SEC holds caravan to boost support for MSMEs

​The SEC fully opens its doors to the public through the “Juan with SEC CARAVAN” in celebration of the MSME Development Week from July 9 to 11 at the SEC Headquarters in Makati City.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reinforced its initiatives to strengthen support for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by bringing its services closer to businesses during the celebration of the MSME Development Week.

From July 9 to 11, the SEC held the “Juan with SEC CARAVAN: Service, Education, and Capital Raising for every Juan,” aimed at empowering MSMEs to develop their businesses, in line with the commitment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration to promote the welfare of MSMEs.

Gathering over 600 attendees, the three-day caravan provided MSME participants with learning sessions on business growth strategies, direct assistance on concerns, and an avenue to showcase their products and services.

“You, the MSMEs, represent over 99% of businesses in the country, and provide more than 60% of jobs nationwide. You are not just participants in our economy. You are its lifeblood—community builders, job creators, innovators,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said in his keynote message.

“We in the SEC know that access to finance remains a major hurdle. A 2023 ADB study found that most microenterprises, and even over half of SMEs, have no access to formal credit. This is where the capital market becomes your ally. It opens doors beyond traditional bank loans. It can help you raise the funds you need to expand, innovate, and compete globally,” he added.

Caravan activities

Led by the SEC Office for the Advancement of Strategic Investments in SMEs, the caravan featured the Juan Knowledge Series which involved presentations and panel discussions on the policies and programs of the SEC, including business registration, sustainability reporting for SMEs, and spotting investment scams to protect their financial security.

The Commission also partnered with other government agencies and private institutions to discuss how MSMEs can raise funds through the capital market and alternative financing options, such as crowdfunding.

These partners included the Department of Trade and Industry, Small Business Corporations, National Development Company, Manila Angel Investors Network, Eastern Securities-RoundOne, and DragonFi Securities, Inc., the first accredited Personal Equity and Retirement Account administrator under the SEC.

During the caravan, the Commission also set up the Juan-on-One Helpdesk, or public information and assistance booths, to expand and strengthen its face to-face frontline services. The helpdesk directly addressed the inquiries and concerns of the MSME participants regarding SEC processes, digital services, and capital-raising options.

MSMEs were also provided booths at the venue to promote their products and services to customers and potential investors through the Juan Negosyo Lane.

Driving MSME growth

Under the leadership of Mr. Lim, the SEC has strengthened its commitment to implementing reforms that will improve the ease of doing business and encourage wider participation of MSMEs in the capital market.

Starting in July, the Commission has reduced the fees charged for copies of corporate documents by 50% through the SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2025, providing greater access to corporate data.

A policy that will lower more fees for SEC-related transactions, such as the filing fees for capital raising, is also being finalized to support small businesses who plan to raise capital from the markets, according to Mr. Lim.

To reduce red tape and accelerate the application process, the SEC will increase the number of industries qualified to use the One Day Submission and Electronic Registration of Companies (OneSEC) facility, from the current 33 sectors, allowing more companies to register with the SEC in under a day.

The Commission has also approved a resolution to deem all pending applications approved, subject to certain conditions, to clear its backlogs on company registrations, increases in capital stock and entry of new investors. This will address the over 26,000 pending applications with the SEC, most of which are from MSMEs.

In addition, Mr. Lim said the SEC will actively promote Republic Act No. 11057, or the Personal Property Security Act, which allows the use of receivables as collaterals, enabling businesses to get cash to fund their operations by discounting such receivables with a bank or financing company.

“We look forward to seeing more MSMEs not just surviving, but thriving—and, one day, taking the next big leap by listing on our SME Board,” Mr. Lim said.