New investment roadmap seen attracting higher-value capital 

MANILA, Philippines – Business groups and investment agencies welcomed the Philippines’ new investment priority plan, saying it better aligns incentives with industries attracting global capital.

On May 22, President Marcos the 2026 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), which identifies the government’s priority industries and guides the grant of fiscal incentives under the Create More Law through 2028.

READ: Philippine investment priority plan seen ready in Q4

The new roadmap expands support for emerging industries and advanced technologies compared with the previous 2022 SIPP, which focused on manufacturing, infrastructure and basic services,

Tier III, the highest-priority category, now covers activities involving artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, hydrogen and nuclear energy, as well as advanced research and design.

Moreover, the revised plan places greater emphasis on renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuel, critical minerals, recycling, biopolymers, health-related industries and food security technologies.

Attracting investors

For Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) Director General Tereso Panga, these changes reflect a broader shift in the country’s investment strategy.

“The 2026 SIPP is a significant upgrade from the previous plan,” Panga said, adding that it allows the country to “recalibrate our approach from focusing on the volume of investments to prioritizing the quality, resilience, and long-term value of investments entering the country.”

Panga noted that advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, innovation, and sustainability supports Peza’s goal of attracting investments in semiconductors, advanced electronics, electric vehicle supply chains, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and renewable energy.

For his part, Management Association of the Philippines president Donald Lim said the revised SIPP reflects where global capital is increasingly headed.

“The revised SIPP is a step in the right direction because it recognizes that AI, advanced technologies, and digital industries will be major drivers of future economic growth,” Lim said. “It is certainly more aligned with where global investments are moving.”

Still, Lim cautioned that the policy’s success would ultimately depend on implementation.

“The challenge now is execution,” he said. “We need faster approvals, competitive incentives, and a strong talent pipeline will matter more than the priorities listed in the plan itself.”

Meanwhile, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority president and CEO Gil Taway IV said the revised SIPP also strengthens support for sectors tied to national security, food security and energy security.

BARMM Integration

Unlike the previous version, the plan also identifies priority investment areas for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, including halal industries, halal tourism and Shari’ah-compliant investments.

“As investments flow into these priority sectors, our communities, including our Indigenous Peoples, stand to gain from new jobs, expanded livelihood opportunities, skills training, and greater participation in economic development,” Taway said. 

The revised SIPP was developed by the Board of Investments (BOI) alongside other investment promotion agencies and the Fiscal Incentives Review Board. Consultations were also held with the private sector.

Sandra Recolizado, director of the BOI’s Investment Policy and Planning Service, said the general policies and specific guidelines for the revised SIPP would be finalized within the third quarter. /pai