MAKATI CITY — The lifting of the seven-year moratorium on new IT parks and centers in Metro Manila has prompted real estate developers to line up their applications for Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) accreditation, with several major projects in Makati poised to benefit from the policy shift. Administrative Order (AO) No. 45 directs PEZA to accept, process, and evaluate all applications for IT centers and parks in the National Capital Region (NCR), effectively ending the freeze imposed by AO 18 in 2019. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) called the lifting a "big win" for the IT-BPM sector and the real estate industry, as it gives companies greater flexibility in locating their operations in Metro Manila.
Makati Projects at the Forefront of PEZA Accreditation
Among the five pending applications that PEZA can now process is The Yuchengco Centre in Makati City, a project of San Lorenzo Ruiz Investment Holdings and Services, Inc. Another Makati-based development, MJ Landtrade Development Corp.'s Altaire, is also on the list. These projects are part of a broader pipeline that includes Ayala Land Inc.'s ARCA South 1 in Taguig, Aseana Holdings Inc.'s Parqal in Parañaque, and Triumvariate Development Corp.'s One Trium Tower in Muntinlupa. The renewed ability to secure PEZA status is expected to resolve leasing challenges and attract IT-BPM locators seeking incentive-eligible spaces.
A Strategic Boost for Investment and Job Creation
The policy shift has been welcomed by the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), whose president and CEO noted that AO 45 restores Metro Manila as a strategic investment hub for IT-BPM firms. "This is a timely and pragmatic policy that strengthens the Philippines' competitiveness for new investment," he said, noting that it also supports the creation of new high-quality jobs. PEZA officials emphasized that the end of the moratorium will enable the agency to respond to IT-BPM locators' evolving requirements and explore new markets like Australia and Japan. For Makati, which remains the country's largest concentration of digital talent and global delivery operations, the lifting of the IT ecozone ban reinforces its position as a premier destination for high-value, innovation-driven investments.
