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Foreign investment commitments approved by the country’s investment promotion agencies grew by 52.3% in the first quarter of 2026, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday.
Total foreign investment pledges stood at P42.64 billion, up from P27.99 billion in the same period last year, according to the PSA. It said that seven out of 15 investment promotion agencies reported foreign investment approvals during the period; namely, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Board of Investments, Clark Development Corporation, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Clark International Airport Corporation, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
South Korea was the top source of investment commitments accounting for 59.5% or P25.37 billion of the total. Singapore followed with P3.18 billion or 7.5% of the total, while China contributed P2.54 billion or 5.9%. Arts, entertainment, and recreation sector had the largest share to total foreign investment pledges, amounting to P10.38 billion or 24.4%. This was followed by manufacturing with P9.08 billion or 21.30% and accommodation and food service activities with P9.07 billion or 21.28%.
Among the regions, the PSA said Central Luzon received the highest share of total foreign investment pledges, amounting to P33.08 billion or 77.6% of the total. It was followed by CALABARZON with P3.00 billion or 7.0%, then by the National Capital Region with P2.13 billion or 5.0%.
“The total approved investments from both foreign and Filipino nationals in the first quarter of 2026 reached P125.95 billion, a 30.8% decline from the P181.97 billion reported in the same quarter of 2025. Of the total approved investments, Filipino nationals contributed P83.31 billion ,” the PSA said. The agency said projects related to electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply industry continued to have the largest share, accounting for P29.58 billion or 23.5% of the total approved investments.
This was followed by accommodation and food service activities with P24.03 billion or 19.1%, and manufacturing with P21.89 billion or 17.4%.
“Approved investments for the first quarter of 2026 are expected to generate a total of 21,623 employment, reflecting a 31.9% decline from the 31,758 employment expected in the same period of 2025. A total of 13,108 employment is projected to be generated from approved projects with foreign interest,” the PSA said. —LDF GMA News
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