FOREIGN investors soon will be able to avail of longer land lease terms following the signing of rules implementing Republic Act (RA) 12252.
The amendments to the Investors’ Lease Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in September, extends the lease period for private lands to 99 years from 75 for foreign investors.
“By offering longer leasehold terms, the government aims to attract a steady flow of long-term capital, advanced technology, and global expertise,” the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Thursday.
The law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) were signed last Friday.
“This new regulatory framework will officially take effect on January 4, 2026, following its publication in a newspaper on December 20,” the DTI said.
The change comes three decades after the original law’s enactment, it noted. The previous rule under RA 7652, or the Investors’ Lease Act, was 50 years plus a one-time renewal of up to 25 years.
The DTI said the IRR contained administrative safeguards that would protect both landowners and lessees, including a requirement to annotate the lease contract on the land title.
The rules will also simplify the investor journey by providing a clear, step-by-step process and establishing timelines for government agencies to act on applications, the department added.
Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, who represented Trade Secretary Christina Roque during the signing event, said the IRR marked a significant step in unlocking investment opportunities.
Roque, in the statement, said: “Our goal is to establish the Philippines as a top global investment destination.”
“This signing provides the long-term security our investors need and proves that we are serious about creating a more competitive and business-friendly nation.”
