The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it will be giving companies more time to submit their annual reports in response to the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The reports cover SEC Form 17-A, the annual financial statements, for the period ended Dec. 31, 2019, as well as quarterly reports (SE Form 17-Q) for the first three months of 2020 for publicly listed companies.
“The extension will allow companies affected by travel restrictions, suspension of business operations and other measures implemented to contain the COVID-19 outbreak to gather all information or documents necessary in the preparation and the subsequent audit of their reports,” the SEC said.
“The SEC encourages corporations to utilize SEC Express Nationwide Submission (www.secexpress.ph/sens) to submit their annual reports through courier. The public, meanwhile, may request copies of corporate documents through the SEC Express System by logging on www.secexpress.ph or calling (02) 8737-8888,” it added.
Emilio Aquino, SEC chairman, said the “disruption, risks and effects of the outbreak of COVID-19, transcend sectors.”
“In line with the President’s declaration of a state of public health emergency, the Commission will explore and implement all appropriate measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate its effects,” he said.
The SEC said it is finalizing measures that will allow the use of remote communication in corporation’s regular and special meetings, and extend the filing period for annual reports for affected corporations to help mitigate the impact of the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
The agency said it will issue a memorandum circular to provide guidelines on the attendance and participation of directors, trustees, stockholders, members and other officers of corporations in regular and special meetings through remote communication, pursuant to Republic Act No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code.
“Upon approval of the guidelines, the SEC will immediately allow corporations to conduct meetings through remote communication or other alternative modes in order to consider and approve the necessary provisions in their bylaws or internal procedures in time for their forthcoming annual stockholders’ or members’ meetings,” it said.
The Commission said it itself has been holding meetings through remote communication, allowing for the participation of the directors of its extension offices in Baguio, Tarlac, Legazpi, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga.
