Filinvest ramps up to ₱27.6B spending but shifts to cautious, selective expansion

From power to pixels: Why Filinvest is prioritizing energy and AI to ‘move the needle’ in 2026.

Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) is ramping up spending to ₱27.6 billion this year, up 11% from ₱24.8 billion, but the strategy behind it is tighter and more selective.

Instead of broad expansion, the focus is on critical projects while keeping costs in check as global pressures tied to the Middle East war weigh on sentiment. Around 48% of the budget is earmarked for expansion, with power taking the largest share at 40%, followed by real estate at 38% and banking at 10%.

Real estate arm Filinvest Land Inc. is shifting toward completing existing developments and turning inventory into cash, rather than rolling out new projects aggressively. It is also completing a hotel in Baguio and a wastewater treatment facility in Filinvest City, Alabang.

The ₱2.7B digital fortress

A parallel push is happening on the digital front, with ₱2.7 billion allocated for transformation efforts such as AI tools and system upgrades. The banking unit, East West Banking Corp., is set to receive ₱2.67 billion to expand its digital capabilities.

The development points to a more cautious expansion cycle. Buyers and investors may see fewer new launches and tighter supply, alongside a stronger push to sell existing inventory. Businesses, meanwhile, are likely to slow down aggressive expansion and double down on efficiency and digital systems to protect margins in a volatile environment.

 

 

FDC is playing it safe. With a ₱27.6B budget, the Gotianun-led conglomerate is prioritizing power, AI, and finishing current projects over aggressive new real estate rollouts amid global volatility.

 

 

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