PEZA steadies investor confidence amid shifting economy

The Philippines remains open for business, and Filipino talent continues to support investors in creating value.

- MARGAUX A. ADVINCULA

Strengthening investor confidence means creating an environment that is secure, predictable, and competitive. At the 4^th SGV Tax Symposium held on 23 October 2025, with the theme “From Compliance to Confidence: Trust, Transformation and Transparency,” Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga spoke about the role of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), particularly PEZA in driving investment through tax reform and digitalization.

PEZA AND POLICY REFORM

IPAs like PEZA drive investments by implementing regulatory reforms and accelerating digital transformation. PEZA oversees 431 economic zones that host more than 4,000 companies in the electronics, information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industries, with investors from Japan, the US, the Netherlands, and others.

Mr. Panga emphasized the importance of the 2024 Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act, which extends tax incentives for up to 27 years and clarifies value-added tax zero-rating procedures, building on the CREATE Act of 2021. The CREATE Act, as amended by CREATE MORE, is a landmark tax reform, which introduced the presidential power to grant a special incentive package for up to 40 years. According to Mr. Panga, this set of reforms “gives investors renewed confidence by offering one of the most generous and competitive incentives packages in the region, where businesses can truly thrive.”

PEZA'S TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN INITIATIVES