The final leg of the Roadshow on Capital Formation for MSMEs and Startups was held by the Office for the Advancement of Strategic Investments in SMEs (OASIS) on Jan. 28 at The SEC Headquarters in Makati City.
Launched in February 2023 in Davao City, the roadshow has covered 21 key cities, including Baguio, Tarlac, Legazpi, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga. It engaged over 3,000 onsite participants and 60,000 online attendees.
Access to financing tools
The initiative aimed to empower MSMEs through access to financing tools like crowdfunding and initial public offerings (IPOs), the SEC said in a statement.
“Catering to the needs of MSMEs, especially their access to capital, has always been a priority of the Marcos administration,” SEC Chair Emilio B. Aquino said, emphasizing the importance of expanding financing options for small businesses facing credit constraints.
The Metro Manila event featured panel discussions on crowdfunding, led by industry leaders like Charmaine Co of Round One and Arnold Bufi of Tipaklong Sustainable Mobility Corp. IPO-focused sessions included insights from Philippine Stock Exchange COO Roel A. Refran and MerryMart CFO Hannah Yulo-Luccini.
The other speakers were Makati City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay-Campos, SEC OASIS Officer-in-Charge Anna Rose M. Harshwardhan, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry chair George T. Barcelon.
Interest in capital markets
According to the SEC, the success of the nationwide roadshow has allowed it to surpass its 888@88 goal in 2024, achieving more than 888 companies, both large firms and MSMEs, tapping the capital market by its 88th year in November 2024.
“The SEC continues to see growing interest in the capital market among MSMEs,” the Commission said, noting that 361 companies have tapped crowdfunding intermediaries for 1,212 number of projects as of Dec. 31, 2024. These companies were able to raise P2.243 billion in fresh capital.
It said at least 358 more companies have signified their interest in crowdfunding activities.
The SEC is also actively monitoring 16 potential IPO candidates, underscoring its commitment to helping businesses unlock growth through capital market access. —Ed: CSN
