MANILA — Investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) surged in the first four months of the year, rising by 72 percent to more than ₱100 billion compared with the same period last year, as ecozones continued to attract capital amid global economic uncertainty.

PEZA said it approved ₱109.43 billion worth of investment pledges from January to April, significantly higher than the ₱63.52 billion recorded in the same period in 2025.

The approved projects cover 104 new and expansion ventures, all of which are eligible for fiscal and non-fiscal incentives as well as streamlined government processing.

Combined, the projects are projected to generate up to $2.60 billion in export revenues and create 16,117 jobs.

By sector, manufacturing accounted for the highest number of approved projects with 42. This was followed by ecozone development with 19 projects, while information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) and facilities development each recorded 12 projects.

PEZA said the top foreign investors during the period came from the Netherlands, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, and Taiwan.

“These figures reflect our resilience even as the global economy navigates a complex period of recovery,” PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said.

“While we remain mindful of the prevailing global headwinds and supply chain pressures, the Philippines continues to offer a sense of stability for capital,” he added.

Panga said the country’s ecozone framework remains attractive to investors seeking a predictable and efficient regulatory environment amid shifting global trade conditions.

He noted that global trade and investment continue to face uncertainty due to supply chain disruptions and rising fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions, including the conflict between the United States and Iran.

“While these external shifts present new complexities, the Philippines’ commitment to institutional stability and investor-friendly reforms serves as a powerful magnet for long-term capital,” he said.

In April alone, PEZA-approved investments reached ₱63.90 billion, a significant increase from ₱4.58 billion in the same month last year. The agency said this marked a year-high for monthly approvals.

Of the 26 projects approved in April, five were large-scale investments that accounted for ₱60.02 billion, or nearly 94 percent of the total.

PEZA said it remains optimistic about sustaining its growth momentum in the coming months, with an investment approval target of ₱300 billion for the year.

Panga added that the agency is working to align its strategies with evolving global market conditions to maintain investor confidence.

He said developments linked to the US-Iran conflict also present opportunities to strengthen intra-ASEAN trade and expand cooperation in sectors such as energy, renewables, and agriculture.