The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended discounted rates for certain transactions of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), giving entrepreneurs more time to register their businesses and raise capital at lower cost.
On January 9, the SEC issued Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2026, which extends the effectivity of discounted filing fees to further support the growth and expansion of MSMEs.
Under the circular, the 20 percent discount on corporate registration fees for MSMEs has been extended until March 31. Meanwhile, MSMEs may continue to avail of a 50 percent discount on securities registration fees until June 30. The discount also applies to securities registered through the SEC’s streamlined processes for power generation and distribution utility companies, real estate developers or managers involved in rental pool arrangements, agri-business firms, and hospitals.
Since the implementation of lower rates under Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 2025 in July, the SEC has granted approximately ₱34.5 million in registration and filing fee discounts to 15,425 MSMEs as of December 2025.
“The SEC is entering the new year with a renewed commitment to support the expansion of MSMEs, given their crucial role in driving the country’s economic growth,” said SEC Chairperson Francis Lim.
He added that the discounted corporate registration and filing fees are intended to ease compliance costs and encourage more entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses and access the capital market for expansion.
The memorandum circular adopts the MSME classification based on asset size under Republic Act No. 9501, or the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Under the law, micro enterprises have assets of up to ₱3 million, small enterprises up to ₱15 million, and medium enterprises up to ₱100 million.
To avail of the discounted securities registration filing fees, applicants must submit a Certification of MSME Qualification executed by the company’s president or treasurer. They must also have a paid-up capital of ₱25 million, except for agri-business firms filing under the streamlined securities registration process.
