Philippine investment pledges reached P1.92 trillion in 2025, a slight dip from the P1.96 trillion recorded the previous year as foreign commitments dropped to their lowest level in three years, government data showed on Thursday.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that foreign investment pledges fell to P272 billion last year, down from P546 billion in 2024 and the record P889 billion seen in 2023.
Despite the annual decline in foreign participation, the fourth quarter of 2025 saw a massive surge in total activity, with combined domestic and foreign approvals hitting P1.10 trillion.
Domestic investors dominated the fourth-quarter landscape, contributing P0.99 trillion or 90.6 percent of the total. While the capital value of projects rose, the expected job creation saw a downturn. Projects approved in the final quarter are projected to generate 48,227 jobs, a 13.6-percent decline from the 55,843 positions expected in the same period in 2024.
Energy projects remained the primary driver of investment for the full year. The electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply industry attracted P991.61 billion, accounting for 51.6 percent of all 2025 pledges. Real estate followed with P327.45 billion, while transportation and storage took P230.71 billion and manufacturing secured P215.38 billion.
In the fourth quarter alone, foreign investments rose 79.1 percent year-on-year to P103.33 billion. The Netherlands emerged as the top source of foreign capital during the quarter with P33.05 billion, followed by Japan with P17.88 billion and Singapore with P17.66 billion.
The energy sector continued to lead foreign interest in the fourth quarter, capturing P49.41 billion. Manufacturing and the information and communication industry followed with P34.68 billion and P4.76 billion respectively.
Geographically, the CALABARZON region remained the preferred destination for overseas capital, receiving P46.85 billion or 45.3 percent of the fourth-quarter foreign pledges.
Central Luzon followed with P35.36 billion, while the newly-established Negros Island Region secured P7.79 billion.
