The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a new circular allowing agriculture-focused businesses to raise up to PHP500 million per project through the capital markets, expanding their access to much-needed financing.”

SEC, in a press release on Thursday, said it issued in a conference on Sept. 24, 2025 the guidelines for Securing & Expanding Capital for Farms & Agri-business Related Modernization Schemes (SEC FARMS).

This policy is aligned with the government’s “Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya (Abundant Agriculture, Prosperous Economy)” program targeted to modernize the sector.

“(It) eases the registration process for the securities of agri-businesses in a bid to boost investor participation and drive growth in the industry,” the news release read.

SEC, through SEC FARMS, is “required to review the registration statements of agri-business firms within 28 days from the filing date, subject to the guidelines of the SEC.”

“We know that agriculture is the backbone of our economy — it feeds our people and sustains millions of families. Yet farmers and agri-businesses have often been left with little water to grow — the water here being capital or financing,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said.

He said SEC FARMS “is our way of irrigating that field, making sure resources reach those who need them most so you can modernize, expand, and thrive.”

“Think of SEC FARMS as a new set of farming tools—lighter, sharper, and more efficient. With the right tools, your hard work will yield bigger harvests, not just for your families but for the whole nation,” he added. (PNA)