What to Check in PEZA-Registered Office Buildings in Quezon City

A listing that says "PEZA-accredited" tells you little until you know three things: whether the floors you would occupy are covered, whose registration your arrangement depends on, and which permits and inspections your fit-out needs. This checklist covers each, with the Philippine requirements we could verify, and then the power, telecom and tax questions that matter for a 24/7 team. Verify everything in writing with PEZA, not only with the landlord.

PEZA is the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, which registers IT-BPM and other export enterprises and requires them to operate from accredited locations. A registered business enterprise (RBE) is a company registered with PEZA. FSIC is a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate and FSEC is a Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance, both issued by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

1. Verify accreditation by building and by floor

Under PEZA's guidelines, an IT enterprise may register for incentives only if it physically locates inside a PEZA-registered IT park or building, and the park or building must be covered by the required Presidential Proclamation (DEPDev guidelines on the registration of IT enterprises and IT parks and buildings). So ask the landlord for:

1. The building's PEZA registration and the proclamation that covers it.
2. Written confirmation that the specific floors or units you would occupy are inside the registered area.
3. The date of the confirmation, because listings can be out of date.

Then confirm the same with PEZA. Published statuses in Quezon City vary. KMC lists its SM North EDSA Tower 1 floors as PEZA: yes, several Eastwood City listings describe PEZA-accredited buildings open for 24/7 operations, and OfficePro lists PEZA status for Vertis North as "to be confirmed." Treat all of these as claims to verify, not as proof.

2. Whose registration your arrangement depends on

Registration is held by your own entity. If you take space through an operator, ask PEZA in writing whether your service agreement is accepted as proof of location, and whether the workspace must be dedicated to your registered activity. Law firm and consultancy guides state that PEZA's application asks for a lease on an accredited site and that the space cannot be shared with non-registered entities without prior approval, and we could not confirm those requirements from PEZA itself. Our guide on service agreements and leases covers the question.

3. Permits and inspections for your fit-out

PEZA runs its own Office of the Building Official (OBO) for locators. Based on PEZA's published requirements, which are about 2,600 days old and should be confirmed with PEZA now:

• Building and ancillary permits. Applications for building, electrical, mechanical, electronics, plumbing and similar permits are accompanied by licensed professionals' details, the enterprise's PEZA registration documents and a letter of application. For BPO and IT offices, an occupant load density certification signed by the building administration manager is required.
• Fire safety. Under the PEZA-BFP memorandum of agreement, a BFP fire safety evaluation clearance (FSEC) is a prerequisite to the building permit, and a BFP fire safety inspection certificate (FSIC) is a prerequisite to the certificate of occupancy.
• Certificate of occupancy and permit to operate. Requirements include as-built plans, a certificate of completion and commissioning and testing reports.
• Letters addressed to the PEZA Director General for enterprises in the National Capital Region.

A 2026 fit-out guide adds that both the local government building permit and the building administrator's permit to renovate are required even in PEZA buildings. A Philippine legal commentary states that PEZA-registered enterprises usually deal with the zone authority for permits and taxes, but that practice varies by zone and activity, and that the building owner holds the occupancy permit while tenants obtain fit-out permits. These sources differ, so ask the building administration and PEZA exactly which permits your floor needs, from which office, and in what order.

4. Occupant load and layout

Ask the building administration what occupant load density it will certify for your floor, and have your designer plan to it. Building-stated densities vary. PEZA's permit checklist requires the certification for BPO and IT offices, so settle the seat count early. Our guide to shift-work layouts explains how seat count differs from headcount.

5. Power, cooling and telecom for 24/7 teams

1. What does the backup generator cover: your floor's lighting, outlets and air conditioning, or only common areas? "100% backup power" in a listing is not a contract term.
2. How many generators serve the building, and is it N+1? What happens to your floor if one fails?
3. What is the transfer time, and what UPS (battery backup) do you need?
4. What hours of cooling does the fee cover, and how is overtime cooling billed?
5. Which carriers have a point of presence, and do their cables enter by separate routes?
6. Is there space in the riser for your carrier's fiber, and what are the approval times?
7. Are engineering and administration staffed around the clock, and what is the response commitment?

Our guides on 24/7 access in Alabang and Ortigas explain how these charges work.

6. Tax and incentive questions for your adviser

PEZA incentives depend on your registration and your compliance, and they change. Ask a Philippine tax adviser:

1. Which incentives apply to you now, and when does any income tax holiday end and the 5% special corporate income tax on gross income begin?
2. How is VAT treated on your rent and service fees, and what documents will the landlord or operator issue? We could not verify a "zero-rating on lease rentals" rule, so do not assume one.
3. How does the current remote work limit affect your seat count? The CREATE MORE Act allows registered enterprises up to 50% remote work, and FIRB Resolution No. 005-2026 approved up to 90% during the 2026 energy emergency, with penalties for firms that exceed their agency's limit (Cebu Daily News, 2026). Confirm what applies to you.
4. Which city permits and taxes still apply to you in Quezon City?

Documents to request before you sign

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