The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Philippines is set to host the 44th ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) Chairs’ Meeting on March 26, 2026. This high-level gathering marks a pivotal moment in the region’s journey toward a more integrated, inclusive, and resilient financial landscape.
As the current ACMF Chair, the SEC Philippines will lead chief securities regulators from the ten ASEAN member states—including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—along with Timor-Leste as an observer.
The meeting serves as a follow-up to the Deputies’ Meeting held in Coron last January. Regulators will deliberate on strategic initiatives to enhance market connectivity, sustainable finance, and the regulation of digital assets. These efforts are anchored in the SEC Philippines’ “RISE” agenda:
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Regional integration
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Inclusivity
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Sustainable finance
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Enforcement collaboration
This agenda aligns with the Philippines’ broader ASEAN 2026 Chairship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” and the ACMF Action Plan 2026-2030.
SEC Philippines Chairperson Francis Lim emphasized that regional growth must be balanced with robust security.
“ASEAN Member States share the common goal of delivering innovative investment opportunities that empower every business and investor. However, achieving this requires ensuring the protection of investors’ money amid an ever-evolving financial landscape,” Lim stated.
Chairperson Lim highlighted that the meeting is a prime opportunity to craft cross-border investor protection mechanisms. “These tangible measures to combat fraud will reinforce public trust and solidify ASEAN’s position as a premier global investment hub.”
The SEC Philippines is championing several high-impact initiatives during its chairship, including:
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ASEAN Knowledge Network: Establishing a specialized network for Supervisory and Enforcement Directors.
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Sustainable Finance: Publishing an ASEAN Code of Conduct for External Verifiers.
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Corporate Governance: Expanding the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard Regional Assessment.
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Resilience Tools: Completing the next phase of the “Mitigation co-benefit and Adaptation for Resilience” (mARs) Guide.
