TARLAKENYO (Sept. 23, 2023) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) introduced the capital market to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley regions in its recent roadshow held at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
Spearheaded by the newly-established SEC Office for the Advancement of Strategic Investments in SMEs or OASIS, the event aims to promote and raise awareness on the various capital market financing options available for MSMEs and start-ups.
The event featured plenary and break-out sessions with invited speakers from crowdfunding intermediaries – Investree, Round One, and Seedin, the Philippine Stock Exchange, and the Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines.
The roadshow was participated by 151 onsite and 132 virtual participants consisting of executives from different government agencies, business chambers and local companies.
Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and Chief Executive Officer, Atty. Agnes Devanadera welcomed the roadshow participants and presented the indicators that led to the economic development in the Clark Freeport Zone. She also mentioned the establishment of PhilExport Showroom in Clark which helped the MSMEs in promoting their products.
Meanwhile, SEC Commissioner Karlo Bello highlighted the importance of capital markets and the commission’s efforts to broaden the financing options available to MSMEs to jumpstart their businesses or expand their operations through crowdfunding.
“This roadshow is encouraging potential investors to put their money at the right business and to tap the Philippine capital market as an alternative source of funding and investment,” said Bello.
SEC promotes crowdfunding as a fundraising approach where an individual or group solicits money from the public through the Internet. In the case of start-ups or small businesses, crowdfunding allows them to raise the funds that they need in order to execute their business ideas or certain projects.
Additionally, crowdfunding gives start-ups and small businesses more funding options and the public more investment opportunities in the capital market.
The event was also attended by SEC-Markets and Securities Regulation Department Director Vicente Graciano Felizmenio Jr., SEC-Tarlac Director Richard R. Laus, Atty. Sofia Masa Sembrano who represented Governor Susan Yap of the Provincial Government of Tarlac and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)- Region 3 Governor, Atty. Amalia Cayanan.
The Tarlac-Clark Leg of the SEC Roadshow on capital formation is the eighth stop of the nationwide campaign pitching crowdfunding as a source of capital for MSMEs and start-ups. The same roadshow was also organized in Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Bacolod, Metro Manila, and Iloilo, with more to be conducted in Baguio, Legaspi and Tacloban for the rest of the year.
