SEC Expands One-Day Company Registration to 81 Industries

Yasser Aureada
Sep 2
3 min read

Introduction

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has expanded its OneSEC one-day registration program, more than doubling the number of industries eligible for fast-track incorporation. From just 33 industries, the program now covers 81 sectors, resulting in a nearly 300% increase in registrations in July 2025 compared to just two months earlier.

SEC Chairperson Francis Lim emphasized the rationale: “Company registration marks the first step in legitimizing a business, which is why we want to make the process as easy and accessible as possible to our stakeholders.”

What is OneSEC?

Launched in 2021 under the Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration of Company (eSPARC), OneSEC is designed to streamline incorporation through automation and pre-filled digital forms.

With OneSEC, applicants can now secure their Certificate of Incorporation in as little as one minute—a process that traditionally took days or weeks.

The system applies to both One Person Corporations and Regular Corporations (with 2 to 15 incorporators), significantly transforming how businesses formalize their operations.

Benefits for Small and Medium Enterprises

The expanded program is especially beneficial for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Under Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 2025, the SEC is offering:

20% discount on registration fees.
Up to 50% discount on filing fees for companies seeking to raise capital.

These reforms lower the cost of incorporation and encourage MSMEs to adopt corporate structures that enable growth, financing, and long-term stability.

New SEC Policies to Cut Red Tape

In line with the government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda, the SEC has also introduced the following reforms:

MC No. 6 (2025): 50% reduction in fees for corporate data requests.
MC No. 7 (2025): Strict timelines of 3–20 working days for application approvals, with a “deemed approved” rule if deadlines are missed.
MC No. 8 (2025): Discounts for MSMEs on registration and capital-raising fees.

These initiatives foster speed, predictability, and accountability in corporate regulation.

Expanded List of Eligible Industries

The OneSEC program now covers a broad spectrum of industries, including:

Agriculture and agritech ventures
Business process outsourcing (BPO)
IT and software development
Logistics and transportation
Healthcare and hospitals
Education and training
Real estate and construction
Travel, tourism, and hospitality

This diverse coverage ensures that entrepreneurs from both traditional and emerging sectors can benefit from same-day registration.

What This Means for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs, incorporating in the Philippines has never been faster, more affordable, or more accessible. The barriers of time, cost, and bureaucracy have been significantly reduced, empowering businesses to:

Formalize operations quickly.
Access financing and investment opportunities.
Gain credibility and protection as a registered corporation.

As Chairperson Lim highlighted: “This is just the beginning. We will continue to assess our internal policies to identify bottlenecks and further improve the ease of doing business.”