By Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) extension office here will start operating in January.
“I would believe, starting maybe January, we’re going full blast,” SEC Chairman Emilio Aquino said, as he led the inauguration of the office here Friday.
Aquino said he is glad they were finally able to open the local office that was created by a law authored by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Leonardia, who was congressman of Bacolod from 2013 to 2016, proposed the bill that was passed into law as Republic Act No. 10785, otherwise known as “SEC Bacolod Office Law,” in May 2016.
The SEC Bacolod Extension Office is the only one in the country created by legislation.
The SEC has jurisdiction and supervision over all corporations, partnerships or associations that are grantees of primary franchises and/or a license or permit issued by the government.
Leonardia, Rep. Greg Gasataya and other city officials joined Aquino and SEC Commissioners Ephyro Luis Amatong, Javey Paul Francisco and Antonieta Ibe; and Bacolod Extension Officer-in-Charge Annabelle Corral-Respall during the blessing of the local office situated in Units 10 and 11, Redkey Building, Hernaez St. corner Jocson St. in Barangay Taculing.
Aquino said the Office of the City Mayor will deploy at least three staff to the SEC Bacolod Extension Office during the transition period. A total of 10 personnel will man the office.
To prepare for the opening, the SEC still has to set up the computers, connect to the Internet, and install the registration system.
“This law was approved in May 2016. It’s been there. There’s a budget for it. It’s incumbent upon us to open the office here. We’re happy for this momentous occasion that we have finally realized the implementation of the law of Mayor Bing,” Aquino said.
Leonardia, meanwhile, said the opening of the extension office “seals the deal” for the city government in terms of restoring business confidence and making business rapidly grow in Bacolod.
“This ingredient for a business-friendly climate in Bacolod will be a game-changer,” the mayor added.
Negros Occidental has more than 10,000 registered corporations – about 7,000 in Bacolod City and about 3,000 in other areas of the province.
