Total foreign investment (FI) pledges went up by over 50 percent in the first quarter of the year, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
The PSA said foreign investments approved during the period amounted to P42.64 billion, up by 52.3 percent from the P27.99 billion recorded last year.
These investment pledges were from seven Investment Promotion Agencies: 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 biggest source of investment pledges amounting to P25.37 billion. Singapore followed with P3.18 billion and China with P2.54 billion.
The PSA said arts, entertainment and recreation had the largest share to total foreign investment pledges, amounting to P10.38 billion. This was followed by manufacturing with PHP9.08 billion and accommodation and food service activities with P9.07 billion.
Among the regions in the country, Central Luzon received the highest share of investment pledges amounting to P33.08 billion, followed by Calabarzon with P3 billion and National Capital Region with P2.13 billion.
Meanwhile, total investment pledges of foreign and Filipino nationals amounted to P125.95 billion, down from the P181.97 billion recorded in the same quarter of 2025.
The PSA said a total of 13,108 employment is projected to be generated from approved projects with foreign interest. (PNA)
