THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adjusted the schedule for submission of annual reports following the three-day closure of its main office last week.
In a notice on its website, the regulator said it started accepting annual financial statements and general information sheets sent via courier Wednesday, against the original June 29 schedule.
The SEC main office in Pasay City was closed from June 26-30 for disinfection activities after employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through rapid antibody tests. They eventually tested negative in the confirmatory test, and the SEC office resumed operations yesterday.
Submission of reports will follow a schedule based on the last digit of a corporation’s SEC registration or license number. Those whose registration numbers end with 1 or 2 must submit within July 1–10; with 3 or 4 within July 13–17; with 5 or 6 within July 20–24; with 7 or 8 within July 27–30; and with 9 or 0 within Aug. 3–7.
The SEC also allowed corporations that held their annual stockholders’ meetings during the lockdown period until Aug. 31 to submit their general information sheets without penalties.
Hard copies of reports are required to be sent through courier to avoid the spread of COVID-19 among SEC personnel. The date of receipt of the submission will be indicated in the acknowledgment receipt that the SEC will send to companies through email.
Companies that want a return copy of their submissions must include a prepaid return envelope with stamp in their submissions. They may also avail of the queuing and round-trip services offered by delivery providers.
While hard copies must be sent through courier, the SEC will continue to allow submission of reports through e-mail.
Companies whose headquarters are outside Metro Manila may send their reports to the SEC extension offices in their respective regions. — Denise A. Valdez
