The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to sustain its record-breaking growth in company registrations by further expanding its digital initiatives this year.

“In 2025, we will capitalize on the success of our digital transformation journey and explore other strategies that will bring our services closer to the public to contribute to the further improvement of ease of doing business in the Philippines,” SEC chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said on Monday.

In 2024, the SEC registered 52,304 new companies, marking an all-time high and a 6 percent increase from 49,506 in 2023. This brought the total number of active SEC-registered companies to 527,710 by the end of the year.

“Digital transformation has always been one of the top priorities of the SEC to improve the efficiency of our services. Surpassing the 50,000 mark in company registrations serves as a testament that we are on the right track in encouraging entities to legitimize their operations through registration with the Commission,” Aquino said.

Stock corporations comprised 75 percent, or 39,146, of the newly registered companies, while non-stock corporations made up 21 percent, or 10,782. The remaining 5 percent, or 2,376, were partnerships.

Highest growth

One-person corporations saw the highest growth, rising by 27 percent to 8,640 in 2024 from 6,794 in 2023.

Metro Manila accounted for the largest share of new business registrations, with nearly 40 percent, or 20,231, of the total. Region IV-A (CALABARZON) followed with 8,226 (16 percent), while Region III (Central Luzon) registered 6,141 (12 percent).

The services sector dominated new registrations at 86 percent, or 44,872 companies, with the wholesale and retail trade, as well as the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles segment, contributing 12,479 new registrants.

The SEC has set registration records for three consecutive years, following the launch of its digital transformation program in 2020.