SEC opens 1st extension office in Northern Luzon

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) opened its first extension office in Northern Luzon, located on the 5th floor of the Dap-Ayan Commercial Center in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

The inauguration of the new SEC office on January 9 was led by Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and SEC Chairperson Mr. Emilio B. Aquino, both emphasizing the importance of the office in further boosting the economic performance of the provinces in Northern Luzon. 

“We welcome SEC with open arms and I am hopeful that this will be a positive windfall, not only for Ilocos Norte but the entire Northern Luzon. We thank you once again our friends and partners from the SEC and please know that we’re here if you need anything, especially our new head of the SEC. We are hopeful that we will have a fruitful and beneficial partnership in the years to come,” Gov. Marcos Manotoc said.

Meanwhile, SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino remarked:

“This office stands as a symbol of our Commission’s decisive action to spread economic progress and democratize wealth. It will not only promote ease of doing business but also ensure a robust investor protection as well as financial literacy.” 

The SEC Laoag EO will accommodate the registration, compliance processes, and other SEC-related transactions of businesses across Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of services. It will also facilitate the Commission’s investor protection and education programs to safeguard businesses against scams and other fraudulent schemes.

As an emerging commercial hub under the leadership of Gov. Marcos Manotoc, Ilocos Norte recorded the highest growth rate in the Region in 2023 at 8.6%, marking its 2nd consecutive year as the fastest-growing province in Region I, according to reports from the Philippine Statistics Authority.