Pasay City, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), under the Marcos administration, has successfully steered the country’s ecozone development, securing over PHP 66 billion in new and expansion investments by May. This significant achievement, realized through the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), underscores the Philippines’ continued rise as a competitive and future-ready investment destination in Asia.

DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque stands behind a podium, speaking into a microphone. She is wearing a blue outfit with puffed sleeves and a Philippine flag pin on her chest. The background is dark with blurred golden decorations, reflecting a formal setting during the announcement of PHP 66 billion in ecozone investments in Pasay City, Philippines.

“The continued rise in investments affirms the Philippines’ position as a competitive and future-ready destination in Asia. Backed by the strong leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we are accelerating ecozone growth to generate jobs, empower industries, and contribute to a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’—where prosperity is shared and progress reaches every Filipino,” said DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque.

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga speaks into a microphone while seated at a table with documents and beverages, in front of a banner displaying the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) logo. The setting reflects a formal event related to the DTI-led ecozone investment drive that secured PHP 66 billion by May 2025.

Echoing this sentiment, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga reported that from July 2022 to present, the PEZA Board, under Secretary Roque’s leadership, has approved 694 new and expansion projects amounting to PHP 574.438 billion. These projects are expected to create over 160,000 jobs nationwide, reaffirming our role in driving the country’s growth.

Despite the severe impact of the pandemic, the PEZA remarkably rebounded from a four-year decline in 2022 and returned to its 2018 performance level. Contributing to the overall economic progress, the PEZA not only met its 2024 investment approval target, achieving PHP 214.18 billion in investments.

This positive momentum persists in 2025, with the PEZA already achieving 28% of its annual target. As of May 2025, the PEZA Board, under the guidance Secretary Roque and DG Panga, has approved 102 new and expansion projects, which brought in above PHP 66 billion worth of investments.

Additionally, the Philippines has emerged as a favorable investment destination in ASEAN, leading to sustained foreign direct investment (FDI) from countries like South Korea, America, China, and Japan. This is notably linked to the country’s newly signed free trade agreement with South Korea and the evolving China+2 strategy in the region.

The CREATE MORE Act also significantly spurred investor interest by enhancing fiscal incentives for export- and domestic-oriented enterprises. This law establishes a more competitive, transparent, and performance-based incentive framework, making the Philippines a more attractive location for global investors seeking long-term, stable operational bases.

In addition to its investment achievements, the PEZA has maintained its place in the “Billionaire’s Club” of government-owned and controlled corporations, remitting over a billion pesos in dividends to the national government year after year. From 1995 to 2022, the PEZA contributed PHP 10.82 Billion in dividends. Since President Marcos Jr. assumed office, the PEZA contributed PHP 3.688 Billion, including over PHP 1.3 billion combined dividends in 2023 and 2024.

These achievements are even more remarkable given the PEZA, as a non-financial, investment promotion agency, operates with just over 600 employees. It manages over 400 economic zones nationwide and supports more than 4,000 locator companies, all while remaining fiscally self-sustaining.

“We remain true to our quest of eco-zoning the Philippines towards inclusive and sustainable development. The ecozones will continue to serve as eco-shields to soften the landing of the headwinds, the external constraints, and all these global disruptions, and shall be drivers of continued economic recovery and growth,” said DG Panga.

The DTI continues to strengthen its initiatives to position the country as the smart investment destination in the region, ultimately contributing to the Marcos Jr. administration’s goal of an upper-middle-income “Bagong Pilipinas”where nobody is left behind. ♦

Date of Release: 02 June 2025

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