By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Senior Reporter
THE BOARD of Investments (BoI) approved P278.21 billion worth of investments in September, bringing its nine-month total closer to its P1-trillion full-year target.
In a statement on Tuesday, BoI said investment approvals surged by 392.5% in September from the P56.49 billion recorded in the same month in 2025.
The investments represent 27 approved projects and are expected to create about 2,068 jobs, the agency said.
In the first nine months of the year, BoI approvals soared by 53.05% to P900.06 billion from the P588.08 billion approved in the same period a year ago.
The January-to-September pledges are equivalent to 207 projects, which will generate 21,524 new jobs.
The end-September tally already accounts for 90% of the government’s P1-trillion investment target for 2026.
“The surge in investment approvals recorded during the first nine months of 2026 reflects growing investor interest in the Philippines as a premier destination for growth and expansion,” Trade Secretary and BoI Chairman Maria Cristina A. Roque was quoted as saying in a statement.
The electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply industry accounted for 82.23% of the nine-month approvals at P740.14 billion, up by 75.2% from a year ago. These investments are expected to create 1,903 jobs in major hydropower, wind, solar, and other energy projects.
As of end-September, approved investments in real estate activities stood at P46.66 billion, transportation and storage at P36.47 billion, information and communications at P18.36 billion, and manufacturing at P14.86 billion.
Key sectors saw higher investment pledges as of end-September, the BoI said.
These include accommodation and food service activities, which grew by 265.5% to P8.13 billion during the period, while investments in water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities surged by 3,116.6% to P6.75 billion.
Investment pledges in wholesale and retail trade, which includes the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, jumped by 314.7% to P3.75 billion during the nine-month period.
The bulk (89.88%) of investment approvals came from domestic investors, which contributed P808.96 billion in the January-to-September period, BoI said.
The Cordillera Administrative Region posted the highest investment value at P218.48 billion. This was followed by the Ilocos Region (P199.75 billion), Central Luzon (P130.81 billion), Eastern Visayas (P76.84 billion), Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) Region (P58.37 billion), and Metro Manila (P49.88 billion).
Among all regions, Caraga recorded the fastest growth in investment approvals at 1,731.5% to P16.94 billion. Western Visayas followed with a 296.5% increase to P42.77 billion, while the Ilocos Region recorded a 136.6% jump in pledges to P199.44 billion.
Meanwhile, foreign investments accounted for about 10% of approvals as of end-September.
Singapore emerged as the top source of investment pledges with P42.71 billion or 46.9% of the total.
South Korea followed with P27.44 billion in investment commitments, China with P4.07 billion, Japan with P3.11 billion, the Netherlands with P2.15 billion, Australia with P1.57 billion, and the United States with P1.33 billion.
Trade Undersecretary and BoI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said the agency is optimistic that investor momentum will continue until yearend.
“The strong approvals recorded thus far demonstrate not only the resilience of the Philippine economy but also the interest of investors in the country’s long-term growth prospects,” he was quoted as saying.
Sought for comment, Reyes Tacandong & Co. Senior Adviser Jonathan L. Ravelas said the increase in investment approvals reflects investors’ focus on the Philippines’ long-term potential.
“Despite geopolitical headwinds, investors remain focused on long-term opportunities rather than short-term noise,” he said in a Viber message.
“The surge was largely driven by energy, infrastructure, logistics, and digital economy projects, reflecting confidence in the Philippines’ growth potential and reform agenda,” he added.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the Philippines’ young, working population continues to attract investor interest.
The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that as of 2024, about 66.7% of the country’s population, or 74.95 million Filipinos, were of working age.