THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched a capacity-building series to help companies implement its new sustainability reporting framework.
The guidelines are contained in SEC Memorandum Circular 16, Series of 2025, aligned with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
The launch was held recently at the ISSB Reporting Practitioners Forum, in partnership with the Philippine Sustainability Reporting Committee (PSRC), the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation, and the United Nations Development Program.
“This effort is designed to equip reporting entities, practitioners and auditors with the technical understanding, systems perspective and governance discipline required under the new standards,” SEC Chairman Francis Lim said.
The forum included a training session led by IFRS Foundation director of corporate outreach Neil Stewart, to help preparers understand key ISSB requirements for high-quality sustainability disclosures.
A question-and-answer session followed, featuring Michiel van der Lof, global corporate reporting services leader of Ernst & Young (EY).
A panel discussion brought together leaders from Metro Pacific Investments Corp./mWell, Ayala Corp., the IFRS Foundation, EY and PSRC, moderated by Julia Tay of EY, to share practical insights and strategies for improving investor-focused sustainability disclosures.
The initiative was supported by the PSRC, led by chairman Benjamin Villacorte, underscoring a shared commitment to help entities align with ISSB standards.
The capacity-building series will continue throughout this year, covering governance, data systems, internal controls, and documentation needed to produce consistent and decision-useful sustainability disclosures.
The SEC encouraged all covered entities and reporting practitioners to join upcoming sessions to ensure smoother compliance, improve disclosure quality and boost market confidence in sustainability reporting.
