Bloomberg | 6 September 2025Philippines gives 99-year land lease to boost foreign investment
[MANILA] The Philippines has allowed foreigners to lease land for up to 99 years, as the South-east Asian nation seeks to lure investors with longer-term property contracts.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr this week signed the law liberalising the lease of private lands by foreign investors, according to a copy posted on the government’s Official Gazette. It amends a 1993 act, which allows lease contracts for 50 years, and renewable once for up to 25 years.
The measure aims to encourage investors to build industrial estates and factories as well as tourism and agriculture projects in the archipelago.
It puts the Philippines in a better position to compete in the regional race for investments, where countries such as Thailand offer better infrastructure, according to David Leechiu, head of Leechiu Property Consultants.
“This should open up a massive amount of investment capital from foreign parties. This should propel projects such as hotels that will boost tourism,” Leechiu said, adding that the law gives companies more time to recover their investments.
Net foreign direct investments into the Philippines fell 26.9 per cent to US$3 billion from January to May, data from the Philippine central bank showed.
Many countries in South-east Asia, including the Philippines, restrict foreign ownership of land, but governments allow multi-decade leases.
The new law also allows the Philippine president to impose a shorter lease period for investors engaged in vital services or industries considered as critical infrastructure for national security or priorities for national development.
Marcos this week also signed a law aimed at boosting state revenue from large mining operations through a profit-based tax system that miners say may help attract fresh investments.
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Philippine Revolution Web Central
by Ang Bayan Ngayon
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) farmers denounced the enactment of RA 112252, which allows foreigners to own and use land in the Philippines for up to 99 years. The law amended the Investors’ Lease Act, which previously allowed foreign ownership of land for up to 50 years. The law also permits foreigners to sublease land to other foreign or local entrepreneurs. Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed the law on September 3.
“The law surrenders Philippine sovereignty and domestic interests at the altar of foreign big business and a few domestic big landlords,” the KMP stated. Farmers called it “an outright betrayal” of the interests of Filipinos and a threat to the rights and welfare of millions of landless people.
The law will result in intensified land grabbing, especially as landlords and businesses rush to claim large parcels of land to offer to foreign investors.
“This means more evictions, harassment, and violence, especially against peasants, fisherfolks, indigenous peoples, and urban poor,” the KMP said.
The group added that the law will also cause widespread land speculation, including agricultural land that should be devoted to food production. Farmers are calling for land to be given to farmers and Filipinos, not to foreigners.
