The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said stronger audit oversight is essential to attracting investments and strengthening confidence in the Philippine capital market, as it released the 2026 SEC Oversight Assurance Review (SOAR) Public Inspection Report. The report, published in July, contains findings from inspections conducted between 2022 and 2025 under the SEC’s SOAR program, according to BusinessWorld.
The SOAR report outlines areas for improvement in audit quality and regulatory compliance, with the SEC stressing that robust oversight mechanisms are critical for investor protection. The findings cover a range of audit firms and highlight common deficiencies, though specific details were not disclosed in the public report.
By reinforcing audit standards, the SEC aims to boost market credibility and attract both local and foreign investments. The agency noted that transparent and reliable financial reporting underpins capital market development, and continued oversight will be a priority moving forward.