By: Hergie Ann De Guzman
The pandemic we are facing now is a challenge to everyone, including the business owners for the continuance of their business operations. Moreover, governing bodies, such as the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC ) are also faced with the challenge to effectively continue catering the needs of the companies and new business registrants.
Company Registrations
The SEC continues to accept online applications for the registration of Corporations and Partnerships through the Company Registration System (CRS) (https://crs.sec.gov.ph/). Companies may send an email to bearceo@sec.gov.ph for queries on online registration. Verification of payment and generation of Certificates of Incorporation, Certificate of Filing. of Articles of Partnership, may be made and released by the SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD) only after the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) has been lifted.
It has also started to use an interim online registration system to facilitate application for registration of One Person Corporations (OPC) and corporations with 2-4 incorporators. The said online registration system allows the company-applicant to input the proposed corporate name together with its trade name/s, if any, and the data to complete its corporate profile. One of the basic requirements is to provide a valid and existing email account in the system where the status of the application shall be posted. Once the application form is successfully submitted, CRMD shall review it within 3 working days from the time of submission. Like the online registration of regular corporations and partnerships, payment, submission of signed and notarized documents and release of Certification of Registration, may only be made upon lifting of ECQ. Interested applicants may visit https://apps004.sec.gov.ph:8001/application and email crmd_registration_opc@sec.gov.ph or crmd_registration_234@sec.gov.ph for inquiries.
Other Simple Applications
SEC also allows submission of certain applications through electronic mail during the ECQ period. Complete requirements for applications for ordinary amendments such as change of corporate name, business purpose, principal office address, term of existence, number of board of directors/trustees, annual meeting and fiscal year end, shall be sent to crmd_emer_amend1@sec.gov.ph . For applications for increase/decrease of capital stock and merger and consolidation, complete requirements shall be sent to crmd_emer_amend2@sec.gov.ph .
Correspondences of compliance or approval for payment of the Monitoring and Amendment applications shall be duly communicated through the email provided above.
Physical copy of the Monitoring Clearance/Confirmation of Payment and Certificate of Amendments/ Increase/ Decrease of Capital shall be issued by the CRMD once ECQ has been lifted.