The January-to-September figure represents 90 percent of the agency's full-year target and a 53.05-percent increase from the same period in 2025, signaling a strong possibility that the BOI could exceed its annual goal, the DTI said in a statement.
The approvals covered 207 projects expected to generate 21,524 jobs, with investments concentrated in energy, infrastructure and other capital-intensive industries.
September alone accounted for P278.21 billion in approved investments, nearly five times the P56.49 billion recorded in the same month last year. The year-on-year surge covered 27 projects expected to create at least 2,068 jobs.
Strong momentum
Trade Secretary and BOI Chair Cristina Roque attributed the strong investment performance to government reforms aimed at improving the country's business environment and attracting investments in priority industries.
“The surge in investment approvals recorded during the first nine months of 2026 reflects growing investor interest in the Philippines as a premier destination for growth and expansion,” Roque said.
She said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the BOI, would continue attracting investments that strengthen industrial capabilities, promote technological innovation and create high-value jobs.
Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo also expressed optimism that investment momentum would continue through the final quarter.
Energy dominates
The energy sector remained the biggest contributor to investment approvals, accounting for P740.14 billion, or 82.23 percent of the nine-month total.
Approvals in electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply rose 75.2 percent from P422.34 billion a year earlier, driven largely by hydropower, wind, solar and other energy projects.
These investments are expected to generate 1,903 jobs, up 71.6 percent from the previous year.
Other major sectors included real estate with P46.66 billion, transportation and storage with P36.47 billion, information and communication with P18.36 billion, and manufacturing with P14.86 billion.
Information and communication investments increased 96.47 percent, while accommodation and food services surged 265.5 percent to P8.13 billion.
Water supply, sewerage and waste management investments also jumped to P6.75 billion from P209.73 million.
Domestic investors lead
Domestic investors continued to dominate approvals, contributing P808.96 billion, equivalent to 89.88 percent of the total.
This represented a 60.5-percent increase from P503.95 billion in the comparable period last year.
Foreign investment approvals reached P90.40 billion, led by Singapore with P42.71 billion and South Korea with P27.44 billion.
China followed with P4.07 billion, Japan with P3.11 billion, and the Netherlands with P2.15 billion.
Regional investments
The Cordillera Administrative Region attracted the largest approved investments at P218.48 billion, followed by the Ilocos Region with P199.75 billion and Central Luzon with P130.81 billion.
Eastern Visayas accounted for P76.84 billion, while CALABARZON recorded P58.37 billion.
Western Visayas posted a 296.5-percent increase in approvals to P42.77 billion, reflecting stronger investment activity outside Metro Manila.
Caraga registered the fastest growth, with approvals surging 1,731.5 percent to P16.94 billion.
Final-quarter outlook
With only P99.94 billion needed to reach its annual target, the BOI enters the final quarter with substantial momentum, although the timing of additional project approvals will determine whether it exceeds the P1-trillion mark.
The BOI said that while investment approvals represent planned capital commitments rather than actual investments already deployed, the nine-month performance provides a strong indication of the investment pipeline heading into 2027. —Ed: Corrie S.. Narisma
