SEC pledges wider capital mart access

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to implement urgent reforms to streamline procedures, lower transaction costs and enhance transparency, thereby supporting a more inclusive and efficient capital market.

“The SEC stands ready to deliver on this mandate with urgency, integrity and accountability,” SEC chairperson Francis Lim said over the weekend. 

“Likewise, we call on all capital market participants to join the SEC in enhancing the global competitiveness of our markets. Through collaboration and a firm commitment to reform, we believe that we can create a financial sector that both local and international investors can trust,” Lim added. 

The SEC opened a Public Assistance and Complaints Desk last week at its headquarters in Makati City to handle client inquiries, feedback and complaints. The desk operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and provides special lanes for senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities.

Simplify regulation

Lim has also instructed all SEC departments to expedite the resolution of pending applications and requests, ensuring that all requirements are necessary, consistent and simplified. The agency stated that it will continue to invest in technology to enhance accessibility and operational efficiency.

To further support market participation, the SEC has issued Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2025, which cuts by 50 percent the fees for IT-related services under a previous circular. 

The cost for plain digital copies of corporate documents, such as articles of incorporation and general information sheets, has been reduced from P750 to P375.

Lim said the enactment of the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA) is expected to support the SEC’s efforts to make investment opportunities more accessible, which in turn could encourage greater participation from Filipino investors in the capital market.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently led the bell-ringing ceremony to mark the effectivity of the CMEPA. 

“I direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to streamline its procedures, remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, and reduce transaction costs within its control,” Marcos said.