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PASAY CITY – As a result of its continued aggressive investment promotion and facilitation initiatives, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has approved a total of PhP105.834 Billion investments this year, achieving 42% of its annual target for 2025.
This comes as the PEZA Board successfully convened its first meeting in Davao last 15 August 2025 at Anflo Industrial Estate, Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said, “Investors are voting with their capital, and they are choosing the Philippines as a place to grow their businesses. By bringing the Board meeting to Davao, we are showing our commitment to spreading progress beyond Metro Manila and building an inclusive, region-driven economy.”
Performance Highlights
For the month of August, the PEZA Board, headed by Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, greenlighted 29 new and expansion projects worth PhP14.872 Billion seen to create 4,764 direct jobs for Filipinos.
As compared to last year, there’s an 8% dip in investment approvals as the PEZA Board held two meetings in August 2024. This occurrence is common especially as PEZA is mandated to convene as necessary to ensure that projects move forward without delay.
“What we’re seeing now is still a healthy, robust pipeline of projects — and with our expanded regional engagements, we expect strong growth momentum in the months ahead,” noted DG Panga.
The approved projects span a range of industries, including 16 in export manufacturing, five (5) in IT-BPM, four (4) in domestic market-oriented activities, three (3) ecozone development ventures, and one (1) in facilities. These will be strategically located in NCR and Regions III, IV-A, VII, XI, and XII.
Among these ventures, four big-ticket projects were approved, bringing in a combined total investment of PhP11.243 Billion.
Two new manufacturing ecozones are expected to be developed in Tarlac, further strengthening its position as an emerging hub in the province and is seen to become a key player in the Luzon Economic Corridor. Meanwhile, a 16-storey facility in Davao City and a steel manufacturing plant with an expanded product line in Sarangani Province are expected to further spur countryside development.
These latest approvals bring PEZA’s total performance from January to August 2025 to PhP 105.83 billion in investments — 71.54% higher than the PhP 61.69 billion recorded in the same period last year.
A total of 179 projects has been approved so far this year, up 9.82% from 163 projects in 2024. These projects are expected to generate 40,638 direct jobs, representing a 27.68% increase compared to that of last year.
Projected exports for January–August 2025 are also significantly higher at US$ 3.38 billion, up 71.25% from last year’s US$ 1.97 billion.
Year-to-date, investors from the Cayman Islands lead the investments by nationality, followed by South Korean, Chinese, American, and Dutch investors.
The PEZA Chief stated, “With the volume of interest we are receiving, and the quality of projects in our pipeline, we are confident that the coming months will not just achieve our target for the year but also bring even greater gains for our economy and our people.”
Site visit to Davao-based PEZA locators
Apart from the monthly Board meeting, the PEZA Board and Management Committee also visited several PEZA-registered companies in Davao City, Panabo City, and Digos City during its three-day visit to the province.
BEAWESOME Inc., an IT-BPM company fully owned by the Transcom Group, welcomed the PEZA delegation at its Robinsons Cyberpark Davao site last August 14 where they showcased some of their facilities supporting employee welfare and engagement.
The company emphasized its goal of not only driving business growth but also contributing to the development of Davao’s talent pool, further strengthening the city’s position as a competitive IT-BPM hub in Mindanao.
Currently, BEAWESOME’s Davao operations provide jobs to more than 1,000 Davaoeños and growing, with employees covering brands from around the globe.
The PEZA Board and Management Committee also visited the Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE) in Panabo, which is poised to position the Davao Region as a rising hub for logistics and agriculture investments. AIE currently hosts 13 operating PEZA-registered companies across agro-industry, manufacturing, and logistics services.
During the visit, AIE developer/operator Damosa Land Inc. President Ricardo Lagdameo highlighted AIE’s competitive advantages, including its EDGE-certified cold storage facility — the first of its kind in the country — its strategic proximity to the Davao International Container Terminal, and partnerships with utility providers offering competitive rates to investors.
PEZA also had the chance to tour Solaris Panabo Corp., a Filipino-owned manufacturer of silicon wafers and solar cell lights, and HEAD Sport Philippines Inc., an Austrian company producing tennis balls and rubber blocks for global export. Like other AIE locators, both firms affirmed the Philippines as their most advantageous base of operations, citing not only access to raw materials but also the talent, hospitality, and dedication of Filipino workers.
Concluding the Davao visit, the PEZA delegation visited Metro Davao Economic Zone (MDEZ) in Digos City, Davao del Sur wherein they met Digos City Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas and MDEZ Chairman Dr. Tomas Monteverde III and his team to discuss the potential of the city as an investment destination.
Mayor Cagas shared the progress of ongoing projects fueling growth and development. Notably, Digos City has been recognized as one of the Philippines’ most business-friendly local government units and currently ranks as the second most competitive component city in Davao under DTI’s Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index 2024.
MDEZ also presented their master plan for the ecozone, supporting the initiatives of the local government and further positioning Digos in the best locations to host strategic investments.
By engaging with locators and local leaders in Davao, PEZA underscored its mission to foster regional development while aligning with national growth goals. Summing up this vision, DG Panga shared: “Together with our registered business enterprises and the unique advantages of our ecozones, PEZA remains firm in its mission to make the Philippines one of the most attractive investment destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. By eco-zoning the country, we aim to advance inclusive and sustainable development, empower local communities, and position Mindanao and the rest of the world as a rising frontier for global investors.” (π)
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Source: PEZA