounding vote of confidence in the Philippines as a competitive, resilient, and innovation-ready investment destination,' said PEZA Director General Tereso Panga.
'Investors are scaling up in our ecozones because they recognize our stable policies, world-class talent, and our whole-of-government commitment to building smarter, greener, and more inclusive growth centers across the country,' he added.
For July alone, the PEZA said it approved 17 high-impact new and expansion projects that are poised to inject P18.6 billion in investments, generate an estimated $744.06 million in annual export revenues once fully operational, and create 2,891 direct jobs for Filipino workers.
The approved projects this month span a range of industries, including 11 in export manufacturing, three in facilities development, two in IT-BPM, and one in domestic-market-oriented manufacturing.
The projects are 'strategically located' across Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, and Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, the PEZA said it remains optimistic as the Philippines continues high-level negotiations to compensate for the newly adjusted 19% US-imposed tariff on Philippine exports.
The agency said the Philippines has one of the lowest US tariff rates in Southeast Asia, as government and industry leaders are hopeful about the renewal of the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the start of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
