TOTAL Foreign Investments (FI) approved in the Philippines during the first quarter of 2025 reached P27.99 billion, marking an 82 percent decline compared to the P155.26 billion approved in the same period of 2024, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.
Seven out of 13 Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) reported foreign investment approvals during the quarter, including the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Board of Investments, Clark Development Corp., Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
South Korea emerged as the top source of FI pledges, accounting for P12.36 billion (44.2 percent) of the total approved FI. The United States of America followed with P3.08 billion (11 percent), and China with P2.88 billion (10.3 percent).
The real estate sector attracted the largest share of foreign investments, amounting to P10.79 billion (38.5 percent), followed by manufacturing with P6.14 billion (21.9 percent) and administrative and support service activities with P5.35 billion (19.1 percent).
Central Luzon received the highest share of foreign investment pledges, totaling P14.90 billion (53.3 percent), while the National Capital Region received P6.78 billion (24.2 percent) and Calabarzon, P3.95 billion (14.1 percent).
Total approved investments from both foreign and Filipino nationals in the first quarter of 2025 reached P181.93 billion, a 43.7 percent decrease from the P323.27 billion reported in the same quarter of 2024. Filipino nationals contributed P153.94 billion, representing 84.6 percent of the total approved investments.
The electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply industry attracted the largest share of total approved investments, with P61.98 billion (34.1 percent), followed by manufacturing with P38.24 billion (21 percent) and real estate activities with P34.98 billion (19.2 percent).
Total approved investments from both foreign and Filipino nationals in the first quarter of 2025 are expected to generate 31,848 jobs, a 4.7 percent decrease from the 33,431 jobs projected in the same period of 2024. Projects with foreign interest are expected to generate 19,303 jobs (60.6 percent of the total). / KOC