To support the strong economic growth and the rise of new businesses in the Cagayan Valley region, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has opened a new office in Ilagan City.
The SEC inaugurated the SEC Ilagan Extension Office (EO) on Feb. 24, located at the ground floor of The Capital Arena, Brgy. Alibagu, Ilagan City, Isabela.
The Cagayan Valley region is one of three remaining regions without an SEC extension office, aside from Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Out of the three regions, Cagayan Valley posted the highest gross regional domestic product growth at 6.18 percent in 2023, surpassing the national growth rate of 5.55 percent, reaching P447.07 billion.
As of December 2024, the region has a total of 6,154 SEC-registered corporations and partnerships, with the Isabela province accounting for almost half of the registered entities at 2,955. The province of Isabela is also home to two special economic zones.
The Ilagan EO will cater to SEC-related transactions of businesses in the Cagayan Valley region, including registration and processing of complaints, ensuring a more efficient and timely delivery of the Commission’s services.
With an improved oversight over the business sector in the region, the Ilagan EO will help in promoting transparency and accountability in business operations, ensuring the protection of investors and facilitating a healthy business climate.
“The Ilagan EO marks the Commission’s 15th regional office. This is in line with our goal to ramp up our operations and bring our services within the reach of business owners, encouraging more businesses to incorporate and attract more investments in the Cagayan Valley region,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said.
He added that “we will remain committed to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and grow, enabling them to further contribute to the country’s overall economic growth.”
The Ilagan EO is the second SEC regional office opened this year, following the SEC Laoag EO in January.
Last year, the SEC opened three offices in Butuan, Koronadal and Lipa. Other offices are in Baguio, Tarlac, Legazpi, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro.