Manila: Eighteen new projects worth around PHP12.86 billion have been approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Board during its first meeting this year.

According to Philippines News Agency, three of these projects are big-ticket items worth PHP11.89 billion, involving a tourism economic zone enterprise in Para±aque City, and two economic zone development projects in Misamis Occidental and Batangas. These projects span sectors such as manufacturing, IT-BPM, utilities, economic zone development, logistics, and tourism, and are expected to generate 1,005 jobs across several areas while producing about USD59.74 million in projected exports.

The projects will be strategically located in various regions including Calabarzon, National Capital Region, Central Visayas, Bicol Region, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen. PEZA noted that most of these investments come from businesses based in Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, and China.

Despite the significant approval value, the current approvals are lower than the PHP30.16 billion approved by the Board during the same period in 2025. PEZA Director General Tereso Panga commented on the current investment climate, stating that investors are prioritizing resilience, efficiency, and long-term value. He emphasized that the Philippines maintains stable fundamentals that support the progress of export-oriented investments.

Panga also highlighted the importance of building resilience not just during times of expansion but also during economic transitions, noting that the ongoing recalibration keeps the Philippines in investors' long-term plans. PEZA is targeting PHP300 billion in investment approvals this year, which could potentially create around 100,000 new jobs.