The Securities and Exchange Commission is encouraging micro, small, and medium enterprises across the country to formally incorporate their businesses to access larger capital markets and secure long-term growth.
Speaking to small business leaders, SEC chairman Francis E. Lim emphasized that major corporations often start as modest operations, noting that the next major Filipino enterprise could easily originate from a local shop, home business, or online store. Lim assured entrepreneurs that the agency views itself as a growth partner rather than just a regulatory body, committing to lower operating costs through digitalization, faster processing times, and discounted fees.
The initiative targets a critical sector of the national economy. According to data from the United Nations Development Programme, small and medium enterprises make up more than 99 percent of all businesses in the Philippines and generate employment for over 60 percent of the national workforce.
To ease the financial burden on these smaller enterprises, the commission has introduced significant cost-cutting measures over the past two years. The SEC slashed corporate document request fees by half in 2025 and increased that discount to 75 percent this year, saving businesses nearly 211 million pesos in corporate data fees as of mid-2026.
Additionally, the regulatory agency offers a 20 percent discount on initial corporate registration fees for qualifying businesses, alongside a 25 percent discount on amendments to articles of incorporation for capital stock increases. Combined, these registration discounts have saved small business owners approximately 149 million pesos.
Agency leaders highlighted that the money saved on regulatory requirements can be directly reinvested into core operations, allowing owners to purchase equipment, expand inventory, upgrade technology, or hire additional staff to scale their businesses.
