Author: Mark Virgil Lofranco
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SEC Beneficial Ownership & HARBOR: Avoiding the ₱2 Million Non-Compliance Trap
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…
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Cebu’s Corporate Tech Surge: Pairing SEC Setup with PEZA Incentives
Cebu functions as the IT-BPM, shared services, and maritime hub of the Visayas. Corporate setups in locations like Cebu IT Park, Cebu Business Park, or the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) often combine SEC registration with ecozone accreditation. The Role of PEZA and the CREATE MORE Act To maximize cost efficiency, tech and export-oriented firms register…
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Scaling in Mindanao: Navigating Davao City’s Digitized Business Permits
Davao City remains the primary economic anchor for Mindanao, drawing commercial real estate, logistics, and agribusiness ventures. Operating a corporation in Davao requires matching SEC compliance with local municipal licensing through the Davao City Business Bureau. SEC Certificate of Incorporation (eSPARC) │ ▼ Barangay Clearance (Davao City District Office) │ ▼ Davao City eEBTS Portal…
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The SEC ZERO Era: How Paperless Registration is Revolutionizing Corporate Setup
Registering a corporation in the Philippines used to mean printed document stacks, physical notarization runs, and waiting in line at SEC extension offices. SEC Memorandum Circular No. 3 (Series of 2025) mandated the full rollout of SEC ZERO (Zuper Easy Registration Online). The End of Physical Notarization and Paper Filings SEC ZERO eliminates the requirement…
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Do You Still Need a Mayor’s Permit in Cebu or Davao if You Are PEZA-Registered?
A frequent point of friction for companies launching in Metro Cebu (Cebu City, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu) or Davao City is local government jurisdiction. The Short Answer Yes, you still need a Mayor’s Permit (Business Permit), but your local tax obligations are drastically reduced. Understanding the Dual Jurisdiction While PEZA governs your fiscal incentives and national tax…
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Can a 100% Foreign-Owned Company Register with the BOI?
A common misconception among international founders is that the Board of Investments (BOI) is reserved exclusively for joint ventures or majority Filipino-owned corporations. The Rule: Yes, 100% Foreign Ownership is Fully Allowed Foreign investors can own 100% of the equity in a BOI-registered domestic corporation, provided they satisfy at least one of the following criteria…
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BOI vs. PEZA Incentives Under the CREATE MORE Act
Choosing between the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) used to be confusing due to conflicting tax rates. Following the CREATE MORE Act (RA 12066), the incentive structure has been unified under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP). Here is how they compare today: Incentive Regime Breakdown Feature PEZA BOI…
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PEZA Timelines & Minimum Export Requirements Explained
For foreign investors eyeing manufacturing in Lapu-Lapu City or IT-BPO scaling in Davao, timing and export quotas dictate when capital can be deployed. 1. How Long Does PEZA Registration Take? Once a complete application is submitted to the PEZA board, the approval process generally takes 30 to 60 days. Under recent ease-of-doing-business initiatives and the…
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What Are the WFH & Remote Work Rules Under PEZA Today?
The rise of hybrid work transformed the Philippine IT-BPM sector, but it also created compliance headaches for PEZA-registered companies that were historically required to operate 100% on-site. The Evolution: From Tight Caps to CREATE MORE Agility Under early post-pandemic rules, PEZA enterprises were strictly capped on how much of their workforce could telecommute without forfeiting…
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Can a Company Register with PEZA Without Being Inside an Ecozone or IT Park?
When expanding operations into key regional hubs like Cebu Business Park or Davao City, many founders ask: Can we register with PEZA without leasing space in an accredited Economic Zone or IT Building? The Short Answer Generally, no. Physical location remains the core prerequisite for PEZA registration. Under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) framework,…