Manila’s New IT Park: High-Value Investment Magnet

Manila’s New IT Park: High-Value Investment Magnet

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | September 15, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The City of Manila is set to unveil its first Information Technology (IT) park, a significant development anticipated to draw substantial high-value investments following the recent lifting of a moratorium on new economic zones in Metro Manila.

Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga confirmed that Star Digital Solutions, an e-commerce marketing agency, is preparing for accreditation to establish Manila’s inaugural PEZA-registered IT park. This initiative represents a pivotal moment for the capital’s economic landscape.

“They want to be accredited as an artificial intelligence academy of PEZA, so we’re collaborating,” Panga stated, expressing strong confidence in the project’s realization. “This is for sure. A first in Manila.”

Star Digital Solutions, currently headquartered in the 16-story Manila Ecommerce Center in San Miguel, is leading this transformative project.

This proposed development is one of approximately three to five IT parks in PEZA’s pipeline seeking registration in Metro Manila. The government’s decision in late July to lift the Duterte-era ban on new ecozones in the capital has paved the way for these crucial economic boosters. Other anticipated projects include developments in Taguig’s Arca South, Ortigas’ Bridgetowne, and a Yuchengco-backed innovation hub in Makati.

Metro Manila currently boasts 178 PEZA-registered IT parks and centers, collectively hosting 1,072 locator companies and employing over 740,000 Filipinos. The new wave of IT parks, once cleared and PEZA-registered, will further expand this robust ecosystem, contributing to the agency’s 2026 target of 30 new ecozones, 20 of which have already received presidential approval.

Location within PEZA-accredited buildings is a compelling factor for many businesses, granting access to vital fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. Domestic market enterprises in Metro Manila, for example, can qualify for an income tax holiday of four to six years and enhanced deductions for five years. It’s important to note that developers of IT parks do not receive these direct fiscal incentives.

According to property consultancy Colliers, Metro Manila remains the “primary gateway” for IT-BPM firms expanding into the Philippines, accounting for approximately 70 percent of IT-BPM office transactions in the first quarter. The launch of Manila’s first IT park is expected to solidify this position, driving further growth and innovation within the sector.