The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched the Hierarchical and Applicable Relations and Beneficial Ownership Registry (HARBOR), a web-based platform for the submission and updating of beneficial ownership (BO) disclosures, as part of efforts to streamline compliance and strengthen corporate transparency.
Starting January 30, 2026, corporations required to submit BO disclosures must file through HARBOR, accessible at https://harbor.sec.gov.ph or via the Electronic Filing and Submission Tool (eFAST). The registry is integrated with eFAST, the SEC’s official portal for reportorial submissions.
HARBOR allows the secure submission and updating of BO data, reduces manual handling, improves data quality, and enables more timely access to reliable information for compliance monitoring and regulatory coordination.
“Beneficial ownership disclosures are a key transparency reform that supports good governance and helps prevent the misuse of corporate structures for illicit activities,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said. He added that HARBOR streamlines filing while strengthening BO data management to support partner agencies in lawful enforcement actions.
Beneficial owners are natural persons who ultimately own or exercise effective control over a corporation, directly or indirectly.
New GIS forms
Previously, BO disclosures were submitted through eFAST as part of the General Information Sheet (GIS). With the launch of HARBOR, the SEC issued the 2026 GIS, which removes the BO disclosure page to reflect the shift to the new registry. The updated GIS forms are available at bit.ly/2026GISForms.
Under the new system, companies will no longer need to resubmit the same BO declaration annually unless there are changes, such as the addition of new beneficial owners. Filers will instead be required to revalidate previously submitted information.
Access requirements
To use HARBOR, filers must have an active account on the Electronic SEC Universal Registration Environment (eSECURE), the Commission’s digital passport for online services. Only active and authorized eFAST filers may submit BO declarations through the platform.
The launch of HARBOR is pursuant to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2025, which issued the Revised Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Rules and authorized the implementation of a web-based BO registry.
The initiative aligns with the SEC’s efforts to strengthen the collection and management of beneficial ownership information in support of the Philippines’ commitments to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). These reforms build on measures that helped the country exit the FATF grey list in February 2025 and underscore the Commission’s commitment to sustaining anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing improvements.
