In his opening remarks, Dr. Christian Peter Scheld, GPCCI President and Country Director of Konecranes, underscored the importance of sustained public-private engagement amid evolving regulations and digital transformation. He emphasized that a transparent and predictable regulatory environment is critical to investor confidence, business growth, and economic resilience.
Commissioner Javey Paul D. Francisco presented updates on the SEC’s governance and ease-of-doing-business reforms, including strengthened independent director requirements, mandatory sustainability reporting aligned with global standards, and measures to enhance board accountability. He also highlighted the SEC’s shift toward fully digital, end-to-end registration and compliance systems designed to reduce processing time, lower compliance costs, and improve oversight, alongside risk-based monitoring and support for micro enterprises.
An open forum and Q&A, moderated by PAC Chairperson Dr. Marian Norbert Majer, raised key concerns from the business community, including:
- Implementation timelines and transition arrangements for SEC reforms
- Rollout and functionality of digital platforms
- Measures to reduce compliance costs, particularly for SMEs
- Proportional regulation and relief for smaller companies
- Enhanced governance requirements
- Risk-based enforcement through digital tools
In closing, PAC Vice Chairperson Ms. Marie Antoinette Mariano expressed appreciation to the SEC and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to ensure reforms deliver practical benefits. The session reaffirmed the value of sustained public-private dialogue, with GPCCI committing to further engagements under the IMPACT Dialogue Series in support of good governance, ease of doing business, and economic resilience.
