The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) said investment approvals continued to accelerate in January to July, driven largely by manufacturing projects and export-oriented investments despite lingering global trade and geopolitical uncertainties.
The total approved investments reached P151.901 billion during the period, a 66.99-percent increase from P90.961 billion in 2025.
The Peza Board approved 174 new and expansion projects, up 16 percent from 150 projects approved in the same period last year.
‘The first seven months of 2026 demonstrate that investor confidence in the Philippines remains strong. More importantly, we are seeing investments that are increasingly export-oriented, technology-driven, and aligned with the country’s long-term industrial development goals,’ Peza Director General Tereso Panga said.
The approved projects are projected to generate $5.905 billion in exports, almost three times the $2.003 billion recorded in the same period last year, or a 194.82-percent increase. They are also expected to create 26,047 direct jobs.
Manufacturing remained the largest investment segment, accounting for 76 approved projects. It was followed by 28 information technology-business process management (IT-BPM), 26 ecozone development, 15 facilities, 13 logistics, 10 domestic market, four tourism and two utilities projects.
By location, 141 projects will be established in Luzon, 22 in the Visayas and 11 in Mindanao.
The Netherlands emerged as the biggest investment source during the period, followed by South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Germany.
Peza said its overall performance was supported by 25 big-ticket projects worth a combined P131.661 billion, accounting for nearly 87 percent of total approved investments from January to July.
For July alone, the Peza Board approved 17 new and expansion projects worth P11.212 billion, lower than the P18.599 billion approved in the same month last year.
Despite the lower investment value, the agency said that the July-approved projects are expected to generate $2.538 billion in exports, up 241.12 percent from $744 million a year earlier, while projected direct employment edged up to 2,907 jobs from 2,891.
The July approvals consisted of six export manufacturing projects, four IT-BPM enterprises, three domestic market enterprises, two ecozone development projects, and two facilities projects.
Four big-ticket projects worth P8.818 billion accounted for nearly 79 percent of the month’s approved investments.
‘While monthly investment values naturally vary depending on the mix of projects approved by the Board, what matters is that the investments entering our ecozones continue to strengthen the country’s export base, create quality employment, and position the Philippines deeper within global value chains,’ Panga said.
PEZA expects the latter half of 2026 to see more investment leads turning into actual projects, boosting production capacity, exports and jobs.