THE PHILIPPINES STILL cornered the least amount of foreign direct investments (FDIs) among six major economies in Southeast Asia in 2007, notwithstanding the fact that investments growth in the country already soared to a record high.

Quoting a recent survey by the Unctad, data from the Department of Finance showed that there were $2.5 billion worth of FDIs that entered the Philippines in 2007, much smaller than the numbers for its major competitors in the region.

Singapore was deemed the most preferable investment site in Southeast Asia last year, attracting $36.9 billion in FDIs. Vietnam followed with $11.3 billion. Thailand was third with $10 billion, while Malaysia got $9.4 billion. Indonesia had the second-smallest amount of FDI at $5.9 billion.

In terms of per capita FDI, the Philippines still did not make an impressive performance last year compared with its neighbors. Per capita FDI, computed by dividing the amount of FDIs by the population, measures the average share of each individual to the investments entering the country.

With the Philippines' estimated population of 83 million, per capita FDI in the country last year stood at only $30. The amount only outperformed the $27 for Indonesia, whose population was estimated at 220 million.

Singapore, which has the smallest population of only 4.4 million among the six countries, consequently got the highest per capita FDI at $8,386.

Malaysia, with an estimated population of 25 million, got $37. Vietnam, with 83 million people, recorded a per capita FDI of $245. Thailand, with 65 million people, had $154.

The survey showed that although the Philippines marked a substantial improvement in terms of cornering FDIs last year, efforts were apparently not enough to entice foreign investors.

The National Economic and Development Authority earlier said the Philippine economy last year grew at its fastest pace in three decades at 7.3 percent. Neda said the growth was partially a result of higher investments.