The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) expects to generate 100,000 additional high-quality jobs in 2026 as sustained investor expansion cements its role as a primary employment generator.
PEZA director-general Tereso Panga said the agency supports more than 1.8 million direct jobs across its ecozones nationwide.
The projected manpower increase this year will be led largely by expanding operations in the IT-BPM and manufacturing sectors as locators scale up capacity and new investments come online.
For 2026, the agency is targeting P300 billion in investment approvals following solid gains in 2025. This expected inflow of fresh capital is intended to translate into new hiring, specifically within high-value and export-oriented industries.
Beyond urban centers, the agency is pushing ecozone development to accelerate countryside industrialization.
By dispersing investments across various regions, PEZA expects to unlock employment opportunities in provincial areas, strengthen local supply chains and promote more balanced economic growth.
Despite global headwinds and domestic challenges, Panga said PEZA remains a stable and competitive platform for investors.
He attributed this resilience to streamlined processes, performance-based incentives and strong public-private collaboration.
