Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. BitPinas has no commercial relationship with any mentioned entity unless otherwise stated.
📬 Get the biggest crypto stories in the Philippines and Southeast Asia every week — subscribe to the BitPinas Newsletter.
The newly appointed leadership of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to driving reforms aimed at enhancing the country’s business and capital markets during a meeting with Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto.
New SEC Chairperson
In a media release, the Commission, led by newly installed SEC Chairperson Francis Lim, presented its strategic priorities to Recto, focusing on improving ease of doing business, investor protection, and the development of more inclusive capital markets.
“The SEC is ready to work with the DOF, under the leadership of Secretary Recto, to create a conducive environment that will encourage business formation and boost participation in the capital market…. The SEC remains steadfast in its commitment to transform the Philippine corporate sector into one of the best in Southeast Asia by fostering an inclusive capital market, capable of strongly contributing to overall economic growth and nation-building.”
Francis Lim, Chairperson, Securities and Exchange Commission
To support ease of doing business, Lim shared that he aims to cut backlogs, reduce transaction requirements, and implement a real-time digital tracking system for better transparency. He also said he plans to lower fees for corporate data requests and consider a moratorium on fee hikes.
Alongside this, the other plans of the newly installed SEC chairperson, which the regulator said to be a priority, include
- Simplify SME registration and expand access to the repurchase market for non-bank financial institutions, while cracking down on illegal lending through stronger supervision and enforcement.
- Enforcing the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act, supporting crypto regulation under newly issued rules, and revising the Real Estate Investment Trust law’s implementing rules to attract more investment.
Meanwhile, medium- to long-term goals include enabling local corporations to access global funding indices and developing a roadmap for alternative investment products like options, futures, and commodity derivatives. The SEC also pledged to strengthen risk management and oversight through risk-based audits, digital tools, and institutional capacity building aligned with global standards.
Who is Francis Lim?
On June 3, 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Atty. Francis Edralin Lim as the new SEC chairperson, succeeding Emilio Aquino, whose term expired on June 6.
A press release from the Presidential Communications Office introduced Lim as a seasoned corporate lawyer who brings decades of experience in securities law, capital markets, and governance.
Lim served as president and CEO of the Philippine Stock Exchange from 2004 to 2010 and was a senior partner at ACCRALAW, which was named the Philippine Law Firm of the Year by Asia Business Law Journal in 2024, 2023, 2021, and 2020.
Described by Malacañang as a “distinguished member of the legal and financial communities,” Lim has handled key transactions involving major corporations like Ayala, BDO, Bloomberry, and the Lucio Tan Group. He was also president of the Management Association of the Philippines in 2020 and the Shareholders Association of the Philippines.
An academic as well, Lim teaches law at Ateneo de Manila University and San Beda University and holds a Master of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania.
This article is published on BitPinas: SEC’s New Chair Expresses Support on DOF Chief Recto’s Investor-Friendly Policies
What else is happening in Crypto Philippines and beyond?
دیدگاهتان را بنویسید