The regulator made the call during the "Juan with SEC Caravan: Oportunidad Para sa Pag-Asenso ng Negosyo ni Juan," held from July 21 to 23 at the SEC headquarters in Makati City in line with the 2026 MSME Development Week celebration. More than 600 business owners participated in the three-day event.
The caravan featured discussions on company registration, good corporate housekeeping, regulatory compliance, and ways for businesses to access the capital market to finance expansion.
Growth access
During the event, the SEC also assisted entrepreneurs with its online services and other transactions while providing a venue for MSMEs to showcase their products and services. It likewise encouraged collaboration among government agencies and private sector partners to strengthen MSME development.
SEC Chair Francis Lim said many successful corporations began as small businesses, urging entrepreneurs not to underestimate their potential.
"Every large corporation was once a small business… So never underestimate where you are today. The next great Filipino enterprise may begin in a sari-sari store, a home-based business, an online shop, or a family business represented in this very room," Lim said.
He stressed that the commission aims to be more than a regulator by making it easier for businesses to operate through lower costs, digitalization, faster processing, and more accessible services.
Lower Costs
The MSME sector accounts for more than 99 percent of all businesses in the Philippines and employs over 60 percent of the country's workforce, according to a 2020 report by the United Nations Development Programme Philippines.
Recognizing the sector's importance, the SEC has introduced measures to reduce regulatory burdens and compliance costs.
In 2025, the Commission cut the cost of corporate document requests by 50 percent. This year, it increased the discount to 75 percent, resulting in nearly P211 million in corporate data fee discounts as of June 2026.
The SEC has also provided a 20-percent discount on corporate registration fees for MSMEs and a 25-percent discount on amendments to articles of incorporation involving increases in capital stock. Combined, these incentives have generated about P149 million in registration fee discounts for the sector.
Lim said the savings allow entrepreneurs to redirect resources toward business expansion instead of regulatory expenses.
"Instead of paying higher regulatory fees, that money can now be used as additional capital—to buy equipment, expand inventory, improve technology, or hire more employees. That is what we mean when we say that the SEC is your partner in your growth," he said. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
