MANILA, Philippines – โ President โFerdinand Marcos โJr. has enacted a new law โextending teh maximum lease โฃperiod for private lands โto foreign investors to 99 years, a move aimedโ at attracting increased foreign investment intoโ the Philippines. Republic Act (RA) 12252, signed โon September 3, 2025, amends theโข existing Investors โขLease Act (RA 7652) to provide a more stable and predictable environment for international businesses.
The โขlegislation allows foreignโ investors with registered projects to lease โprivate landsโข for up to 99โ years. However, the President retains the authority toโค shorten theโค lease term for projects within “vital services or industries considered as critical infrastructure,”โฃ citing national security concerns as justification. Leased land must be used solely for the โapproved investment โคproject and beโค proportionate to its needs.
to ensure enforceability, all contracts must be โregistered with the โRegistry of Deeds and annotatedโค on the landS title. โThis provision is designed to bolster investor confidence by guaranteeing โthe security and longevity of their investments.Registered contractsโข are protected from alteration or cancellation except โขthrough formal legal proceedings.The passageโข of RA 12252 โrepresents a significant step โคtowards liberalizing the โฃPhilippine economy and attracting long-termโค foreign capital, which officials hope will spur economic growth and job creation. โThe previous Investors Lease Act had limitations that some โขinvestors found restrictive, hindering larger, long-term projects. โคThis new law seeks to address those โconcerns and position the Philippines as a more competitive destination for foreign investment in Southeast Asia.