QUEZON CITY -- The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) lauded the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for offering courier services and making their services available online so clients no longer have to go to their office.
SECEA-LISTO, SEC’s in-house courier services, was established to reduce physical contact amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The service allows clients to deliver and pick up their applications and certificates.
Clients can also book their own couriers using delivery service apps like Grab and Lalamove.
During his inspection on 8 July 2021, Secretary Jeremiah Belgica, ARTA Director General, recommended that SEC should post about their courier services on their website and official social media accounts so more people will know about it.
The SEC has also launched its online submission tool (OST) that clients can use to submit their general information sheets, audited online payments, and other documents.
Each person who will file documents using the OST will be issued a unique QR code as proof of acceptance.
In September, the SEC will also launch its online search portal that the public can use to search financial documents online and print them out.
Belgica commended these moves and said they will be of great contribution to ARTA’s campaign to improve the country’s ease of doing business.
“Ang goal talaga namin is less than a day ang business registration, end-to-end,” he said.
“Mukhang nandoon na ‘yon, konting tulak nalang and kita natin, nakikita na natin ang liwanag,” he added.
The ARTA chief called on the SEC to honor digital signatures, which he said are secure and traceable, to further boost the ease of doing business.
He also told SEC to consider releasing the registration number to those registering their businesses even without their business name yet as to not hamper the processes they are undergoing.
Undersecretary Ali Atienza of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) was also present during ARTA’s inspection at SEC.
Atty. Emilio Aquino, CPA, SEC CEO and Chairman, echoed ARTA’s call for the streamlining and automation of government systems.
“This pandemic really required us to accelerate our IT initiatives. Wala ng face-to-face, iniiwasan natin, and while we cannot do it immediately that fast… we were able to automate,” he said.
Gerardo F. Del Rosario, SEC Director for Company Registration and Monitoring Department, thanked the Authority for its comments for the improvement of their systems.
“Malaking karangalan po ang inspection,” he said. “Nakikita ano ang pagkukulang namin and ano ‘yung mga dapat naming ma-improve.” (ARTA)
