SEC fully digitalizes company registration with ZERO system

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has fully digitalized company registration, requiring domestic stock corporations to use the new online system, SEC Zuper Easy Registration Online (ZERO), following SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 3 issued on April 4.

This transition eliminates the need for physical submission of signed or notarized documents, replacing them with electronic authentication methods through the SEC ZERO portal.

The SEC ZERO system, launched in July 2024, integrates with eSECURE for user credentialing and eSAP for document authentication via one-time passwords (OTPs).

Lending firms, financing companies, and foreign corporations will continue using the regular processing under the Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration of Company (eSPARC) for three months after MC No. 3 goes into effect, after which all corporations must use SEC ZERO.

SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino stated that the digitalization makes company registration easier and faster, allowing it to be done anytime and anywhere.

He also highlighted that the system's credentialing and authentication processes help filter out individuals attempting to use the corporate vehicle for fraudulent purposes, ensuring accountability.

Since its launch, SEC ZERO has facilitated the registration of a total of 1,874 companies.