PASAY CITY — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) welcomed the issuance of Administrative Order (AO) No. 45, s. 2026, which lifts the seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new Information Technology (IT) Parks and IT Centers in Metro Manila, describing the policy as a major boost to the country’s competitiveness in attracting and expanding high-value IT-BPM investments.
Signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on 23 July 2026, AO 45 allows PEZA to once again accept and evaluate applications for new IT Parks and IT Centers in the National Capital Region.
PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said the issuance resolves a long-standing policy constraint and enables PEZA to respond more effectively to the evolving requirements of the IT-BPM industry while opening new opportunities for property developers.
“We thank President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto, Trade Secretary and PEZA Board Chair Cristina A. Roque, and Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go for supporting the resolution of this seven-year issue. AO 45 is a major policy breakthrough that strengthens our ability to compete for the next wave of IT-BPM, global capability center, and other technology-enabled investments,” Panga said.
The lifting of the moratorium is particularly timely as the Philippines seeks to deepen its presence in new and relatively untapped markets for outsourcing and technology-enabled services. Beyond its traditional IT-BPM markets, the country sees significant opportunities in economies such as Australia and Japan, where there is growing demand for outsourced business services, digital operations, engineering, and other knowledge-based activities.
It will also allow developers to register and market qualified office developments as PEZA IT Parks and IT Centers, making these spaces more attractive to PEZA-registrable enterprises looking for new or expansion sites in Metro Manila.
As of this writing, five IT parks and centers in Metro Manila are already applying for registration with PEZA and will soon undergo the proclamation process. These are MJ Landtrade Development Corp.’s Altaire in Makati City; Triumvirate Development Corp.’s One Trium Tower in Muntinlupa City; Ayala Land, Inc.’s ARCA South 1 in Taguig City; Aseana Holdings, Inc.’s Parqal in Parañaque City; and San Lorenzo Ruiz Investment Holdings and Services, Inc.’s The Yuchengco Centre in Makati City.
PEZA clarified, however, that developers of these IT Parks and IT Centers will not be entitled to fiscal incentives pursuant to PEZA Board Resolution No. 00-411, as amended. Qualified IT-BPM enterprises locating in these buildings may still avail themselves of the applicable incentives under existing laws, rules, and regulations. The policy is intended to expand the supply of PEZA-registered locations for eligible IT-BPM locator enterprises without extending additional incentives to property developers.
“This allows our property developers to reposition qualified office spaces to meet the requirements of global IT-BPM companies. Developers can bring these projects into the PEZA ecosystem and market them as PEZA-registered locations, while DTI and PEZA will actively promote these spaces to potential locators looking for new or expansion sites in Metro Manila,” Panga said.
Trade Secretary and PEZA Board Chair Cristina A. Roque said AO 45 provides the Philippines with greater flexibility to compete for high-value IT-BPM investments and generate more quality employment opportunities for Filipinos.
“AO 45 is a major boost to the Philippines’ IT-BPM investment proposition. By bringing more investment-ready locations into the PEZA ecosystem, we are giving global companies more options to enter and scale their operations in the Philippines while helping generate demand for available office spaces,” Roque said.
PEZA emphasized that allowing new IT Parks and IT Centers in Metro Manila does not diminish the government’s thrust to spread investment and employment opportunities outside the capital. Instead, a larger Metro Manila investment pipeline can serve as a gateway for second and succeeding expansions into Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and other emerging growth centers.
“Many global companies first establish themselves where there is already a deep talent pool, mature infrastructure, and an established business ecosystem. As they grow, we have the opportunity to bring their succeeding sites to other parts of the country,” Panga said.
He added that the strategy complements the development of the Luzon Economic Corridor by strengthening links between Metro Manila and surrounding economic centers.
According to Colliers, Quezon City, the Bay Area, and Mandaluyong are among the locations that could benefit from the lifting of the moratorium, given upcoming office developments in these areas. PEZA likewise sees opportunities in cities such as Manila, Navotas, and Valenzuela, where qualified developments may now seek IT ecozone status.
The lifting of the moratorium also helps address the mismatch between locator requirements and existing PEZA office supply. Colliers estimates that 44% of available PEZA office space in Metro Manila is already considered aging, while occupiers requiring 5,000 square meters or more face a narrower pool of suitable PEZA-registered spaces.
“AO 45 allows us to replenish and modernize the pipeline of PEZA-ready spaces in Metro Manila and ensure that the country can meet the increasingly sophisticated requirements of new and expanding IT-BPM investors. We encourage developers—from established CBDs to emerging locations—to bring qualified IT Park and IT Center projects to PEZA. We will, in turn, actively market these locations to investors,” Panga concluded.
As of this writing, there are 178 IT Parks and Centers in Metro Manila, hosting 1,072 locator companies that collectively employ more than 740,000 Filipinos across a broad spectrum of IT-BPM activities. #