Author: Mark Virgil Lofranco

Cebu and Davao are primary destinations for Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) investments in the Philippines. However, establishing a tech corporation in these southern cities involves additional regulatory steps to secure incentives from agencies like the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) or the Board of Investments (BOI). Step 1: Choosing Your Incentive Body…

Once your corporation receives its SEC Certificate of Incorporation, it cannot legally start commercial operations without a local Mayor’s Business Permit. While national laws govern corporate registration, local tax codes shape the local permitting process. The contrast between how Cebu City and Davao City process local business permits highlights key operational differences between the two…

Setting up a domestic corporation or One Person Corporation (OPC) in the Philippines is now handled primarily online via the SEC’s eSPARC portal. However, once your digital application passes initial review, you must navigate the physical compliance step: submitting hard copies of signed and notarized registration documents to receive your physical Certificate of Incorporation. For…

Fast-Tracking Your Cebu Business: How the BFP “Negative List” Speeds Up Your Mayor’s Permit Securing a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) used to be one of the biggest bottlenecks for launching a new storefront or office in Cebu. Business owners spent weeks waiting on physical site inspections before the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO)…

Choosing between the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) used to be straightforward: export-focused firms went to PEZA, while domestic market players chose the BOI. The expanded CREATE MORE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy) law changed this dynamic—making BOI registration increasingly attractive…

The Board of Investments (BOI) officially rolled out its Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) regional roadshow in Metro Cebu. Operating under Memorandum Order No. 47, the 2026–2028 SIPP defines which industrial projects qualify for maximum national tax incentives. Frontier Sectors & High-Priority Tiers Unlike earlier frameworks that focused primarily on post-pandemic economic recovery, the 2026–2028…

Establishing a SEC-registered corporate branch or secondary office in Cebu requires navigating the local government licensing process. While SEC setup handles national corporate existence, local operational legitimacy requires securing a Mayor’s Business Permit via Cebu City’s eBPLS (Electronic Business Permit and Licensing System). Essential Pre-Filing Documentation Before logging into the eBPLS portal, corporate administrative teams…

Navigating corporate taxation in the Philippines changed dramatically with the enforcement of the CREATE MORE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy) law. For technology firms and export enterprises in Cebu, understanding how to pair SEC registration with PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) accreditation is critical to unlocking tax…

For over a decade, Cebu’s IT-BPM sector expanded by locking down massive, multi-floor plates in prime office towers. Today, a structural shift is taking place across Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park. As artificial intelligence platforms and automated workflow tools streamline routine operations, BPO firms are moving away from traditional 5,000–10,000 square meter leases.…

Transparency regulations require Philippine corporations to disclose the natural persons who ultimately control or own the business. The SEC enforces strict Beneficial Ownership disclosure requirements, making compliance an essential operational priority. Parameter Standard Requirement Reporting Threshold Natural persons owning or controlling 20% or more of voting rights or capital stock. Filing Channel Mandatory submission via…