Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Securities and Exchange Commission is eyeing more reforms including making it easier to start a business in the Philippines, improve liquidity in the capital market, among many others.A Philippine Capital Market Master Plan is in the works with the Asian Development Bank. It aims to position the country as among Southeast Asia’s leading capital markets by 2030.SEC Chairperson Francisco Ed Lim said after a year in office, they have reduced regulatory costs and implemented new policies to help the capital market and they intend to do more to further deepen capital markets in the Philippines.One of the proposals is the “One Business Start Date”. This will allow companies to begin commercial operations upon securing their SEC registration or other primary regulatory license while there are still pending application with the local government unit or other agencies.Lim said, “That business can already start its commercial operations, while pending application with LGUs, SSS, BIR. I think that will be a game changer.”The SEC is also reviewing to overhaul the public offering framework, reviewing the rules on margin trading as another mechanism for improving market liquidation, doing refinements to the Personal Equity and Retirement Account, among other plans.“We will continue with our automation. We want to automate or digitalize almost everything,” Lim added.There are plans being pushed for cross-border listings, ASEAN depository receipts and greater market connectivity in ASEAN. But in order to reach this, he said the Philippines must prove to be a trusted capital market.“Some countries wanted harmonization of rules, of course not all countries are alike, similar. I think the better approach is mutual recognition. That’s why we also have to be trustful as a market so that other markets in ASEAN will accept, for example, our listing, our IPO,” he said.One of the priorities is also to push for financial literacy in the country. Lim, who revealed that he only knew about how the stock market works after college, said that financial literacy should be a core subject in school. This will allow young Filipinos to be aware and to learn more about finances including the capital market.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is eyeing more reforms including making it easier to start a business in the Philippines, improve liquidity in the capital market, among many others.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is eyeing more reforms including making it easier to start a business in the Philippines, improve liquidity in the capital market, among many others.

SEC wants PH to be among leading capital markets in ASEAN

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SEC wants PH to be among leading capital markets in ASEAN

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 25, 2026 10:57 PM PHT

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SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission

capital market

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