THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will start the gradual reopening of its main office on Tuesday for select services such as processing of company registrations.
The corporate regulator said in a statement over the weekend its Company Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD) will be physically available starting this week, but on shortened workweek and operating hours.
The SEC CRMD, located at its main office in the Philippine International Convention Center Complex in Pasay City, will be open from Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the duration of the modified enhanced community quarantine.
The office will offer limited services such as receiving proof of payment, signed and notarized copies of approved applications and supplemental documents required during the processing.
It will also release Certificates of Incorporation/Amendment and Confirmation of Payment and orders in Petitions to Lift Order of Suspension/ Revocation and/or Correction.
Payment facilities will likewise open for both SEC’s main office in Pasay City and former headquarters in Mandaluyong City starting Tuesday. This will be available from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Pasay office and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Mandaluyong office.
SEC extension offices outside Metro Manila have been operating at limited capacity since quarantine measures started easing this month. But the SEC noted the offices are on skeleton staff and some personnel are still working from home.
“In this light, the SEC asks for patience while it works on returning to full operations. It also encourages the transacting public to utilize its online registration platforms to limit unnecessary movements amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.
For visitors in any of its offices, the SEC reminds that a “no face mask, no entry” policy is currently in place. Social distancing and limited human capacity per office is also being followed.
Online alternatives are available through the SEC’s Company Registration System at https://crs.sec.gov.ph. The interim online registration system for corporations with less than five incorporators may be done through https://apps004.sec.gov.ph:8001/application.
Payment of fees are accepted through accredited branches of the Land Bank of the Philippines and its online payment option, ePayment Portal. — Denise A. Valdez
