The eight-month figure represents 42 percent of its 2025 target.
The announcement was made after the PEZA board held its first meeting in Davao on Aug. 15 at the Anflo Industrial Estate in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
“Investors are voting with their capital, and they are choosing the Philippines as a place to grow their businesses,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said.
“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.”
By the numbers
₱105.834 billion total investments approved from January–August 2025
42% of annual target for 2025 already reached
179 projects approved, up nearly 10 percent from last year
40,638 direct jobs expected to be generated, up 27.7 percent
$3.38 billion projected exports, up 71.3 percent year-on-year
August approvals
For August alone, the PEZA Board, chaired by Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, approved 29 new and expansion projects worth P14.872 billion, expected to create 4,764 jobs.
The projects span multiple industries:
16 in export manufacturing
5 in IT-business process management (IT-BPM)
4 in domestic market-oriented activities
3 in ecozone development ventures
1 in facility
Panga acknowledged an 8-percent dip in August approvals compared to last year, when the board met twice in a single month. But he emphasized that the investment pipeline remains strong.
“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,” Panga said.
Big-ticket projects
Among the approved ventures in August are the following with a combined project costs of P11.243 billion:
Two new manufacturing ecozones in Tarlac that will cement the province’s role in the Luzon Economic Corridor.
A 16-story facility in Davao City, further fueling the city’s rise as a Mindanao business hub.
A steel manufacturing plant in Sarangani Province
Year-to-date growth
PEZA’s performance marks a 71.5-percent increase in investment approvals from the P61.69 billion recorded in the same period last year.
So far, 179 projects have been approved in 2025, compared with 163 in 2024. These are expected to generate 40,638 direct jobs, an increase of more than a quarter year-on-year.
Investors from the Cayman Islands lead by nationality, followed by South Korea, China, the United States, and the Netherlands.
PEZA goes regional
Beyond approving projects, the PEZA board and management committee spent three days visiting PEZA-registered companies in Davao City, Panabo City, and Digos City.
The delegation toured Beawesome Inc., an IT-BPM company owned by the Transcom Group. Its Davao operations already employ more than 1,000 locals and continue to grow.
In Panabo, officials inspected Anflo Industrial Estate, home to 13 PEZA-registered firms in agro-industry, manufacturing, and logistics.
Developer Damosa Land Inc. showcased its EDGE-certified cold storage facility, the first in the Philippines, as well as its proximity to the Davao International Container Terminal.
Metro Davao Economic Zone (MDEZ)
The team also visited the Metro Davao Economic Zone in Digos City, where they met Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas and ecozone leaders.
MDEZ presented its master plan to host strategic investments and complement local development initiatives. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
