The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unveiled on Tuesday its fourth wave of digital initiatives, launching six new digital platforms and a modern data center aimed at streamlining regulatory processes and enhancing service delivery as part of its commitment to improving the ease of doing business in the Philippines.
The move marks a significant step in the SEC’s ongoing digital transformation, which began seven years ago under chairman Emilio B. Aquino. “Our push for digitalization—a core component of sustainability—allows us to fulfill our mandate under the Ease of Doing Business Act,” Aquino said during the launch. “By relying on technology, the SEC makes its services easier, faster, and more secure.”
Among the newly launched systems is HARBOR (Hierarchical and Applicable Relations and Beneficial Ownership Registry), designed to improve transparency by enabling secure submission and updating of beneficial ownership data. VERITAS (Verification of Electronic Records and Information Trust and Authentication System) facilitates real-time signing and approval of corporate documents by multiple parties.
The EASE platform provides an alternative submission channel for corporations under dispute status, while eWATCHnotifies corporations of reportorial deadlines and flags late or non-submissions. Internally, the SEC rolled out a Document Management System (DMS) to boost traceability and auditability of official records, and a Workflow Management System (WMS) to streamline operational workflows across departments.
Supporting these platforms is the SEC’s newly inaugurated data center, a secure in-house facility housing records, applications, and servers. Aquino said the data center would centralize operations, enhance data security, and enable quicker, more efficient public service delivery.
“This will pave the way for quicker transactions, better access to services, and stronger data security that will benefit our stakeholders,” Aquino added.
The latest digital wave underscores the SEC’s long-term strategy to align local regulatory practices with global standards, reinforcing its role in driving ease of business in the country through innovation and technology.
