2023-11-06
The Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines issued this memorandum circular to grant a final extension of the amnesty application deadline until 31 December 2023 for regulated entities. The directive requires non-compliant corporations to submit their Expression of Interest by the end of 2023, followed by the upload of all supporting documents, including Audited Financial Statements and Petitions to Lift Orders, via the eFAST system by 31 January 2024. Failure to meet these submission deadlines will result in the forfeiture of paid amnesty and filing fees, after which an updated scale of fines and penalties for reportorial requirements will take effect on 1 January 2024.
1 of 3 SEC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. ______ Series of 2023 TO : ALL CONCERNED SUBJECT : FINAL EXTENSION OF AMNESTY APPLICATIONS UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2023 WHEREAS, the Commission launched the amnesty program to encourage compliance of regulated entities, and ensure a prudent identification of active and inactive corporations as part of its continuing efforts to nurture and cultivate a healthy and vibrant corporate sector; WHEREAS, despite previous extensions of deadlines and enhancements in the process to make the amnesty application easier, a number of applications remain incomplete due to the incomplete submission of amnesty requirements such as the Petition to Lift Order of Suspension or Revocation for corporations with suspended or revoked certificates of incorporation, and the Audited Financial Statements (AFS) through the SEC Electronic Filing and Submission Tool (eFAST); WHEREAS, the Commission received numerous requests from the public to further extend the amnesty period, and be given more time to meet the requirements of the amnesty process including the supporting documents for petitions to lift revocation/suspension status; WHEREAS, given the primary objectives of the amnesty program, the Commission desires to afford businesses reasonable time and opportunity to be in good standing relative to their reportorial requirements, especially those meeting the grounds for revocation or delinquency status pursuant to the Republic Act No. 11232 or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCC); WHEREAS, the Commission on 17 October 2023 issued separate Notices informing the public of (i) those corporations whose certificates of incorporation are deemed revoked for non-use of charter pursuant to Section 21 of the RCC, and (ii) those corporations which may be placed under delinquent status for failing to file reportorial requirements pursuant to Section 177 of the RCC, as well as encouraging these same corporations to avail the amnesty; and
WHEREAS, the Commission will strictly impose an updated scale of fines and penalties for certain reportorial requirements after the amnesty period; NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission hereby resolves to EXTEND, FOR THE FINAL TIME, the deadline for amnesty applications until 31 December 2023, and amends previous memorandum circulars for the purpose. Accordingly, the Commission also resolves to provide the following guidelines: SECTION 1. PROCEDURE. The Commission reminds the public of the following in relation to the amnesty application process: A. Filing of Amnesty Application. The Commission shall continue to accept an Expression of Interest (EOI), a web-based form integrated in the amnesty application in eFAST, to avail of the amnesty until 31 December 2023 through eFAST. B. Submission of Reportorial Requirements. Non-compliant corporations and corporations whose Certificates of Incorporation have been suspended or revoked shall upload and submit their AFS, General Information Sheet (GIS) until 31 January 2024. In addition to the AFS and GIS, corporations whose Certificates of Incorporation have been suspended or revoked shall also upload and submit their respective Petition to Lift Order (PLO) of Suspension/Revocation via eFAST. For corporations whose Certificates of Incorporation have been suspended or revoked, the following must also be submitted to the designated emails depending on their respective 20 Published: Filed with the UP Law Center: 6 November 2023 Philippine Daily Inquirer, 6 November 2023 Philippine Star, 6 November 2023
2 of 3 jurisdictions in support of their Petitions to Lift Order of Suspension/Revocation not later than 31 January 2024:
3 of 3 to comply within the submission period shall warrant the forfeiture of the paid amnesty or filing fees in favor of the Commission. Thereafter, an updated scale of fines and penalties for the covered reportorial requirements shall be effective on 01 January 2024. This Circular shall take effect immediately upon completion of its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. Done this ____ November 2023, Makati City, Philippines. For the Commission: EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson 3