THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on Thursday said it welcomes the approval of the Board of Investments’ 2026 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP).
Signed May 21 through Memorandum Order 47, by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the latest SIPP seeks to guide government incentives, prioritize innovation, and boost job creation for Filipinos.
The plan is a significant upgrade which encourages more industry 4.0 investments and supports smart and sustainable technologies and activities to enter the country, PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said.
“This trend allows us to cope with global industry trends and recalibrate our approach from focusing on the volume of investments to prioritizing the quality, resilience, and long-term value of investments entering the country,” he explained.
The plan has a stronger emphasis on advanced manufacturing, innovation, digital infrastructure, and sustainability-oriented industries that directly complements PEZA’s mandate of promoting export competitiveness and industrial upgrading, Panga said.
The SIPP covers a three-tier framework. Tier 1 activities include modern agriculture, state-of-the-art engineering procurement and construction, mobile health care, ecological zones, and climate-related initiatives.
Tier 2 is about strategic industries including defense services, desalination, electric vehicle infrastructure, sustainable aviation fuel, and processing of critical minerals.
Tier 3 is focused on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, hydrogen and nuclear energy, and advanced research and development.
“The new SIPP is not just a tool for attracting investments, but, more importantly, a means to pursuing economic transformation,” Trade Secretary and BOI chairman Cristina Roque said.
“By listing activities eligible for incentives, government is signaling where we want to attract high-value capital, and translate these into new jobs, upskilling of workforce and improved lives for Filipinos.”
